Willow...An Evolution
- Thread starter troybilt
- Start date
Re: Willow...An evolution..
Thanks man. I have to agree. It's not in real tight like I wanted but it just works here much better than everywhere else. Cleand up the top of the bike
...OK? ???
So i take it you don't like my cheap little light? Thats cool, but that light you posted cost more than this entire phase of the build including the seats and tanks that I won't be using
thanks bro. I always appreciate it when you chime in . I liked that tank but the whole time i kept thinking I could dial it in to make it flow a little more. So I guess we'll see once I get the new one to a finished state...Anyhow, Yeah the ears now match all the other mounts. More fluid for sure.
Not sure on the raw or polish. More than likely copper and brass will be polished.
JRK5892 said:
Thanks man. I have to agree. It's not in real tight like I wanted but it just works here much better than everywhere else. Cleand up the top of the bike
Fix said:
...OK? ???
So i take it you don't like my cheap little light? Thats cool, but that light you posted cost more than this entire phase of the build including the seats and tanks that I won't be using
Swagger said:
thanks bro. I always appreciate it when you chime in
. I liked that tank but the whole time i kept thinking I could dial it in to make it flow a little more. So I guess we'll see once I get the new one to a finished state...Anyhow, Yeah the ears now match all the other mounts. More fluid for sure.Oh you and me both. I think you'll like what comes in the reveal thenmy94f2 said:
Not sure on the raw or polish. More than likely copper and brass will be polished.
Re: Willow...An evolution..
I hate to derail my thread...but I feel I must....
Spent some time in Jim's shop. Jim and his shop has some pretty cool history and it would be a shame to leave it unmentioned. Like I said Jim builds high tech composite airplanes, but he has also designed and built kayaks and kayak paddles for the past 30 years. Many of his kayak designs are used on whitewater around the globe. He sells his designs to kayak compaines. They use his designs and his name. he receives a small royalty each year but sadly it doesnt amount to much (about 1K a year)
Sup kayaking is a "new" sport that is taking off around the globe. Jim and his brother Jeff are legends in the sport of white water kayaking and are the pioneers of squirt boating. Now Jeff has pioneered SUP kayaking. He started sup on white water over 20 years ago. kinda crazy but he straps his feet in with bindings like those on snowboards and paddles whitewater standing up. He is one of the few people that can kayak about any level of whitewater sup style. I've seen the dude roll the thing upright staying in the bindings in some pretty heavy class V white water. Sick...
Anyhow, the shop is a very cool place so I want to share a little of his work.
One at a time...lamenting layers together for a new SUP paddle as a model.
Jim has kayak molds stuck everywhere around the shop. These kayak molds are sent to plastic companies that mold them so they can be used to make plastic kayaks. One company is turning out almost 10k boats a month (remember Jim receives 1K a year from his designs ??? ??? ) . WTF...talk about a labor of love!
A stack of paddles:
I hate to derail my thread...but I feel I must....
Spent some time in Jim's shop. Jim and his shop has some pretty cool history and it would be a shame to leave it unmentioned. Like I said Jim builds high tech composite airplanes, but he has also designed and built kayaks and kayak paddles for the past 30 years. Many of his kayak designs are used on whitewater around the globe. He sells his designs to kayak compaines. They use his designs and his name. he receives a small royalty each year but sadly it doesnt amount to much (about 1K a year)
Sup kayaking is a "new" sport that is taking off around the globe. Jim and his brother Jeff are legends in the sport of white water kayaking and are the pioneers of squirt boating. Now Jeff has pioneered SUP kayaking. He started sup on white water over 20 years ago. kinda crazy but he straps his feet in with bindings like those on snowboards and paddles whitewater standing up. He is one of the few people that can kayak about any level of whitewater sup style. I've seen the dude roll the thing upright staying in the bindings in some pretty heavy class V white water. Sick...
Anyhow, the shop is a very cool place so I want to share a little of his work.
One at a time...lamenting layers together for a new SUP paddle as a model.
Jim has kayak molds stuck everywhere around the shop. These kayak molds are sent to plastic companies that mold them so they can be used to make plastic kayaks. One company is turning out almost 10k boats a month (remember Jim receives 1K a year from his designs ??? ??? ) . WTF...talk about a labor of love!
A stack of paddles:
Re: Willow...An evolution..
The tank got some work. He says that this shape of tank shows flaws much easier than a normal round shape. He says that even on the airplanes he builds has less quality control because flaws would be easier hidden in round shapes. Not sure but I know he is every bit anal about stuff as I am hehe. I'm so lucky to have him walking me through this process.
