Coachbuilt

So it has been a productive weekend (or at least there visually is some progress). I tackled the two least complex sections, the passenger rocker (still figuring out mating to chassis so I sawed a kerf into each rib to give an extra 1.5” of material so no matter where chassis hits I’ll have metal to work with. The rockers so not have complex curves, just roll. Easy right? Not. Roll too tight. Relax too much, and back and forth. Love my new shop but definitely got steps in, hahah. Not perfect but similar enough to stop for the day. Ahh the sound of a solid aluminum panel flat against the buck!! I have started building the door frame and patterned the skin for it. I’ve decided I like hammering for stretching over using the shrinker/stretcher (can you say “Ri-i-p” (I had the foresight to do that work first so didn’t have to rework entirely) then will be the lip welded to the tubing over which the skin will be folded and crimped. In other news, I got the bead roller motor assembled and working and made some decent practice bead rolls and can now experiment with making some of the edges with a bead rolller

So as a post post-script to the last post, took a number of suggestions and connected with Stanley Fulton here on Facebook (toolsforshaping.com) and got a set of his plastic thumbnail dies. The 16mm shank is a different length than the tool which took some adjustments to the main barrel doe the die holder but we have far less damage to the ally! Always appreciate all the educational tips from this crew!!

Well, I have progressed from making man glitter (aka sawdust) to party streamers… patterns being made and metal shaped. Spent Saturday attempting to polish the anvil and rolling wheels. A little disappointed with the surfaces they came with…a mirror finish they are not and not without taking them back to probably 100 grit and then coming forward. But better. In any case, had gotten out of practice on the wheel, so not the best I’ve ever done. Next weekend going to finish setting up powerhammer and make some noise!

Like watching grass grow but steady progress. Most of the notching on the passenger rear quarter is done (encounter occasional spots that need fine tuning with Madam Rasp), but the curves of the fender and the frame for the boot are laid out and starting to be formed. My new welder is in, assembled (waiting for a safety relay for the door that shuts it off if someone walks in unannounced, OSHA would be so proud) and I’m hoping to be welding some of the superleggera frame by next weekend if the open road and my neglected motorcycle don’t siren-song me on a long ride.