3003 Ally Tank T500 (Complete!)

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

Got started on my first piece of ally today. Doesn't look like much but I am happy with how it's going. All formed over a piece of oak plank with radiused edges and I also used the screw on metal cap for my co2 bottle as a dolly. I formed a shallow indent in a piece of oak to do the shrinking in. I need to make a 3/4 round bar dolly to make things easier.

 

[rockcitycafe]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

nice work so far, you have no idea how stoked i am to see someone else taking up an old school craft and running with it

 

[JustinLonghorn]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

Yes sir, it is a very nice thing to see. Please keep up the good work.

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

Thanks, and I appreciate all of your advice.

I completed the first side today. It will need a little more hammering and triming to size but its pretty close. I also had to make up a 3/4" dolly and a radiused piece of 2-1/4" UHMW for forming.

 

[rockcitycafe]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

so if you start to notice a concavity forming in the flat area (you may or may not, depending on thickness), you can do tiny tuck shrinks on the radius edge with some pliers and hammer them flat against your dolly... again, you may or may not have it, but that's how to deal with it if it comes around

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

I do have that issue in one area so I'll try your suggestion.

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

Both sides done! I think the middle sections will be easier than the sides, I'm hoping anyway.

 

[kwazykid]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

This is so cool! I gotta ask... is that blood in that last pic? I've always heard that if there is blood in a project it means good luck.

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

Haha yes it is blood... I'm up for good luck!

 

[JustinLonghorn]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

It isn't a real project until at least a few drops of blood have spilt.

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

Anyone know where I can buy gas welding goggles with the blue lenses? I used to use them years ago when bronze welding and ally welding. I know I can get them from TM Technologies but over $100 for goggles I don't think so.

 

[crazypj]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

Yea, Cobalt blue lenses seem to be pretty expensive.
Can't even find a small sheet to make some

 

[rockcitycafe]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

when I did gas, I was using a shade 5 cutting lens, seemed fine...

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally For Making Tank - Progress!

I tried the #5 and didn't like it, I may try a #3.

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank & Seat T500 - Progress!

Got a bit more done on the seat unit. Sides and seat pan are done and cut to size. Tomorrow hopefully I can get the top and underside done then maybe start welding next week.

 

[rockcitycafe]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank & Seat T500 - Progress!

slick... also, you don't have to have all your panels formed before you start welding, in a lot of cases, you don't want to, metal moves a lot when being welded, so on a seat like that, I'd probably finish the back bump welding, straightening and all, then do the front. also, on the side panels and middle panel, you're probably not going to want all your radius on one panel, if you weld a flat section in between the sides, it's going to want to pucker around the welds, giving it some radius at the edges will keep this from happening too much

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank & Seat T500 - Progress!

Ok, I welded the panels that I had formed! It actually looks like something now. Still need more practice at the gas welding to get the welds to look a bit neater. It didn't distort as much as I expected. I am quite happy with how it is going.

 

[Ringo]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank & Seat T500 - Progress!

Very nice. That ought to look sharp polished up.

 

[teazer]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank & Seat T500 - Progress!

That's an impressive piece of work.

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank & Seat T500 - Progress!

Thanks guys! Now I am not sure if I should sand off the welds before I do any of the straightening? As rockcity said I want to have the parts that are already welded straightened before making the other parts.