Show us what you did today, thread

[Jamiedyer]

Well clearly not much happening in the macretro world that is worth sharing.
Not much from me to be honest a quiet weekend as yesterday was rubbish weather so spent the day doing family stuff, and almost the complete opposite of Friday, nearly all indoors. Today the weather was again pretty rubbish and we needed to finish the garden but most work to the house was again indoors. Certainly lucky with Friday being so nice and Saturday, while the odd shower was nice and warm, so grateful even for the ride out on the Big Dummy for groceries.
I had to go to Tesco over in Wick in my van tonight as Heather had a Click and Collect organised, from two weeks ago ffs, anyway it felt so weird to be driving so far and first drive in my van since before lockdown and of course a two mile this morning. Thought I was organised and running early, then realised I hadn't been in it since before the clocks changed
I did do several cycling related things today, though I was really struggling with motivation, which not sure where it's coming from as have been putting in the miles lately and really enjoying it, just cannot be arsed for some reason to do several things I keep putting off build wise. If that makes any sense.
I am excited for another project that I may have coming and have to wait until after lockdown is over to pick it up. I say may be coming but it will come eventually
Meanwhile I found a bit of time to mock up my Mercian tourer as I thought I might set this up for commuting. I changed the Weinmann cantis to a set of Mafacs I had, Stronglight triple chain set etc. I got so far and then had to go but it was coming together nicely. Then after I was back I made a start and laced up my SPDynamo front hub for the Big Dummy. So not riding as such but a bit of cycle related activity before back to work tomorrow.
I hope you guys have had a good weekend and managed a ride or two in, for exercise of course.
Stay safe and hopefully we will be riding together in the not too distant future.

Jamie

IMG_2724 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_2722 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_2726 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[Peachy!]

Those parts on the Mercian look like a good fit Jamie...... talking of parts, any thoughts on those 27 x 1 1/4 steel Van Schothorst wheels you have stashed in the loft?

 

[Jamiedyer]

I am unsure on the wheels at this moment as I may have a need for them soon.
Certainly if I don't use them, then Jim, or your good self are first in line.

Jamie

 

[dyna-ti]

Here ye go, fill out 5 mins of your time

Finally got the messy bit of my latest project out the way -

Its a stool. To have an upholstered top.

Was out at local shop a couple of months ago, and one of the other shops that has been empty a long time was being refitted and they'd skipped all the junk.
From it i secured(with permission) two old IrnBru crates.
Basically as they no longer make them so would be nice to use in some other fashion recycle style.

Obvious is two together is the height of a barstool type(usually start at 620-640mm mark) as the crate height is about 310mm.
A bit of foam and instant seat, that is large cumbersome and otherwise useless.

SO. Plan was to make a stool, using one or more crates and when you drop one of the crates and have set heights you need to work to- standard chair/stool heights you have to think elsewhere, mainly to lift it to a usable comfortable height, and maybe give it a 2nd purpose, a lifting seat for storage or something.
So what I eventually decided upon was using Barr's cans to lift it to between chair and stool height, which is more suitable to my long legs.

So we would have 4 tin cans, with a crate on top, and an upholstered pad on top of that, which allows a lid to be made.
I looked at the standard can, its height and then the 500ml can which proved better as the height of the seating pad and sub feet would lift it nearer to stool height, without going too high or to low.
I also looked at varying the can height by partly crushing it, but despite 20 attempts I couldnt get a can to crush without the metal splitting as the metal is wafer thin and doesnt like crimping. Reasoning was to adjust the height, but also to add a strong visual.

Construction

Obviously an empty irn bru can is too flimsy to support anything so it needed filled, original thinking epoxy, but way too expensive so settled on concrete, the fast set stuff.


To allow the can feet to attach to the crate I used M14 threaded rod, set in, with bolts and large washers placed at intervals along it so to add support inside the can. I was concerned the rod would still turn as it needed to be able to hold it steady,prevent turning and add a bit of weight for stability, but turns out the concrete is heavy enough@about 3lb a can.

