John Bonnett
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| posted on 22/7/06 at 11:39 AM |
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Metal Shaping
I just wondered how much interest there is in the group in sheet metal fabrication of components such as bonnets, nosecones and tanks.
907 showed us a superb example of his crafsmanship with the header tank and I just wondered if other people in the group are into similar projects. It
is a particular interest of mine and it would be nice to hear from any other masochists out there and share knowledge.
John
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wilkingj
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| posted on 22/7/06 at 12:07 PM |
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I have fabricated loads of bits and bobs over the years... Brackets and things..
S'Funny though... they never seem to look as good as 907's 
[Edited on 22/7/2006 by wilkingj]
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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dl_peabody
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| posted on 22/7/06 at 04:25 PM |
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I am US west coast ....I am making a metal buck for a 442 nose ... still a ways off from testing it.
Be happy to compare notes with you, there was also some discussion on Yahoo North America group.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 22/7/06 at 05:55 PM |
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Be happy to compare notes with you, there was also some discussion on Yahoo North America group
Great to hear from you. Would love to see some pictures when you are ready.
All my knowledge comes from Ron Fournier's videos which I think are absolutely wonderful. I gave up hope of ever being able to gas weld
aluminium until I picked up the tip about using TM2000 lenses. I bought a set and it is amazing how much easier it is once you can see what you are
doing and not blinded by the sodium flare.
Do keep in touch
Best wishes
John
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907
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| posted on 22/7/06 at 06:15 PM |
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I dunno why I'm getting dragged into this.
I haven't made anything yet.
I do however intend to have a go at a nose cone during my two weeks hols in August.
I'll keep a photo record, "from conception to scrap bin."
Don't fancy all that woodwork though John. I'll start with rad templates first I think.
Paul G
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 22/7/06 at 07:32 PM |
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Come on Paul, you know you can do it.
I must admit, because I am not the best woodworker in the world the worst part for me was making the buck. I think the key to the buck is to make it
sturdy with holes for G clamps so that you can clamp down adjacent pieces prior to tacking. This avoids the dreaded overlap! I tacked with my
aluminium parts on the buck. There was a bit of smouldering and the poor old buck looked a bit sorry for itself but the clamps kept everything true.
This may not be the approved way, but it worked for me. If the joints are made on a curve, there is very little distortion, certainly none that cannot
be rectified with a little planishing.
Have you seen how much Demon Tweeks are selling Caterham aluminium nosecones for? Keep the buck, you could be sitting on a godmine!
John
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Trev D
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| posted on 22/7/06 at 07:52 PM |
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I've done a bit of fabrication work.
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907
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| posted on 22/7/06 at 08:53 PM |
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Hi Trev,
John emailed me a pic of his project, well impressive, (he's so modest) but I had nothing to email back.
So I emailed him one of yours and said I did it.
atb
Paul G
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zetec7
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| posted on 22/7/06 at 09:51 PM |
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I wanted to do more metal shaping until I saw this...nothing could compare to it. Fellow in the US built it & sold it on Ebay. 4000 hours and 15
years to build....
 
Rescued attachment 2006-06-01_180633_silv2.jpg
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 23/7/06 at 06:26 AM |
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I've done a bit of fabrication work.
Come on Trev, I know the truth. Your secret's out!
You work is the standard I can only dream about. I'd love to spend a day with you and be inspired.
Yours in awe
John
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 23/7/06 at 06:30 AM |
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I wanted to do more metal shaping until I saw this...nothing could compare to it. Fellow in the US built it & sold it on Ebay. 4000 hours and 15
years to build....
Hi Zetec, I see what you mean but this guy started at the beginning just like most of us. Trouble for me is he probably started a lot earlier in his
life than I did in mine.
Cheers
John
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zetec7
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| posted on 23/7/06 at 07:21 AM |
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I agree - but I don't think I've got enough years left to get to that kind of skill level! Of course, I should be on the road in a few
years, and the builder of that one never drove it...not even once. Only ran the engine for the rolling road, then sold the car!!
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 23/7/06 at 07:34 AM |
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I agree - but I don't think I've got enough years left to get to that kind of skill level! Of course, I should be on the road in a few
years, and the builder of that one never drove it...not even once. Only ran the engine for the rolling road, then sold the car!!
Yes, for him probably the joy was in the building rather than the driving.
I said to a model engineer once after he had spent 5 years building a loco, you'll be glad to get it finished won't you. He said well not
really because then I shall have to start another. I'm sure for a lot of us who build cars from scratch the satisfaction of the build ranks
almost as highly as the driving but for me there is nothing to compare with the satisfaction of actually getting on the road or circuit with a car
that started as a load of 1 inch erw.
John
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 23/7/06 at 09:00 AM |
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John, you don't need to spend a day with Trev to be inspired . I saw him gas weld some ally sheet at Pauls (907) a while back . 2 minutes and
I'm inspired ! When my engine is rebuilt and running fuel injection I will be having a go at a bonnet . Anyone have any tips for forming
louvres?
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 23/7/06 at 09:05 AM |
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My friend who builds bodies for vintage cars has tooling that fits into his wheeling machine. It uses a modified brake disc. looks weird but produces
a very good job.
The traditional way is to buy the correct tooling and punch them out with a fly press.
Anyone else have any novel ideas?
John
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 26/7/06 at 09:36 AM |
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I'm not very good with fibreglass so I made a power bulge in aluminium
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l57/bonnett_2006/phoenix40001Medium2.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l57/bonnett_2006/phoenix42002Medium.jpg
John
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