BlueCat Illegal Pinewood Derby Race - cont.

So, I picked up a 1/25 scale '32 Deuce Coupe yesterday at Hobby Haven in Des Moines. I was looking for a flathead V-8 for my Model A pinewood derby car, but had to settle for a standard mill. So, the block was glued up so I could mock up the "motor mount" and "tunnel" for the transmission. Just as I was getting ready to leave the shop, I started looking at the body. "That top has to go," I thought. Two hours later, I had a roof, windows and door posts. Tomorrow, I'll work on putting in a dash and a driver's seat.




Oh, what's this? This is what we in the industry call a "glue-up."

"What is this glue-up for, Boonie?"

You're gonna have to wait and see. This is going to be my modified class entry.

Heroic Ink - fin

I finished up the Heroic Ink facade signs today. Mump and I are planning on starting "Mump and Boonie's Electrical Service." But you have to sing the company name in a catchy jingle cadence in order for it to be effective. Our slogan? "Zap. Zap."

I really couldn't be any happier with these two signs...

After the install, Mump tattooed me. These lyrics come by way of Joe Huber of the Milwaukee's .357 String Band. Their sophomore release, "Fire and Hail," was my favorite album of '08. They're still the best thing I've heard in years. Lyrics are from the tune "Long Put Down That Gospel."

BlueCat Illegal Pinewood Derby Race

All work and no play makes Boonie a duller boy. So, after finishing up the lighted sign for Mump and Hugo today, I started work on my pinewood derby car. No, I didn't miss out on my youth by not building one. I actually did quite well winning first place in 1988 for Cub Scout Den 150 in Madrid, Iowa.

"Then what derby are you speaking of, Boonie?"

Why, the one put on by BlueCat Motors in St. Paul, MN of course! All the pertinent information is at their website. However, I was disappointed to learn the open modified class did not allow for propulsion systems. I had something "green" in mind...

Here's what I've come up with for my stock entry. I'm basing it on a fictitious "1929 Ford Model A 'Wagon'"...Bonneville-inspired. I'm gonna pick up a model kit so I can drop a flathead V-8 mill in it.

Interested in racing? Grab a kit and get to fab'n, fella...Races are January, 30 at BlueCat Motors.

Heroic Ink - 409 Douglas Ave.

Gettin' lit this week...burn baby, burn!

Heroic Ink - installation

I notice I usually show only the beginning of a project and the end of it. Eh, I don't know how interesting it is to show me welding or ripping boards down on the table saw. So, here's another end product. I'm absolutely taken aback with how great this sign turned out. It's great to do cool things like this for friends. If you're around Ames, IA on January 21, stop by Heroic Tattoo for their open house 6-9 p.m.

Heroic Ink - Modern, old town store sign...?!?!

Yesterday, the illuminated sign was worked on for Heroic Ink. Today, the hanging storefront sign fabrication began. A HUGE thanks goes out to Adam at Howe's Welding and Metal Fabrication in Ames, for getting letters cut out on the water jet in quick fashion. I dropped off a flashdrive with my vectorized font and bam! - 3/16" mild steel letters. I can't say enough nice things about Jim and his crew. It doesn't go unappreciated guys and gals!

In addition to getting the letters, I picked up some cedar boards the letters will be mounted to. The lumber in the picture has been biscuit-jointed and glued-up. Tomorrow, I'll sand the glue-ups, scribe the letters, determine where the mounting holes will go and then weld the 1/4 x 20 all-thread studs onto the back of the letters. I've yet to determine what type of steel frame the wood will be wrapped in...looks like it'll be dealer's choice. This sign will hang from a 1 1/2" gusseted tube square.

The intention of this design is to convey a modern feel - timeless, clean lines and lacking any allusion to any current or future logo Heroic Ink might have. The cedar will be sealed, but not painted. All the steel will be painted black. The text will likely be black as well. Stainless letters were considered, but then abandoned due to cost.

Heroic Ink - Illuminated address sign

I started fabricating an illuminated sign for the Mump and Hugo at the newly opened Heroic Ink at 409 Douglas Ave. in Ames, IA. I've been tattooed by both of these gentlemen and continue to refer people to them time and time again.

The sign is 20 ga. mild steel measuring 4" x 7" x 36". Next step is to weld together the seams, fabricate a cap and then figure out a piece of semi-transparent, red polycarbonate or a vinyl sticker that illuminates "4 0 9" vertically. Two fluorescent bulbs will be enclosed inside the box.

Thanks to Don Shearer for the use of the press brake...and the useful tips to go along with it.

