1958 MGA Coupe

[bobs77vet]

Thanks

Every so often you need to put time into upgrading shop equipment. I have been contemplating this since the lift was installed and this weekend was the time to do it


It’s a 42” long metal brake that I made Maybe 12-15 yrs ago and it’s big and heavy , made from window lintels on the 1950s brick houses they are tearing down around me steel is 3.5x3x1/4

The idea is to mount the metal brake to my lift ramp as a stationary tool and store the top piece next to it. Eric O and I brain stormed some options on it and in the process of mounting it became clear what the path was

Because of a previous mounting application I had to cut new openings into the top angle iron so it could go over the hinges, previous application had the tall leg of e clamping angle iron at the back


Pictures in reverse order, final product with example of clamps




Showing how close the top brace is to the folding part





Drilling holes using a step drill after drilling a 1/8 pilot hole




here it is mocked up with the top piece next to it




Mocked up


This week we will give a test run I need to make an extension hopper for the pellet grill

 

[bobs77vet]

Today was the day to use the metal brake mounted to the lift and figure out a clamping methodology

The task at hand was to make an extension hopper out of 18 ga steel from an old industrial shelf for my pellet grill. The extension hopper better locates the pellets so gravity does it thing and you always have pellets over the auger tube.

The shelf and the hopper , luckily I have three of those shelves and it became apparent immediately two of them are getting cleaned and painted to use as assembly tops for my metal welding table and my sons welding table. They have a fiat side and flip it over and it has edges so stuff doesn’t roll away






The shelf has a great pre made edge I will use for two sides







The idea is to use only the 24x36 sheet



Two identical bends for the two sides and you use the holes in the magnets to clamp






And the top is cut from the base , mock up welding and test run today before full welding, I might add a handle for the temp probe base unit to hang on








And I have some ideas for a finger brake clamping system for the metal brake