Opinions Needed Please , Pictures of Running lights on my Kubota b3030 cab

[mjncad]

Quick question mjncad: I just went though your picasa site (extremely nice work BTW). How are you cutting that steel plate? Milling it? I've got a Jett Mill/Drill, but I've been too chicken to try steel on it. I mostly use it for aluminum and plastics.
Like on this piece:

I'd like to start some steel work- I was wondering if I could make due with a bandsaw and abrasive chop saw. Mostly just want to modify an I-hitch to hold weights for starts.

On the lights- I like the five on front. Sounds like 3 on the rear might work, due to the other lights.

Thanks Zephrant for looking at my work and the praise, I do appreciate it. All my metal work is done with a Wilton 14" vertical metal/wood bandsaw, a Grizzly 4"x6" swivel head bandsaw, a Jet 17" drill press, A Delta 10" bench grinder, a Miller 210 MIG welder, a Bosch 4-1/2" angle grinder, a Milwaukee cordless drill and sawzall, along with various hand tools. I also have a 10" Sears contractor style table saw and a Bosch 10" sliding chop saw for my hack work as I call my wood working that is primarily meant as fixtures and jigs.

Go ahead and use the Jet mill/drill on steel as a buddy of mine has a Grizzly and it does fine.

If I had the space and cash, I would love to have a lathe, a mill, a TIG welder, a plasma cutter and other assorted stuff.

 

[mjncad]

WaxMan:

A follow up on my cameras and monitor. Before making new brackets to try them in a new location, I decided to do what I should have done in the first place and test them out with known good equipment.

I took the cameras inside and hooked them up to my TV and the 120-degree wide angle CCD camera worked more or less OK. The 53-degree angle camera has washout, erratic color, etc. The same issues I have with it on the tractor. Of course the camera that works like crap is the one I put all the effort into making a pretty housing for. I didn't see a label saying it was CCD or not, so I'll assume (***** out of U & ME) that it's the cheaper CMOS type you mentioned.

As for the monitor, I took my Sony digital camera, which is the one I use to document my projects and connected it to the monitor. The picture on the monitor was OK; not as nice as yours; but acceptable. I still think I need a non-glare piece of Plexiglas on the monitor to knock down the washout glare I'm getting from not having a cab with tinted glass to help filter out some of the glare. I've found a couple of places on line that sell small quantities of non-glare Plexiglas meant for picture frames. As soon as it warms up a bit, I'll check and see if I can put an 1/8" thick piece over the monitor face and still fold it up when I don't need it.

Time to save my pennies for the Sanyo camera.

Thanks for your help.

 

[WaxMan]

Well here are some pictures of the finished lights if any body wants to see them. The first and last picture outside is with a flash, the others is how it looks in the dark.
While I had the roof off I also painted the underneath of the roof black like the new Grand L series cabs, yes I used special prep for painting plastic.

Thanks everyone for your suggestings

 

[ACHINBAC]

Well done Wax. 5 up front WAS the way to go. Now when you get a chance, get the heat gun out and get rid of those cheezy safety decals.

 

[number two]

Sweet!Is it time for the air horn now?Nice work,though-I mean the whole package.Love the exhaust the best.You've done so much,I'm surprised you started with a used(slightly)tractor.Oh yeah,who you did used to be ?,I'd like to reread the exhaust thread.Thanks.

 

[Ductape]

Instead of painting the underside of the roof black, you should have pulled all the glass and painted the grey cab orange.

 

[Zephrant]

I still think I need a non-glare piece of Plexiglas on the monitor to knock down the washout glare I'm getting from not having a cab with tinted glass to help filter out some of the glare

I'd highly suggest that you pick up a non-glare adapter for a computer screen.
Something like this 3M EX10L Anti-Glare Computer Filter that is designed for the task at hand.

So just to double check- did you cut out those steel mounts with the band saws? I've never cut any steel other than thin stuff, and your edges look very nice.

 

[mjncad]

Wonderful job on the lights Wax, they look great; plus your tractor's headlamps complement the headlamps on the poster girl seen through the can windows. Thanks for making sure she was seen in the thread again.

 

[mjncad]

I'd highly suggest that you pick up a non-glare adapter for a computer screen.
Something like this 3M EX10L Anti-Glare Computer Filter that is designed for the task at hand.

So just to double check- did you cut out those steel mounts with the band saws? I've never cut any steel other than thin stuff, and your edges look very nice.

That's kind of the idea for the monitor's glare filter Z; but I need to find something that will allow me to flip the monitor back to the stowed position when I don't need it. I've found a place on the net that sells 1/8" non-glare Plexiglas that I can cut to size. It's meant for picture frames.

Yes, I used my bandsaws for the brackets in the picture. The horizontal to cut the two blanks that I tack welded together, and the vertical for all the rest. The key is to set up the bandsaw accurately to get square cuts, a good bimetal blade (Starrett, Lenox) with the proper TPI for the material thickness, the proper speed and patience. If you take a look at Picasa Web Albums - Matt - John Deere 42...# you will see the new hook I made for my quick-hitch. It's made from 1" thick steel cut out on the Wilton vertical bandsaw. You can't use a regular wood cutting bandsaw as they run too fast. The Wilton I have has about 7-speeds using a belt drive system. If I disengage the gearbox, then it can be used for wood work too.

 

[ACHINBAC]

WaxMan,

Very professional job on the painting. Really dials the top in. That type of plastic is tough to stick anything to. What type of prep was required and what prime & top coat did you use? Also, nice clean lines on the masking - what type of tape?

Dave