Most of my projects involve a little bit of metalwork along the way, whether that be cutting a screw down to length, filing the edge off a bit of metal or cleaning up a thread in something. I’m certainly no machinist or tool maker, but every now and again it’s good to get your teeth into a real metalwork project. Fire up the lathe and mill, get the measuring equipment and files out and make something. Because it’s not my day job and I’ve no real precision engineering training it always gets the old grey matter going as I try to figure out how to do things or teach myself a new skill and if you can make something beautiful, functional or both whilst your at it then so much the better.
A bit of model engineering - Miniature steam engines (run on compressed air) - Made when I had lots of spare time, before cycling and running took over my life.
Steel mounting frame to install a diesel heater to the van (see the van plan for full details) - Heater is positioned externally under the drivers seat area, with hot air ducted through the cab into the living area. The mounting below has been fitted for 2 years at time of writing (Jan 2023) with no problems.
"The Emmas" Christmas present 2021 - Copper and Brass flower mounted to an Oak plinth.
Car brake pressure test gauges - M8x1.25 male to M10x1 female adaptor to fit brake cylinder bleed nipple, assorted fittings and associated reworking of purchased 1/4BSP gauge fitting to allow testing of car rear brake pressures.
I'm not sure if this one is strictly metal working, but it's here none the less. The clock mechanism had been laying on the bench in my workshop for ages looking for some where to live, and the brake disc had sat in the garage waiting to go to the scrappies for even longer. Maybe they could live together?
Take one worn and rusty brake disc.
File the wear lips off and give it a soak in the magic solution to get rid of the rust.
Cut a circle out of a bit of left over copper sheet.
Give it a couple of coats of finest grey paint and polish the copper up a bit, and what have we got?
I think that'll look Ok on the workshop wall, and it's found a home for that clock mechanism.