Jim is using a Pin gauge.
This is after about 5 hrs of blocking the piece out and making it all even
We've also been working on fitting the filler cap. Cut the mold to accept a wood plug thats a tad larger then the filler bung (allows room for the epoxy to take hold). Anyhow, the side was first built up using bondo and Icing. It will get reshaped back into its normal size but this allowed us to sneak up on a small bump up for the filler
I'll past more process and procedures later...
The tank got some work. He says that this shape of tank shows flaws much easier than a normal round shape. He says that even on the airplanes he builds has less quality control because flaws would be easier hidden in round shapes. Not sure but I know he is every bit anal about stuff as I am hehe. I'm so lucky to have him walking me through this process.
Jim is using a Pin gauge.
This is after about 5 hrs of blocking the piece out and making it all even
We've also been working on fitting the filler cap. Cut the mold to accept a wood plug thats a tad larger then the filler bung (allows room for the epoxy to take hold). Anyhow, the side was first built up using bondo and Icing. It will get reshaped back into its normal size but this allowed us to sneak up on a small bump up for the filler
I'll past more process and procedures later...
Basement rat
Over 1,000 Posts
Re: Willow...An evolution..
Wow, gotta keep an eye on this one too!
Wow, gotta keep an eye on this one too!
Re: Willow...An evolution..
Man isn't that the truth. I'ma lucky dude. The only bad is its a busy time of the year for him and progress is going to be slow.
Its really sweet but yeah its major money. I appreciate ya pointing it out. May inspire me to kick some ideas around. We'll see if I have time to kill waiting on working on the tank...
I really appreciate the homage brothers!
Well, I've been finding my self working on 10 different things at once. I'll start one thing and something else will catch my eye and ...I need to keep my ass focused.
I spent most of the day finishing and going over all the welds on the frame. I also spent a ton of time sanding the grinding marks off the welds and tubing. What a pain in the arse. My hands are raw from sanding. But the Frame is just about ready for paint. The only thing left to weld is mount tabs for the tank. I wont do that until I have the t-nuts inbeded in the tank and the tank all but done. That way I can fine tune where the tabs need to go instead of the other way around.
So, everything will get a fresh coat of paint including the wheels and the motor. The paint wasn't too bad when I started but I beat the hell out of them over the winter during fabrication. Also plan to repolish and brush the aluminum bits as well.
Today I also shaved the fins off the points cover. Used the grinder then blocked it back down with 120 grit. Worked my way through a few grits then drilled some speed holes. I'll finish sanding and polishing later. Once I clearcoat the aluminum It will get brass screen jb welded to the inside.
I don't have a jig saw so I made use of a worn out cut off wheel on the angle grinder to do the scallops. Also drilled more speed holes. The mount holes you can see on the motor and the motor mounts:
Together:
Also drilled some holes in the rear hub. It will get some brass screen as well. Its looking kinda plain so I may drill more before its all said and done with:
Wingspan said:Having an experienced hand to teach you is priceless when learning a new skill.
Man isn't that the truth. I'ma lucky dude. The only bad is its a busy time of the year for him and progress is going to be slow.
Fix said:Troy, I posted the shotglass thing as inspiration, as I bet you could do something like that if you wanted. I wouldn't buy it, as I believe it costs more than my bike's worth
Its really sweet but yeah its major money. I appreciate ya pointing it out. May inspire me to kick some ideas around. We'll see if I have time to kill waiting on working on the tank...
I really appreciate the homage brothers!
Well, I've been finding my self working on 10 different things at once. I'll start one thing and something else will catch my eye and ...I need to keep my ass focused.
I spent most of the day finishing and going over all the welds on the frame. I also spent a ton of time sanding the grinding marks off the welds and tubing. What a pain in the arse. My hands are raw from sanding. But the Frame is just about ready for paint. The only thing left to weld is mount tabs for the tank. I wont do that until I have the t-nuts inbeded in the tank and the tank all but done. That way I can fine tune where the tabs need to go instead of the other way around.
So, everything will get a fresh coat of paint including the wheels and the motor. The paint wasn't too bad when I started but I beat the hell out of them over the winter during fabrication. Also plan to repolish and brush the aluminum bits as well.
Today I also shaved the fins off the points cover. Used the grinder then blocked it back down with 120 grit. Worked my way through a few grits then drilled some speed holes. I'll finish sanding and polishing later. Once I clearcoat the aluminum It will get brass screen jb welded to the inside.
