Bkndsdls' 64 Build - 9+ years strong

[Alan's Classic]

Originally Posted by Bkndsdl

Thanks, Alan! I've spent the last month reading your thread, absolutely awesome and very much a motivator. I have many questions that will be coming your way as soon as I start the bodywork, hope you don't mind.........My real Grandpa was a body man in lower Louisiana. My Mom knows a bit about it too, because he had all the kids helping out, especially the sanding! He passed away before I was born, but my Uncles kinda took up the trade; I wish I lived in Louisiana still so I had someone to teach me hands-on.

Does you uncle have any tools he could hand down to you? Stuff that he doesn't use anymore. I bet your Grandpa had some cool tools that you can't buy anywhere. Back then they had to make the special tools to get the job done.

Originally Posted by Bkndsdl

Bought me a new toy in preparation of sheet metal work last weekend; I got a sheetmetal nibbler from Harbor Freight. I tried it on a piece of scrap; works good, but boy does it use a lot of air.

Next thing I'll be buying is an angle grinder (thanks Alan, Heath, Dennis). Man, the cab better get here soon or I'll not be able to buy patch panels with all the new toys!

[Bkndsdl]

Man, I wish he did......my Grandpa died before I was born, and my Uncle who had this truck was very young......when he restored this truck, my oldest Uncle worked in a body shop so he pretty much used his older brother's tools.....I don't know if any of my Grandpa's original tools stayed with my Uncle. That was around 40 years ago.......just might have to make a call, never hurts.

Thanks for the help Alan!

[Bkndsdl]

Well, it's been almost two months and I still don't have my cab. The guy doing the work had a motorcycle wreck, and had to recuperate for a week. I met with him yesterday, and he's yet to start on it...........promised me he would start on it Monday of next week.

I am getting very anxious.......I bought the angle grinder last weekend, and picked up a cheapo hammer & dolly set from HF. I am really ready to get started!

[Bkndsdl]

I've been working on a new project while waiting on my cab. I've heard about a blasting cabinet made from a 55 gallon drum; I searched the internet, gleaned enough info and looked at enough pictures, and decided to start construction on my own.

First things first: procure a barrel. Got this one for free.

[Bkndsdl]

I decided on the size of the window, marked the slats, and cut them out.





After I was done.

[Bkndsdl]

Next, I hammered out the ribs in two of the slats to form the sides.



I then took the slat, set it inside the window, and marked the arc of the barrel.



Then, I cut the arc out of them.





And this is what I ended up with.

[Bkndsdl]

Next, weld it up. Finished with this part.



Next was to figure out how to get my arms in the blast cabinet. I picked some blasting gloves up from Harbor Freight; $7 a pair. Then I had to form the arm holes. I decided what size to make them by sliding a glove over a tapered pail that the boys had laying around. when it got to a snug fit, I took the glove off and measured the circumference of the pail at the point that the glove stopped. I now had my measurements I needed to make the cylinders for the arm holes.

No need to buy scrap.............I have plenty. this is the roof of my original cab. I decided on 6" wide for the arm holes and cut a 6" wide strip.

[Bkndsdl]

This is what I ended up with; not perfect, but it'll get the job done.



And here's how it fits. I'll secure the gloves to the tubes with a pipe clamp when the time comes.



more to come........

[Bkndsdl]

woohoo!! I got patch panels for Father's Day! Now I just need my cab back.............

[Bkndsdl]

I did a sea trial this weekend on a boat we did an extensive amount of work on. Went only about 10 miles out of Mobile Bay, and saw a good bit of oil....... I hope we don't have a hurricane amidst all this....

[Bkndsdl]

Well, I was able to get the frame for the window welded in, and the frame on the outside welded up. I still have to make the bolts to hold the outside frame in place. I hope to get more done on it tonight, as it's not raining for the first time in a week today.

[Bkndsdl]

I was able to get the glove tubes cut in, and partially welded. I ran out of gas......I hope I can get some tomorrow. Note: I welded mine, but I have seen some guys that screwed or pop-riveted theirs together. I even saw one guy use old license plates....



Please pay no attention to the welding! It won't leak, but it is UGLY....

[Bkndsdl]

I made the window frame angle by cutting a 1" wide piece of sheetmetal from my original roof, placed it in a vise, and whacked it with a rubber mallet.



