Christmas List

Photo From Here

This might be asking a lot from Old Santa, another trip to Paris and an E-Type Jaguar.

This is a little more reasonable, Lewis Leathers Universal Racer jacket like Steve McQueen wore. Price listed on the website close to $1000.00 US dollars. It'd be just the thing for riding around on the BSA on those beautiful Fall days. I could pick one up next time I'm in London if Santa doesn't come through for me.

And while I'm there, pick up a Belstaff waxed cotton jacket for the rainy Spring mornings - either on the bike or while walking around Paris. Good enough for Sammy Miller, good enough for me.

And to complete the motorbiking ensemble, a pair of Gasolina boots. Gasolina also sells leather jackets. Both the boots and the jacket prices are pretty reasonable, actually. With shipping, about $300.00 for the boots, $500.00 for the jacket.

Last but not least, a Gerstner machinist box. I've wanted one of these ever since I started collecting machinist's tools. This one is about $1,400.00. Gerstner now has their International line with cheaper prices but I'd have to hold out for an American made one. They do have a kit for their Journeyman box if you want to build your own. That'd be you, not me. I've got enough sh*t to do.

If I low-ball the prices, trip to Paris $4,000, Jaguar $30,000, jacket $500, boots $300, machinist chest $1,400. Hell, that's less than $40,000. Not like I'm asking for much. Throw out the Jag and the list starts looking reasonable - not necessarily for my circle of friends and family - but for the high rollers out there, chump change. 

The truth of the matter is that all I really want this year is a couple of tools, a couple of books, continued good health for me and mine, "and on earth peace, and good will toward men". And if I could get the latter, I'd gladly give up the former. I don't need to see any more riots and young men and women getting killed, whether at war or in the streets. This Christmas season how about we think about others? While you're out shopping, drop a couple of bucks into the bell ringer's bucket or maybe help out the Toys for Tots if you can afford it. Maybe a donation to the local food pantry or soup kitchen. Kindness is contagious.

Inside Joke Part III

"And put it on my bill!"

And then we laughed 'til our faces cramped.

Genius at Work

From Here

Surly has been thinking about the BSA and has posted a couple of things about the upcoming build. Check out the link and see where he's coming from on the design process.

PS. I've got no idea what Wiley Coyote is thinking up there but since Surly was tossing around the names of Italian motorcycle designers, it seemed to fit. And you should check out The Panelbeater video at Handverker. Also, here's a link to the Brandoli Workshop. Signor Brandoli says it takes a lifetime to learn the skills. Me thinks I should have started a little earlier. 

Catch Up Time

Just a quick update on a little of what I've been doing while the computer was down:

Taking them from the top, jobs finished include the water trap installed on the blast cabinet, hillbilly storm window made and installed, and (sticking with the theme) the hillbilly cover for the regulator on the propane tank feeding the shop heater. The last photo is of the dies for a press brake that is next in line for my shop equipment. 

Obviously the window and the bucket were expedient solutions. When I went to the lumber yard to pick up the screen molding to keep the plastic film in place on the window, I told the guy what I was doing and he said the window might be under warranty. If so, Anderson will replace the sash or the complete window. He gave me an 800 number to call, so I'll do that as soon as school is out. In the meantime, the window is protected and I won't have the bottom falling out and the wind blowing in.

The regulator on the heater says it should be covered if used outside and with the big tank I've got, I definitely want it outside. The tank is strapped securely so it can't fall over and the plastic bucket covers the regulator and the tank valve. Not the sexiest solution but I've got heat. I also installed a shut-off valve on the back of the heater so I can turn off the gas without having to go outside to the tank. I had it running a bit yesterday and it warms the shop up quick. I should swap out the cheapie fluorescent light fixtures with something a little better so I can have good light while I'm waiting for the shop to warm up. They're not a ton of money and there's only four of them. I'm putting in some effort to get things nice but winter takes up a good one third of the year. Might as well be comfortable. 

I've got the press brake thing figured out - just a matter of making some parts and welding them together. I'll start making parts for that this week. I don't need it right now but I'd like to have it done when I do.

If you look at the bottom photo with the press brake dies in it, you can see the rear wheel for the Harley. I was going to put that back together but I've been hemming and hawing about buying a new rim. Mine's pretty rusty. A new deep center steel rim is going to run about $200.00 without spokes. If I'm going to re-lace the wheel, I'd prefer having an aluminum one like a Borrani or an Akront. They're substantially more money and if I went with aluminum on the rear, I'd have to change the front also. With stainless spokes, probably a grand for the pair, at least. For something I've never even heard run, I think I'll wait on that and put it back together as is. Maybe this week or next weekend.