I don't have a jig saw so I made use of a worn out cut off wheel on the angle grinder to do the scallops. Also drilled more speed holes. The mount holes you can see on the motor and the motor mounts:
Together:
Also drilled some holes in the rear hub. It will get some brass screen as well. Its looking kinda plain so I may drill more before its all said and done with:
JustinLonghorn
No Purple Hearts, No Blue Ribbons
Re: Willow...An evolution..
It's close to midnight, and something evil is lurking in the dark.
Ha, for some reason that song popped into my head while I was looking at this thread.
I know it is not too far away, but I really hope to see this thing on May 21/22nd.
It's close to midnight, and something evil is lurking in the dark.
Ha, for some reason that song popped into my head while I was looking at this thread.
I know it is not too far away, but I really hope to see this thing on May 21/22nd.
Re: Willow...An evolution..
You know brother you could see more in person.....I need to be tearing into the forks real soon ;D ;D
appreciate the homage!
Yeah man I don't know if I can do it but that is my self imposed deadline... That is if these late nights don't kill me first...
Not much to report other than a few bleeding knuckles after hours of hand sanding...
Sorry for the shitty pics. I'll try to grab some in the sun later. Still have to do the other case then on to the hubs. Anyhow, the honda logo was shaved off the stator cover before with an angle grinder flapper wheel. I then blocked it out with about 80 grit then worked up through about 800. That was then... reblocked it because it had a few dips left. I was a little nervous to take it down anyfurther before. She is nice and smooth now. Blocked it with 160 and worked my way through to 2k then 0000 steel wool. Will still need polished but I'm pretty happy with the progress so far
Appreciate that man. I think he is good but I'll ask to make sure. Yeah I did read where you picked up a 400f. So cool man congrats!!!Big Rich said:
beatnic said:
You know brother you could see more in person.....I need to be tearing into the forks real soon ;D ;D
appreciate the homage!
Haha damn it now Ive got that song in my head. :JustinLonghorn said:
Yeah man I don't know if I can do it but that is my self imposed deadline... That is if these late nights don't kill me first...Not much to report other than a few bleeding knuckles after hours of hand sanding...
Sorry for the shitty pics. I'll try to grab some in the sun later. Still have to do the other case then on to the hubs. Anyhow, the honda logo was shaved off the stator cover before with an angle grinder flapper wheel. I then blocked it out with about 80 grit then worked up through about 800. That was then... reblocked it because it had a few dips left. I was a little nervous to take it down anyfurther before. She is nice and smooth now. Blocked it with 160 and worked my way through to 2k then 0000 steel wool. Will still need polished but I'm pretty happy with the progress so far
Re: Willow...An evolution..
Haha, thanks man. They are shinny as hell but I can tell once in the daylight they will have a little haze to them. Actually I'm not sure what to hit them with next? like I said I worked them through to 000 steel wool but do I start with a polishing compound??
To be honest initially I never planned to make them this shiny however, I have something shiny coming in the mail. Its a surprise but I'm so freaking stoked I decided I want my cases to detract from their beauty. Should be here in a week or so. I can hardly wait!
Anyhow Ringo, I noticed some of your build updates were in the middle of the night too.. Glad I'm not the only one. Its just so hard to freakin stop once you get started right... Sleep??? who needs sleeep ;D
Haha, thanks man. They are shinny as hell but I can tell once in the daylight they will have a little haze to them. Actually I'm not sure what to hit them with next? like I said I worked them through to 000 steel wool but do I start with a polishing compound??
To be honest initially I never planned to make them this shiny however, I have something shiny coming in the mail. Its a surprise but I'm so freaking stoked I decided I want my cases to detract from their beauty. Should be here in a week or so. I can hardly wait!
Anyhow Ringo, I noticed some of your build updates were in the middle of the night too.. Glad I'm not the only one. Its just so hard to freakin stop once you get started right... Sleep??? who needs sleeep ;D
Re: Willow...An evolution..
Haha, for sure man...many many sleepless nights!
For polishing, I usually just went to 600 grit (if that), then red, then white compound. Sometimes just white. More buffing wheel, less sanding is my philosophy!
But I'm really not the guy to ask about show polishing. My stuff has a shine to it, but I definitely didn't go the distance.
Haha, for sure man...many many sleepless nights!
For polishing, I usually just went to 600 grit (if that), then red, then white compound. Sometimes just white. More buffing wheel, less sanding is my philosophy!
But I'm really not the guy to ask about show polishing. My stuff has a shine to it, but I definitely didn't go the distance.
