Category Archives: Metalworking

Metalworking

Welding Edge Clamps

Edge Clamps in Use
Edge Clamps in Use

I’m making some sheet metal enclosures for a project but I don’t have a press brake in the shop so I’m building them by welding the individual pieces.  One of the parts has some narrow strips for stiffening and I could not get clamps in to hold the stiffener.

Simple Edge Clamp
Simple Edge Clamp

Kant-Twist makes some edge clamping 3-jaw clamps but only in the larger 6″ size.  I though about taking my smaller 2″ clamps apart and adding the third jaw, but came up with this simpler solution.

Closeup of the edge clamp in use
Closeup of the edge clamp in use

I used some short sections of 1/2″ CRS and some swivel pad 1/4″-20 set screws to make my edge clamps.  After the Kant-Twist clamp is secured, these are inserted and nestle in the crook between the jaws.  The setscrews are tightened to secure the edge strip for welding.

Automotive, Metalworking

The Backhoe gets a Claw

This entry is part 9 of 9 in the series Backhoe
My First Rock
My First Rock

Millions of years ago, seeds of Petram immobilem var. murus were planted in New England. Since this is a hardy perennial here in Zones 4 & 5 we are blessed with a bumper crop each and every year.

In order to harvest our yearly crop of P. immobilem (Common name: New England wall stone) , I needed to add a grapple to my backhoe which involved a little reverse engineering for the attachment.

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Electronics, Metalworking

TIG Torch Flow Alarm

The flow alarm ready to go in its caseMy TIG welder has a water-cooled torch. Being water-cooled, it is lighter and easier to maneuver than an air-cooled torch because a much smaller water-jacketed welding lead can be used to carry the welding current. The downside is without cooling water flow, the smaller welding lead will overheat and melt the cooling water hose. This can be an expensive problem as I discovered while welding the radiator shroud for my backhoe.

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Automotive, Metalworking

New thermostat housing

This entry is part 7 of 9 in the series Backhoe

WaterNeck1With the process of getting the new engine connected, I discovered one item that had been previously overlooked. The stock thermostat housing exited straight up and would have caused the upper radiator hose to interfere with the turbocharger air inlet hose.  Obviously a solution was needed, and that solution turned out to be a custom thermostat housing that exited to the side.

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Metalworking, SolidWorks

Understanding Crankshaft Counterweights

This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Hodgson Crankshaft Assembly

Crank Counterweight Study, Rotating WeightI’ve been thinking recently about the crankshaft construction on the Hodgson Radial.  I’ve never really been happy with the 5-piece construction and I’m thinking of changing it to a 3-piece crank where the crank cheeks (counterweights) are integral with the front and rear crankshaft sections.  The main journal would then be clamped by splitting the upper portion of the crank cheek and using a compression bolt to retain the journal.

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Metalworking

Hodgson Part 095/096, Carburetor Mount & Lock Cylinder

This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Hodgson Rear Crankcase Cover

mount14The carburetor mount was made from a 0.75″ x 1.3″ x 2.4″ piece of Aluminum 7075-T6, while the lock cylinder was made from Ø5/16″ yellow brass. I change the lock cylinder to a full split cotter, adjusted the outside perimeter of the carb mount to better match my rear cover casting, and reduced the size of the mounting studs to #10 to better fit the overall scale of the carb mount.

 

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