Louvers

I've been thinking about what I need to complete my shop with metalworking tools and equipment. I've mentioned here before that I'd like to have a louver press. Another way of making louvers is with special dies on a bead rolling machine. Just so happens I have one of those. I just don't have the dies, which means if I'm planning on taking the bead rolling machine route I need to either make or buy some dies. I came across the above photo on the Motorsports books web site while shopping for Christmas presents. The dies themselves are from Williams Low Buck Tools - $115.00. Very reasonable for what you're getting. The only problem I see is the fact that you're going to be limited to flat panels. No way you're going to be able to reach out to the center of a hood or deck lid. However, Williams has a Metal Machine that has a big "C" frame with a plate on the end of it that will accommodate louver dies and a variety of other items such as a planishing hammer. Depending on if you would buy the frame and the dies or make the frame yourself to use his dies, the cheapest you'll be able to buy in is about $500.00.   Maybe I'll hold off on the louvers for awhile, save my money and put it toward concrete in the back of the shop or a brake. However, I'm thinking it would be nice to at least save room for one or make a stand that will hold the louver press and something else as well.

Maybe a set up like the Fournier QuickShaper:



Since I've already got my English wheel taken care of, maybe the big throat for a louver press and then add the shrinker/stretcher and the spots for the shot bag and stakes. I've got a stake plate. Put that on one side and the shot bag on the other. Bolt on the louver dies or the planishing hammer as needed and I'd be in business.

If I ever get all this stuff built and done, there's going to be one hell of an auction when I'm gone.

Makin' The Plan

Photo From Here

Shot of the stock BSA sidecover and air cleaner cover. This bike looks good in yellow - not so sure how it would look with the gray frame, however.  I got an e-mail from Surly and he's been working on a big home-owner project but he's about to put it on hold for a bit to get things ready for Christmas. Said he'd have some time to think about the Beezer a bit more, though. Likewise, I've got plenty of irons in the fire but I definitely want to get this show on the road - literately.

Looks like I'll only be teaching one class for the first eight weeks of the spring semester. As far as I know I'll still be working the lab tech gig as well. That'll be good. I'll be working two days per week but they'll be shorter days than I'm working now. The second eight I'll be working like I am this semester. Long days but only two. That's the main reason I've been thinking about the BSA - now that I know my schedule I'm making plans. Not that I normally stick to them but it's good to at least start with a plan, I suppose. If I do, I could conceivably have the Sportster, the BSA and the 900 all three done next year. I'll admit it's a stretch but stranger things have happened.

I need to go out to the new barn and stare at the VW one of these days as well. Since I don't have a decent sheet metal brake but the college does, I need to finalize my design for the dash and get that bent up before I leave there. I'm working on a set of bending dies for my hydraulic press that should be able to bend 1/4" x 8". That'll be good, but I'm still going to be coming up short on bending sheet metal. Definitely going to have to work on a solution for that problem if I'm going to continue to work on automobile projects or build myself another sidecar. Maybe like the Cubs - wait until next year. Probably with the same amount of success. I shouldn't say that. I figure I at least finished better than .500 this year and I'm fairly optimistic for next year. Time will tell, however.

Computer Blues

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The fan in the computer quit the other day, so rather than burn it up, I decided to follow the directions on the screen, hit F2 and log off. It should be fixed by the middle of the week or so and things will be back to normal (I'm writing this while busily engaged at my lab tech position).

Meanwhile back at the ranch:

Did the 5K on Thanksgiving Day - my time was lousy but the Tee shirts were nice.

Made a cheapo storm window to cover up a vinyl clad window sash that somehow managed to rot out. The plastic should keep things protected until spring when I can replace the sash or the entire window.

Was going to bolt the brake drum back on the Harley and put the back wheel together but Menards only had six locknuts and I needed eight. I'll pick up a couple more and get that back together.

I picked up an inline air dryer for the sandblasting cabinet. That should take care of the water issue I was having.

I had a talk with Surly about the BSA. He's pretty much in favor of keeping things stock. One of the reasons my brother was going to change things around was the fact that the stock gas tank had developed a leak. Keeping things stock would make the job go both cheaper and faster. As long as I can fix the tank, the rest of the job would be just some straight forward mechanical things and then some new paint on the tank and sidecovers. If you look at the photo above you can see one of the stock paint jobs that were available back then. It also came in a red & white tank, a green & white tank, as well as the solid color light blue metallic that ours currently is. Additionally, some had black frames, others light dove gray - or whatever you want to call it. Ours is the gray, which I've  taken a fancy to for some strange reason. From our conversation the other day, I think Surly would vote for the green and white tank on the gray frame. I could live with that. Looks like the next step is to see about repairing the tank.