Work In Progress 2014

[chuckularone]

I built a cart for my kayak on Monday and finished it up last night. It's mostly rebar and some bits from a sacrificial bike. It's so I can walk down to the put-in-point about 3/4 of a mile from my house.
http://makerandfixerofthings.blogspot.c ... -cart.html

I started with a rough sketch, a good idea and a (sadly) perfectly functional kids bike that I dumpster dove (or is that dived?) for. Cut it up and parted it out.
(Elliot! Do you want the handle bars?)

1.jpg

I welded together the frame out of rebar, added a few eyes for the tie-downs and welded on the forks.

2.jpg

I put a couple coats of paint on it, zip tied on some pool noodles and attached the wheels.

3.jpg

I'll take it out for a test spin tomorrow when the weather clears up.

[trilobyte]

Brilliant!

[Joeln]

Nice work Chuck!
We used a commercial unit similar to that when borrowing a friend's canoe.
Only issue was keeping the thing attached to the canoe, when we went over some irregularities in the launching ramp, the canoe would slide around on (or off) it - big pain.
Your wheels are bigger so that should mitigate some...

[unjonharley]

Nice

[chuckularone]

I'm planning on putting an eye in the top of the kayak to criss-cross the bungees through to prevent slippage. Hopefully that will take care of it.

[FIGJAM]

If those are pool noodles I don't think it will slip.

[motskyroonmatick]

so, all secured for splitting:


wedge and feathers:

close up, note configuration so pressure takes place "down hole" not at the surface:


5/8" dia. holes:

tap, tap, crack.........:

closer:


as it opens:





cross section:


sometimes, as the piece you split off, falls and flips off the table, your incredible speed, allows you to jump right out of your "safety crocs".:


split piece on the ground, monument ready for next phase of handset/chisel shaping:

How is this project going Ygmir? I have a natural piece of granite that I intend to work on as a monument to my mother. Some parts will remain natural but most of it will be polished. Can you point me to any resources where I might learn about working with granite during this research and self educating phase of the project. Thanks, Motz.

[ygmir]

Hi Motz!!
The project is coming along....it's in the carving phase now, and because it's supposed to be a surprise, though documenting, I'm not publishing until after the unveiling.

I can help you here, or you can ping me with details offline, and we can go through it.
Very happy to help.

[chuckularone]

If those are pool noodles I don't think it will slip.

Gave it a trial yesterday. You are correct, sir! No slippage at all.

[ygmir]

well, got going on new legs for the piano I got from Elliot, to take to the Black Hole bar on playa:
stumps cut to square and parallel ends notched, and bracing inlaid:




base made, inlaid, screwed and glued together:



mounting and assembly reinforcement plates, 3" screws and 3/8x6" lags:




Safely raising piano to put base underneath:




safety hold while placing base:


piano sitting on base:



4" channel iron mounts welded to plates:

[Patsh]

I dunno, Yggy. You think it'll hold up?

Piano 2.jpg

[FIGJAM]

Never know how many will be dancing on it!!!

[unjonharley]

I think it will do the trick

[delle]

sometimes, as the piece you split off, falls and flips off the table, your incredible speed, allows you to jump right out of your "safety crocs".:

I see you'd taken the Quick Eject safety off. Smart move!!

[Sunbeam56]

Wow! Chuck, Ygmir... those projects are so MANLY!
(fanning blushing cheeks).


Great JOB!

[Joeln]

Yggy, gotta say I like the stuff you post on here - very nice contraptioneering!

[chuckularone]

Wow! Chuck, Ygmir... those projects are so MANLY!
(fanning blushing cheeks).


Great JOB!

Welding=FIRE!

[sadie]

This is something I have researched for over a year, and have slowly collected all the parts needed. Finally took the time to put it all together.

I took an old school brief case and reinforced it with plywood, then twirled a bunch of wires into a wad and stuffed them inside...

solarguts.jpg

I bolted the components to the lid, then attached it to a dolly.

solarcontrol.jpg

The battery is 110ah SLA, and weighs approx. 7000lbs (it might as well) - it all straps onto the dolly and will be secured inside the van.

solar.jpg

My solar panel is 100watt and can be placed wherever the sun is shining when I need to re-charge.

I know its overkill, but it has been a lot of fun getting this thing put together.

[ygmir]

very cool Sadie. does it have a specific use?

[sadie]

very cool Sadie. does it have a specific use?

If I hooked everything up correctly it will be my re-chargable power source. I want to be able to make a pot of coffee every day, and run my Figjam cooler, charge my camera battery etc without having to use a standard gennie. I like the idea of solar vs gas engine for several reasons.

The first test run tells me I have the inverter and one of the DC outlets working, but no power to the charger or meter. I have time to figure out where I went wrong...

[unjonharley]

Looks real good Sadie... Go slow in working out the bug.. I tend to go fast and burn something up..

[sadie]

Looks real good Sadie... Go slow in working out the bug.. I tend to go fast and burn something up..

Thanks Unjon, that is good advice. I will most likely get someone who knows more about electrical stuff than me to help troubleshoot. I've tried a couple of things and am out of ideas.

[Elorrum]

oooh SAdie! Nice work. Switches! DPDT stuff makes smoke come out my ears, but I can sort of suss out that you want different things to happen. My set up is very small in comparison and all wired up through the charge controller, panel, battery, and12v load. You've got a lot going on here, good power. It's good you have a picture of it all new and clean.

[sadie]

Thanks Elorrum. New and shiney is good...smoking = bad.! It won't stay that way for long, but dusty and well used is a good look too.

Worst case scenario if I can't figure it out is I just bring the battery and sweet talk someone with a gennie, or go to the alt. energy camp to juice it back up.

I am hoping it is an easy fix. My guess is it's something simple I am overlooking...

Woohoo for new skills! (or at least attempting new things)

[FIGJAM]

You'll be between 2 camps with gennies!!!

[sadie]

You'll be between 2 camps with gennies!!!

Scooooorrrrre!

[FIGJAM]

One of them also has solar panels and a nuclear reactor.................I think?

[sadie]

One of them also has solar panels and a nuclear reactor.................I think?

Ha! Perfect..

[Elorrum]

It will work for sure. and remember, there are lots of folks there who are great at this stuff, and love to share info and fiddle with things. Just don't let go of the tools if you want to do it yourself. I stopped letting myself get elbowed away from My projects a long time ago, that's the way a lot of people think they are helping.

[sadie]

It will work for sure. and remember, there are lots of folks there who are great at this stuff, and love to share info and fiddle with things. Just don't let go of the tools if you want to do it yourself. I stopped letting myself get elbowed away from My projects a long time ago, that's the way a lot of people think they are helping.

Thank you for that. I know folks mean well, but I am pretty much the hands on hips I can do it myself type too.

Since the equipment was somewhat expensive, I had arranged for a friend of a friend electrician to help me wire it up. He seemed really interested but then stood me up three times, so I decided to jump in and do it myself. It's a great feeling to have gotten it this far, but I am a little afraid of frying something if I go any further without at least some pro advice.
I am confident that it will work - not anywhere near giving up on it!