Aidan63 Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 2 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: What I don't have any more is...any excuse not to just get on with it! Have you double checked with your wife that the 'list of jobs' is clear ? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 Interesting “whatsit” build, I want to say it is ugly, but in the most beautifully ugly way….. if that even makes sense. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 Well, MrsAndjr1515 tells me that I am out of time for the rest of the day (as @Aidan63 guessed I might be ) , but it's been quite a productive afternoon. I set out just to experiment how best to cut the aluminium sheet but it went a bit better than that. And so - this is 0.2mm aluminium sheet. And it is proper strong and resilient sheet. But - it's actually just thin enough to be able to cut at least the outline with some decent scissors - and without deforming! Ignore the swirly bits, I was just experimenting. Hmmm...it's a long shot, but I might be able to use this as a real version rather than just a trial... But how to cut out the tuner holes. Clearly scissors can't be used and it's too thick for a Stanley knife. But maybe a curved chisel? I tapped both sides round the circle and then stuck the Stanley knife in every mm or so round the work-hardened punch line and, with a little bit of wiggling, the bonds snapped and the centre came out fine: Then, a clean-up with the Stanley knife to the pen line: And I just have the truss rod access and final external shape trimming to do...which will have to wait until I've served my penance helped round the house a bit, starting with hoovering the little bits of sharp aluminium stuck in the spare bedroom carpet Oh...and the weight? 8 grammes - exactly half way between the weight of a gnat's whatsit and a smidgen! Who'd have thought?!! 7 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 I trust you used Mrs Andy's cloth shears? ☠️ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 2 minutes ago, Happy Jack said: I trust you used Mrs Andy's cloth shears? ☠️ Only the best for a @Happy Jack job! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 Banking on the hoover sounding louder than the pillar drill, and risking that it will be a few moments before MrsAndyjr1515 realises that the sound of the hoover is actually coming from the cellar rather than the spare bedroom... ...it'll take a bit of practice and more trial and error and probably a different sand pad but I reckon we can get at least into the realm of 'essence of': 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 Spiraltastic! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan63 Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 how about a piece of green scotchbrite held in the jaws of a drill, I use that method for cleaning inside tubular holes in gearbox cases where I am just cleaning off some oxidation or for cleaning irregular surfaces , I can use a piece small enough to get in the bore but big enough that it will 'polish' the sides lightly -in your case say a 15mm strip folded on itself will give you a 15-20mm circle without the gap in the middle 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 Did you use a wooden pin to make that surface to the body? Watchmakers use wood to decorate movements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 1 hour ago, itu said: Did you use a wooden pin to make that surface to the body? Watchmakers use wood to decorate movements. I was just going to suggest a wooden dowel in the drill press and grinding paste. It’s how they taught me at apprentice training school when I had to put a machined finish on a centre-finder I made in toolmaking class. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 7 Author Share Posted August 7 Good suggestions, all. Those tests were a dremel sanding disk in the pillar drill, which is the right size but has a flexible outer and a too-rigid inner. I will try bonding some scotchbrite (great minds @Aidan63 ! ) onto the disc which would maybe even out the pressure. If that doesn't work I'll have a try of wood/grinding paste as @JPJ and @itu suggest. I have plenty of aluminium sheet to practice on and I know that @Happy Jack has the absolute patience of a saint 😇 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 I have to say, this is all jolly educational. Early heads-up. I was originally hoping to launch the Alumibird on an unsuspecting world on 25th August, but that now seems unrealistic. Plan B (and airtight alibi) will now be 8th September at Amersham Heritage Day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 I thought I might have to apologise for suggesting the matching headstock, but clearly @Andyjr1515 will do an amazing job as always, so I'll just stand around slack-jawed as usual. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 8 Author Share Posted August 8 10 hours ago, Happy Jack said: I have to say, this is all jolly educational. Early heads-up. I was originally hoping to launch the Alumibird on an unsuspecting world on 25th August, but that now seems unrealistic. Plan B (and airtight alibi) will now be 8th September at Amersham Heritage Day. Well, barring unforeseen events, I think, @Happy Jack , that you may well be able to go to the ball, Cinders 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 8 Author Share Posted August 8 Last hole cutting job for the plate was the trussrod access. I used the same method as with the tuner holes: And then back to the trials. Well, I reckon that scotchbrite is indeed the way to go @Aidan63 This is the Dremel disc I was using for the previous trial, and pictured with it the 'hi-tech modification kit' : And modded: And..in action!!! As the saying goes...'that will do nicely' So - plate is now glued to the headstock (using the same impact adhesive) and, after a cup of tea, we shall see where we get to 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 When you're done with that, I've got a stainless steel pot that I've burned apple onto ... could you have a crack at that too? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 8 Author Share Posted August 8 Well, no-one could accuse me of lacking in self-confidence but, word-not-allowed me, I was not expecting that! Just got to trim the excess round the sides and that bit is pretty much done 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 Absolutely outstanding! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan63 Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 (edited) using grey or red scotchbrite might yield even more even results, but that looks great, should anyone else try something similar will there be a Swift on the headstock ? Edited August 8 by Aidan63 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 8 Author Share Posted August 8 7 minutes ago, Aidan63 said: will there be a Swift on the headstock ? If I thought I could do it without c*cking it up, I would say yes...so probably no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 8 Author Share Posted August 8 Yup - it looks good. so no apology demanded @Richard R 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 At least that will stop Paul the Drums calling it The Seagull Bass. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 42 minutes ago, Andyjr1515 said: Yup - it looks good. so no apology demanded @Richard R That looks absolutely brilliant! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 That looks the bee's knees. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 (edited) 58 minutes ago, Happy Jack said: At least that will stop Paul the Drums calling it The Seagull Bass. The Dynamites drummer, however, can tell a seagull from a swift and he's the one who'll be seeing the bass in action. Edited August 8 by Silvia Bluejay 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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