Lincoln Residence

3" x 3" x 1/4" angle frame. 1/2" x 2" cross-members. Drain grate inside dimensions are approximately 23 1/2" x 25". All welds Code-Arc 7018 H4R rod. Heavy duty (over)-construction as the wife will be driving over the grate everyday. The drain was formerly covered by wood 2x's.

Thanks, Peta and Suzi...

This is some mad talent

Here's a link a friend of mine passed on featuring the metal skills of a gal by the name of Cal Lane. This blows my mind with how intricate she is with a torch. I don't envy her monthly oxy-acetylene bill...

I need some room...

...so I'm offering these Adirondack chairs at $325/pr. Only one pair for sale, the ones taking up room in the shop right now.

heartwelds@gmail.com if you have questions...

Jordan Creek trash receptacles

Brother Ryan O'Rourke came down the other day on his way back home to Christmas. He wanted to do some work in the shop and luckily, this dirty job was just getting underway. These receptacles measure 21 1/2" x 21 1/2" comprised of 1 1/2" tube square. The bottom 8" is being cut off and replaced with all new 14 ga. Ryan was the cut man yesterday, as I served as the welder.

Caption from the second picture could read as this: "What do you want?!? I'm trying to work here!!"

I wish I had half a dozen employees like Ryan...

Ferjak Residence - installation

Ferjak Residence - gate

Here's a drawing I did last night before leaving the shop. It's a drawing of a residential gate for the Ferjak residence. Arched-top with vineyard bar and forged leaves on top. In lieu of steel pickets, Western red cedar will be used with negative cut-outs of a 2 1/2" square turned 45 deg. in between the cedar boards. Finish is oil-rubbed bronze.

Wagaman Residence - stair stringer

Here's the fabrication process, thus far, for the Wagaman residence. The 3/8" steel treads will be covered with two 2 1/2" old-growth walnut slabs that have been hanging around Mr. Wagaman's shop for years. Finish on the stringer will be satin black. The walnut treads are approximately 11 1/4" x 36".

Jagerson Residence

Just installed these yesterday after a quick fabrication last week. Thanks to Miller's Custom Powder Coat for a speedy turnaround. 1 1/2" posts and railing with 1/2" sq. pickets. (No, I did not carve the squirrel)...

Join me on Facebook....

Hey, if you're on Facebook and want a chance at a free Cochon cutting board, add Factor II Fabrication. That is all.


Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving,
-Boonie

Adirondacks

You'd be pretty hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't like the ease and carefree lounging of an Adirondack chair. This is one piece of Americana that is all ours. These chairs have been interpreted many, many different ways over the years, but there's nothing wrong with a straight-up original. I put together this, and one more this week; both fashioned out of western red cedar.

Interested? Shoot me an email - heartwelds@gmail.com

Update- These are unfinished right now. I'd planned on just applying a coat of Thompson's Water Sealer to preserve the natural cedar look. When I ask if anyone is interested, I'm saying they're "for sale." $450 for the pair with local delivery only. Sorry, no shipping.

Cupola - "fixed"...

Some light massaging was done to the cupola today. The top ring was taken of and straightened. All of the gussets attaching the top cone to the larger conical structure were cleaned of the J.B. Weld somebody had used to try and affix them prior. Those were then tack-welded back in place, albeit one less. So, instead of the four-winds-of-heaven, there's now only three. At the request of the owner, none of the bullet holes were repaired. Dents to the top cone in addition to a large dent in the bottom portion, were pounded out.

View the before pics a few posts below.

Lil' Hutch's sporty

Well, I tried to talk him out of it (three times!), but he didn't listen. After riding a rigid frame for a few years myself, I don't know why anybody would willingly want to trade down from a swingarm, to...well...nothing. It makes my spine and kidneys hurt thinking about it. But, to each his own...

The frame is a stock '81 Sportster. The rigid section is from Led Sled Customs in Dayton, Ohio. The fabrication of their products is stout; looks like 11 ga. tube and nice tig-welded joints. After taking some time to measure, re-measure and eye down both pieces, it was time to take the cut-off wheel to the frame. I'll be damned if everything came pretty damn close right off the bat. So good, that I should have ground the bevels on the frame cuts and drilled the holes for the plug-welds before fitting the thing.

Tig torch comes out next. Zap....Zap...Zap...

Plant aperture

Small afternoon project. A client wanted this cast piece to stand on its own and suspend a small plant. I had some leftover castings from some old ornaments that lent themselves as supports. A little measuring, some cutting, welding and...done.