I made the outside frame the same way, only with 2" angle.

[Bkndsdl]

Next I made these tabs and welded them on the window.



Then I made these swivel bolts. I used a short piece of pipe, cut the head off a bolt, then welded the bolt to the pipe. Next I welded tabs to the barrel, and bolted it up. I got the handles from Lowes.

[Bkndsdl]

Here is the inner frame welded in; you can see the foam rubber I added to the frame to seal it. I used foam rubber on both the inner frame and the outer window. The plexi is sandwiched between.



Here it is attached. Works pretty cool.

[Bkndsdl]

I plan on running all my wiring and any hoses through the lid. I took two old lids, and used a hole saw to cut the smaller bung out of them. I then cut holes in the lid I'm going to use, and welded in the bungs. As you can see, I changed my mind on the location of the light wire...........



I then put a pvc fitting in the holes, and ran the hoses and wire for the light through. I used the larger bung for the shop-vac connection.



Next I rubbed silicone on the welds. I ran out of gas, so I had to use my flux-core wire...I hate using it on sheet metal. It doesn't do too well....

Here's a pic with the hoses ran through, and the lid on.

[Bkndsdl]

Here's the light installed. I welded in a tab and hung the light with wire ties. I got the light from Lowes.

[Bkndsdl]

Gloves installed. Used hose clamps...works really well, although I had to cut the tubes down, they were way too long and impeded movement too much.

[Bkndsdl]

Here's a shot of the blaster I used, got it from Harbor Freight.



It works!! The shop-vac pulls so much vacuum that the gloves shoot straight out each time I turn it on, and the 1/8" plexi actually sucks in. I'll have to use 1/4" next time. Woo Hoo!

[Bkndsdl]

My first two parts. Works pretty good.



A couple of observations:

1. Takes a LOT of air, which all blasters of this size do. I have to wait until my compressor fills up, then when I start blasting it only takes a few minutes for it to kick back on again. It does run for a while if I turn the compressor off, but it takes a while to regen air. Just makes things a bit slower. I imagine if I had a much larger compressor this issue would go away.

2. The blast kit from HF works awesome. The only thing you have to be careful with is to make sure the sand is dry, but this is something you have to deal with with all siphon feed blasters. I had to empty the first load due to sand being wet, but once I let it dry then stored it in a sealed 5 gallon bucket, it works fine. I may end up making something for the sand pot to keep it rolled to one side; the side sand outlet works good, but it won't remove the sand from the pot uniformly; you have to shake it every once in a while. I may make a pot of my own with the siphon port on the bottom.

3. I will have to cut some holes in the right side of the blaster for air flow......I've already cracked the plexi because of how much vacuum the shop vac pulls. I will replace this plexi with 1/4" as well.

Other than that, I couldn't be more pleased. I estimate I've spent around $80-100.

[Captainfab]

reducing the size of your nozzle will require less cfm of air. You'll have to experiment a little to find the balance of a smaller nozzle, but still being able to throw enough sand to get the job done in a reasonable amount of time.

[63sbssbbw]

That's awesome
You could use a ball valve on the right side,then you could control the flow and be able to close it when not in use to keep moisture out.
yes they're pretty pricey,but if you know anyone in the oil industry they're a dime a dozen.
T

[Bkndsdl]

Originally Posted by 63sbssbbw

That's awesome
You could use a ball valve on the right side,then you could control the flow and be able to close it when not in use to keep moisture out.
yes they're pretty pricey,but if you know anyone in the oil industry they're a dime a dozen.
T

Thanks T, CaptainFab. Yeah, thought about both of those too.....or I could just drop the regulated pressure on the compressor. I will go that route first and see what happens.

Thanks!

[NCD1966]

i like that homemade blasting cabinet. I might have to do the same.

Subscribed

[Bkndsdl]

I found a place local that sells the film that you put on the inside of a blast cabinet to protect the glass. It's a 10'x24" wide roll for $15. This will save me a bunch in plexi!

I adjusted my pressure out on the compressor, and it seemed to last a bit longer. I ran out of sand in a short time, though.....next up is to make a filter screen so I can reclaim the sand. I have run two 50lb bags through it sofar.

Made a trip to storage last night so I could get some parts to work on. I am finally able to work on the truck on a regular basis. Now all I need to get is some primer and I can start getting the small parts prepped and ready to start going back together!