Ramping up for Christmas

[royce]

I came across a pic of a gift I gave my mother 10 years ago.
I thought it would be fun for her and my brothers and sisters to put together on Christmas.
Going by memory, it is maybe 24"x16"x1/4" plate, cut with a hand torch.
I would suggest going easy on the whisky the night before and light on the coffee the day of cutting, if you choose to venture into this silliness!!!!
Anyhow, it got me thinking about some gifts I'll build this year.
More to come later.

Royce

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

That's some very nice cutting torch work there Royce. Nice seasonal theme as well. I can see where wiskey or coffee would make that job a lot harder. Looks like a cnc plasma project for most folks. Really nice. Ed.

 

[royce]

That's some very nice cutting torch work there Royce. Nice seasonal theme as well. I can see where wiskey or coffee would make that job a lot harder. Looks like a cnc plasma project for most folks. Really nice. Ed.

Thanks much Ed,
I really enjoy hand made gifts, giving and recieving.
I've watched the progression go from mechanical flame pantographs to photo eye plasma pantographs to CNC plasma,laser and water jets.
I've not messed with anything CNC, I wonder how much it would take write the program for some thing like this?
I was reluctant to post this for people not knowing what can be done with a hand torch and not believing it was done by hand.

Royce

 

[NUTTSGT]

That was cut with a torch ? Like Oxy-acetylene ?

Wow, very impressive.

 

[royce]

That was cut with a torch ? Like Oxy-acetylene ?

Wow, very impressive.

Yes, oxy-acetylene hand torch
Thanks

Royce

 

[Fishingfoolemjak]

Wow.... very nice! I tried my hand at free hand plasma cutting the other day, it looked like a five year old meth head hit it with a crayon.

 

[LXCam]

That's absolutely nuts Royce. I'd give anything to spend a day with you just to learn the correct technics, you're a master brother.

Wow.... very nice! I tried my hand at free hand plasma cutting the other day, it looked like a five year old meth head hit it with a crayon.

Ya me too. I can't explain this but I can cut a absolutely perfect straight line with anything, skill saw, portaband, saw zall and even a hacksaw. But put a torch in my hand, plasma or flame and the rectangle you asked me to cut would end up looking like a ****** copy of the continental United States.

 

[royce]

Wow.... very nice! I tried my hand at free hand plasma cutting the other day, it looked like a five year old meth head hit it with a crayon.

I hear you,
I never could free hand with a plasma either.
Thanks

Royce

 

[royce]

That's absolutely nuts Royce. I'd give anything to spend a day with you just to learn the correct technics, you're a master brother.




Ya me too. I can't explain this but I can cut a absolutely perfect straight line with anything, skill saw, portaband, saw zall and even a hacksaw. But put a torch in my hand, plasma or flame and the rectangle you asked me to cut would end up looking like a ****** copy of the continental United States.

Yes, a little nuts, but lot's of fun.

A few tips to better flame cutting;
Correct tip size
Correct gauge settings
Correct travel speed
Teach your body to cut pulling, pushing, right to left, left to right.
Stay in the cut, meaning, no jerking.
Use left hand as pivot point.
Don't forget to breathe.
Some really good practice is to cut circles without stoping, starting with 1/2" and working up to 4" as you get more comfortable.
Thanks

Royce

PS
Looks like you misspelled baiter,
You might want to watch that!!!

 

[royce]

Well, I thought I would start this year with something simple.
I cut these candle holders out of some flange drops from another project.
Still need to bore for the candles and put a finish on them.

Royce

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Royce you are amazing! Metal in your hands is just magic.

 

[royce]

That is mighty kind Pontiac
Thank you

Royce

 

[royce]

Completed this afternoon.
Put a light rust on with peroxide, then hit it with ospho, then some tung oil.
All of that, gave it a aged look that appeals to my eye.

Royce

 

[Thumper68]

Wow just Wow. My torch cutting skills have gone way down in the last 25 years but even at my peak cutting just about every day I could/would not even think about trying that.

Mad skills.

I did make a real nice 2 inch cut on some 1" at fabtech last week.

 

[forAK]

Absolutely amazing work! Always a pleasure looking at your work.

Thanks for sharing your talents!

 

[royce]

Thanks Thumper,forAK and all
Cranked out another candle holder this morning.
This one was built from a couple drops and the brass gate out of a valve.
Finish is scorched linseed oil.
I think it gives it a nice amber tone.

Royce

 

[royce]

Got started on a end table and floor lamp for Mrs Clause this afternoon.
Cultivator shoes for the base
2" square tubes for the riser
Old dock boards for the top

Royce

 

[royce]

Got the table top done today.
Also bent a 180 out of 1/2" pipe to hang the fixture from, it seems to be out of proportion to my eye.
So I went at it from another direction.
I think I like the second version better, we'll see after it's tacked up.

