Recent content by CooperRSR

I have uploaded an updated video to better showcase the build.

Being a great one for making my life easier I like having tools to help me with that. I found out about the rivit fan through my buddy, chassis builder extraordinaire Steve Grebeck who is unfortunately no longer with us. I bought my first one from US Tool when they were in Walled Lake, MI but it...

From what I can see in the single post I have made since joining selecting thumbnail is the answer. Then any reader can click on it and it should open up larger.

So how do we accurately adjust the clamp angle to suit the material thickness. Two pieces of 1/4" flat bar were cut and welded to the rear of the clamping angle as seen in the first photo. Two pieces of 3"x2"x1/4" angle were cut and welded to the stationary angle. They are then drilled and...

Now we move on to creating the brackets that will be attached to the clamping angle allowing it to slide up and down over the two posts. This was made from more 2x2 angle with a slot in the top that will allow the clamp to slide back and fore catering to the sheet metal being bent thickness. The...

I just found this video that I produced when wanting to test the bending function before going too far into the project,

Maybe I didn't say it right when I said "has to be massaged to create the type of bend radius you want" but that is what I meant. As for box section pretty well all the DIY brakes I looked at on YouTube were built along similar lines. Absolute strength is not something I was looking for as it...

It was only as I was placing photos in these posts that I saw the two holes in the end plate that I remembered that I had previously tried a different clamping system. I thought I would be smart and re-invent the wheel and come up with a quicker clamping system. I thought a pair of latch action...

Photo1 shows the next step of the build. The clamping angle has to have a relief cut in it for the half of the hinge that protrudes upwards. The edge of the clamping angle that can be seen at the right has to be massaged to create the type of bend radius you want for the sheet metal you will be...

For some reason my photos showing the welding have disappeared but it was fairly straightforward, two of the bushings on each side were welded to the fixed angle and the swing section was then welded to the remaining bushing. All were welded on both sides of the angle. You can see this in photo...

Photo 1 shows the hinge positioned with half the diameter protruding. Both of the hinges sat under one degree from level as can be seen by the digital protractor readouts. Photo 4 shows the right hand hinge in place ready for welding. It is a good idea to remove any mill scale in the areas where...

The next thing was to install the hinges in the base and swinging section of the brake. That meant cutting two slots in both pieces of angle to allow the hinge to sit in the proper place to allow the swing section to rotate without binding. Remembering back to my apprenticeship days I used...

I am working on my MINI Cooper race car in a two car garage and I didn't have the room for all the cool tools so I took the decision to build my own sheet metal brake that could be fixed in my vice and bend up the smaller parts I would need. Firstly I drew up my idea in an old copy of Autocad LT...

I've just joined the Garage Journal after googling 'build a pit cart' It looks as is it could be a great resource for the fabrication on our race MINI and the pit cart I am going to be building. Here is a link to our Facebook page on the MINI, www.facebook.com/CooperRSR , the build has also been...