Three Projects Today...... Oh what Fun!

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Today the kiddo woke up at 7am sharp. That meant I got to start early in the garage, and knocked out three projects....  the first one I had on my mind for a couple days, the second one I thought about last night...... and the last one I thought about just all of a sudden today after the first two.......Here they are......First project was not welded. It's a Domino...... Just one..... I want to make a whole set, but made just one today to see how it would go.....I bought a set from Target so I would have a template....... The ones I bought were 5/16" thick. I just so happened to have that same thickness in mild steel laying around in the yard......... So..... I made one......Here are some pics of that project at 8am today........ (1 cup of coffee on the burner by then).... Attached Images
Reply:My second project today I thought about last night while I was awake at 2am. I needed something to hold paper towels in the garage. I wanted it to hang in a stud so I imagined this design.Here are the pics..... Attached Images
Reply:My third project today was something I just imagined all of a sudden. I mean it was only 11am and I had lots of time left before my day was over and I had to resume my normal "sit in front of a computer and hate my job" life.......I needed something to hold my I-pad and speakers so that they weren't in the way.....I think there are 10 pics, so this might take a couple posts.....Here are pics...... Attached Images
Reply:With the paper towel holder, I'd make some sort of end cap for it myself. It could be as simple as a large washer and a clip to keep it the roll on. That or quarter turn the unit so the rod is vertical like the kitchen ones.Edit: Sorry I didn't realize you had more picts coming right away..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:A few more pics: Attached Images
Reply:I learned a lot today. For example, in my last project..... the left side is warped downward..... because I didn't pause in the middle and welded all the way through......... The right side I paused in the middle and tried to tie in (not so good on my part) but it prevented warping on that side.My machine is only rated for 1/8" max. But even on 3/16" and 1/4" I was able to see the HAZ on the opposite side.Also..... I am not sure how to handle welding it out past my tacks. It makes a big spot right there....... I have to figure that out.Ok..... that's it..... my projects for today.....The domino is my favorite...... I can't stop fondling the damn thing......... I'm sure it will rust by tomorrow.....  I need to learn how to do Stainless......
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWWith the paper towel holder, I'd make some sort of end cap for it myself. It could be as simple as a large washer and a clip to keep it the roll on. That or quarter turn the unit so the rod is vertical like the kitchen ones.Edit: Sorry I didn't realize you had more picts coming right away.
Reply:The warpage issue can probably resolved with the proper application of a BFH. Just lay it on the workbench and persuade it into becoming straight and flat like you first intended it to be. If you think it will help, you can utter a few choice words to help convince it to lay down like you want it to(but it's optional).
Reply:I dig it!JoeMiller 140 Autoset (2010)Miller Syncrowave 250 (1996)
Reply:Good stuff! Though as somebody else said you may find you'll need to cap off the open end of the paper towel holder so that the roll doesn't fall off. Having just made a towel holder myself, I had thought of a few options to do this with a design like yours. You could bend the end up to make a little hook, you could drill a hole through the rod and use a cotter pin, or you could even thread the end of the rod to make something that screws on the end like a cap. And I'm sure there are plenty of other ideas I hadn't thought of, too.I had actually wanted to go the "thread the end and make a cap" route, but I don't actually have a tap and die set yet so I went with the cotter pin design instead. Here's a picture of mine. The rod was all scrap drill bit shafts. Used the OA torch to shape the sides and the one end of the rod (which you can't really see is bent with a little hook to prevent it from going through the hole). Didn't have a cotter pin lying around either, so I shaped one with some small rod. The hardest part was actually drilling the hole into the end of the rod for the cotter pin. I don't have a drill press so I had to use a hand drill to go through the round rod...getting that hole started was fun. =) Attached Images
Reply:It is nice to see a vernier in use today with all the digital calipers in use.Last edited by Scott Young; 01-10-2012 at 02:15 PM.
Reply:That domino is a really cool idea man. I think I'll try making me an aluminium set.
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauThe warpage issue can probably resolved with the proper application of a BFH. Just lay it on the workbench and persuade it into becoming straight and flat like you first intended it to be. If you think it will help, you can utter a few choice words to help convince it to lay down like you want it to(but it's optional).
Reply:Originally Posted by FabWizardThat domino is a really cool idea man. I think I'll try making me an aluminium set.
Reply:To polish  alum you could simply use hand sand paper in finer and finer grits, followed by buffing on a wheel with the right buffing compounds. I can remember getting a high polish on an alum casting in Jr. High shop this way. I can't remember if we wet sanded the alum like we did the plastic polishing projects or no at this point. The key is to take out all the scratch marks from the previous sanding before moving on to the next finer grit. Skip steps and it will take forever to get out the scratches. For something like the dominoes, I'd glue the sand paper to a flat surface and move the alum on it rather than the opposite way. The worst sides will be the saw cut ones. There I'd probably go with a file 1st before going to sand paper if I wasn't going to power sand. The key of course is not to put any more scratches in the material than you absolutely  have to since you'll have to take them all back out..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I never realized it was so soft. I think I will pick some up and give it a try.
Reply:Originally Posted by FexalI would like to Aluminum but I'm not sure how to cut and polish it. I only have an angle grinder that I use to cut and grind. I think aluminum will bind up in my disks right?
Reply:Nice work.One suggestion, maybe round off the corners of the shelf for added safety. That can be nasty, ask me how I know.
Reply:Originally Posted by FexalI would like to Aluminum but I'm not sure how to cut and polish it. I only have an angle grinder that I use to cut and grind. I think aluminum will bind up in my disks right?
Reply:Mr Fexal On Small Aluminum Parts We Used A Product Call "Never Dull " Got It At Parts House - Worked Great On Bike Parts And Wheels
Reply:Originally Posted by RenagadeMr Fexal On Small Aluminum Parts We Used A Product Call "Never Dull " Got It At Parts House - Worked Great On Bike Parts And Wheels