Royce

 

[royce]

Welded up the light fixture mount today.
Also tried a couple different finials, I'll probably go with the pointed ones.
The overall look is pretty good to my eye.
A couple design issues;

I could not get a wire pulled through the curved 1/2" square tube arm.

The 1/2" sch 40 upright proved to lack enough stiffness, so the light fixture is wobblier than tolerable.

So then, I think I'll fab one with a 3/4" sch 40 upright and 3/4" square tube curved beams tomorrow.

Royce

 

[royce]

Had a productive day today
Rebuilt the light fixture boom with a 1"sch 40 column and 3/4" curved square tube beams.
I segment bent the beams and it left bulges at each bend that look nice and rustic.
Also made a friction clamp in the receiver socket.
I made it so the set screw does not bear on the column but on the receiver
That should stop the set screw from chewing up the column.
I think it would be a good design for a lot of applications.
Got a coat of oil on the iron and varnish on the wood.
Great day

Royce

 

[bluebolt]

I really like the lamp stand Royce!

 

[royce]

Thank you Bluebolt,
I got it completed today.
Also made a deal to build a cart for a welder in trade for another cart.
Got it started this afternoon.

Royce

 

[forAK]

That turned out slick

 

[royce]

Thanks forAK,
I went for another simple project today, a candle holder made from a drop from a vise stand I made awhile ago.

Royce

 

[BD1]

GREAT !! I love the wide sweep cultivator base. I have a bundle I bought at auction cheap. I may use them for a base.

 

[royce]

Thanks BD1,
I had some problems with welds cracking on those sweeps, annealing them where they are welded before they are welded stopped it.
Started another end table/floor lamp yesterday, it will be set up like a boom derrick.
I gathered up some sprockets and roller chain to raise and lower the boom as well as rotate the derrick

Royce

 

[BD1]

Thanks BD1,
I had some problems with welds cracking on those sweeps, annealing them where they are welded before they are welded stopped it.
Started another end table/floor lamp yesterday, it will be set up like a boom derrick.
I gathered up some sprockets and roller chain to raise and lower the boom as well as rotate the derrick

Royce

Yes and a disc blade can be the same.
I may stick bolts through the holes and plug weld. That way I know it's good.

 

[royce]

Good plan BD1,
I made a little headway on the boom derrick light today.
Got the boom draw works about done.
The derrick turn table comes next.

Royce

 

[royce]

I snuck out to the shop early this morning and got the boom hung and the crown block mounted.
I had to quit before MRS Pilgrim had a spell and get ready for kids and grandkids to arrive.

Royce

 

[Bears Fan]

royce

I like your style! I really like how the end table/lamp turned out I noticed your anvil in this picture, can you show some more pictures of it? And some info on it? I'm subscribing to see what projects are next

 

[royce]

Thanks much Bears Fan,
About the anvil, I made it out on a pipeline job many moons ago.
The base is a pile cap, the body is a couple of 6"1500# blind flanges, the deck is a loader fork.
It is 40" long and 5" wide.
I've not scaled it, so I don't know what it weighs.

Royce

 

[Strouty]

The lamp looks great, but that puzzle is mind boggling to me. I do not have that kind of ability, not sure I ever will, you set the bar way too high!

 

[royce]

Thanks Strouty,
Maybe start small, like this valentine I made for my bride.
It is crude but the message was well received.

Royce

 

[Strouty]

I am definitely going to make an attempt, not sure what it will end up looking like.

 

[royce]

Got the base and turret built today.
I used some pillow blocks and she spins effortlessly.
This project was built from the bone pile other than I'm lacking one sprocket and one master link.
I guess I'll have to get off my wallet and buy them.
Also cut a mock table top to check size and shape.
I think I'll cut 3 flats on it, so it will part round and part 3 sided and see what that looks like.

Royce

 

[Bears Fan]

Thanks for sharing! The anvil really is a cool piece and has a great story behind it I'm really liking the use of those cultivator shoes for the bases on your lamps, I will have to keep a eye out for them now...I like anything that has that vintage industrial look to it

 

[ezover]

wow.... Very nice! I tried my hand at free hand plasma cutting the other day, it looked like a five year old meth head hit it with a crayon.

lmao!!!

 

[royce]

Got a few items done today
light hung
boom stop
winch drum holes and stop pin
soldering iron finial on the boom
brass escutcheon for the table

Still trying to get the tabletop shape figured out.

Ended the day cutting a couple candle holders from some drops.

Royce

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Good grief does it ever stop! You are amazing! I think I’m going to look on the old farm yard if there are any cultivator shovels still around. We used to throw them in concrete footings just to get rid of them.

 

[James-W]

Wow.... very nice! I tried my hand at free hand plasma cutting the other day, it looked like a five year old meth head hit it with a crayon.

That was pretty graphic.