Another Restoration Project

[aircommuter]

Dirt on my trailer queen.OMG

 

[aircommuter]

Another small update. Got busy on the seats and the lights. I ran the wires through some copper coated steel tubing for protection. I also made the backrest 4” higher than original and added the letters to make it run better. I also used a higher density foam in the seat than the backrest.

 

[aircommuter]

Well the weather is keeping me in the shop more, so while some progress is being made it doesn’t show on the machine so much. So here is the narrative for the pictures.
One picture shows a straight piece of stainless tubing next to my bender and the tube I made. Now I have to make a sister tube. These feed the clam cylinders. I didn’t have a pattern because they had hose and fittings on there which interferes with the radiator support. The picture showing the inside of the right loader arm shows where they go. Marks can be seen from fittings on the old hoses chafing on there.
There is a picture of the hood in the raw, still needs air cleaner and muffler holes and mounts. There is one picture of flat metal with the side panels laid out in soapstone ready to cut.
Another picture shows a few grouser bars welded on. I am still getting use to the wire. It is a very high deposition rate wire with a soft arc for minimal base material admix, Lincoln ns-3m. I stopped after a couple because I noticed the welder cooling fan wasn’t running. With this .084 wire running close the limit of this machine the fan is critical. So time for welder repairs. First I tested the thermal switch I installed years ago because I got tired of it running constantly when I was doing lighter work. But the motor didn’t run so I tested the capacitor and it was bad. I also noticed another bad capacitor while I was in there. I worked on it until 8pm tonight and got the internal stuff done so tomorrow just final test, covers and the Bernard cooler that I installed on top.I have lost some time clearing snow and replacing the two year old induction cooktop in our new house.

 

[aircommuter]

The project is still going on. All the track shoes are welded on. 350’ of weld bead.
Then some body work. Side panels and the hood are fabricated and test fitted. Too cold for painting right now.

 

[EddieWalker]

I didn't realize that you where missing the hood over the engine. Are you copying the original factory design?

How do you heat your shop?

 

[aircommuter]

I didn't realize that you where missing the hood over the engine. Are you copying the original factory design?

How do you heat your shop?

I am copying the picture from a parts manual I found, the only thing I am changing is to make it hinged. That way one person can open it. I am also missing a floorboard metal of course and a cover over the loader control valve.

The auto/machine shop is heated with 2 Jotul wood stoves and four 60k btu infrared overhead heaters for localized heat. If I start the wood stoves at 6am by 7:30 the chill is off, which is usually enough when I am busy. The walls are foam insulated r-21. The ceiling is r-20 but the fans push the heat down when needed. Ceiling is 23’6”.

The woodshop is heated by one Jotul Oslo model stove and it also has 4 ceiling mounted infrared units for spot work like finishing. Usually by 9-10 am that shop is 68 degrees with the wood going. Ceiling height is only 12’. The rollup doors are the biggest heat loss. If I really want a lot of consistent heat I burn almond wood that I buy instead of the oak I have a bunch of. The almond burns hot and leaves lots of coals.
Not sure if I ever posted any pictures of that shop.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'd love to see pictures of your shop. I'm still years away from building mine, but it's always fun to see what others have done and hopefully get some ideas.

 

[aircommuter]

I'd love to see pictures of your shop. I'm still years away from building mine, but it's always fun to see what others have done and hopefully get some ideas.

Actually there are some woodshop pictures back on page 6. There aren’t many of the auto shop so here are more.
Conduits are imbedded in sand under the slab, they come up to 4 three phase sub panels, 2 in each shop.They run to pre designed locations in the shops. The generator and compressor share the same room as you can see. Compressor is a 7.5 hp 3ph with a Kaser refrigerated drier and genny is a Kohler 50kw 3ph.

 

[EddieWalker]

I went and looked again. Sad that my memory doesn't go back to September!!! But I did enjoy seeing your pictures again. Did you paint all your wood working equipment the same color? They have different names on them and I've never seen anything so organized.

Do you run the generator to get 3 phase power, or is that just for backup?

 

[aircommuter]

I went and looked again. Sad that my memory doesn't go back to September!!! But I did enjoy seeing your pictures again. Did you paint all your wood working equipment the same color? They have different names on them and I've never seen anything so organized.

Do you run the generator to get 3 phase power, or is that just for backup?

The color got started with new Ulmia table saw. It was new in 1986 for $8800. So I didn’t want to change the color on a new machine. Since I painted cars at one time I had books of color chips, I found a very close match and that started the painting. Still a couple to go. Many of the machines are restored by me and my wife. They are old but good.
The generator is an auto backup. One transfer switch single phase for the house and another for the shop. I had the 3phase brought in to the property.
Here are some of the wood shop projects and the stove in the wood shop.