To ensure the rod stays exactly vertical i first drilled and threaded a hole into one end of each rod(oh fun) which allowed me to drill a centralized hole in the base of the can and temp bolt the rod to the bottom of the tin. the top i made some wooden washers in oak that fitted exactly to the top of the can, centralizing it there.


The bolt on the bottom can then be removed and another used to hold a wooden foot ill make to fit in the concave dimple in the base, which is handy as it can be sanded on a board to ensure all are the same, then capped off with rubber to hide the bolt and act non slip.


PROBLEM.
The crate itself is X wide and the feet would need to be on the extreme corners to ensure stability. I feel 10" (one way, 14" the other) but 10"is too narrow. So they need to sit further apart.
But PROBLEM 2
Problem 2 is if the feet sit on the outside edge, the wooden blocks that will be fitted inside the crate the rod bolts through wont be centralized but will be right on the end mere mm's from the plastic side. Sure as fate it will try to tear through and needs to be more in the middle of the block to allow a big washer and bolt.
That then becomes PROBLEM 3
Problem 3 is back to problem 1 in that to allow the feet to sit inwards and use more of their mounting block, the footprint indicates to me it would have a tendency to tilt. You could easily rock back on it.
So it must be wider.
SOLUTION Fit sub feet that are wider than the base of the can foot.
This can raise height a bit, make it more adjustable when making, nice to have options to add or remove and at a wider footprint.

Had a brainwave for that last night. Tea Coasters
Not unusual to see a can sitting on a mat, so why not use that, thicken them to allow for the bolt to work and hold the entire lot to the foot plus ad at least 3 maybe 4" to the width to eliminate tilt.
Look a bit daft though, maybe odd in the crate, the upholstered top(same blue as the irn bru bottle tops(Im even thinking of having BARR embroidered into it) sitting on 4 square wooden blocks.
But then I thought to disguise these as effectively the coaster by laminating a pic on top, even though most will be obscured.
So tartan, stags, pics of Glasgow crane or sure should hopefully make it lok like its sitting on coasters and less out of place.



The most part was the concreting, and the rest should go well from that. But still a few weeks before I can get the internal fittings and supports in place, and the upholstery il need this lockdown to be over so be time there.


To Add -
I've a length of helicopter tape to be delivered. Though it best to use it to put around the cans to protect the paint. Look a bit tatty otherwise

 

[Jamiedyer]

Re:

Wow!
That’s a lot of effort right there mate, but job well done, and thought out.
Should look good with the blue as well.
Look forward to seeing it when finished.
Jamie

 

[dyna-ti]

Thanks Jamie. Always nice to have something on the go. Been too long and I just dont make enough.

But Ta. Much appreciated

 

[Mr Panda]

Re:

.....and you can use them for storage

 

[velomaniac]

Re:

Loving those bru can legs, that's a brilliant idea. Tartan Export legs would be cool too, keep up the ingenious work

 

[Jamiedyer]

Well I have the weekend off and the weather this afternoon was nice and sunny, if a bit windy and cool still, and so after getting a load of stuff done around the house I thought I would get my Flying Scot Ventoux out of the loft and have a play around to see what would be needed to put it back together and finish it off.
I have been a bit unmotivated with the Mercian for some reason, mainly as I had decided a while back I should sell the blue one as I have a new project incoming and this will go a fair way to paying for it.
Anyway I found the box that was buried when we moved labelled :Scot parts. Well that box was pretty bare as bits had been robbed, borrowed but not returned for some time. So with that in mind, the bits were added to from one of my Dura Ace boxes so all was not wasted.
I ended up scrounging the seat and post from the Jack Taylor and fitted my spare B36 Nitto randonneur bars with the Mafac levers and Racers, I had put aside for it. I use the 7400 DA crank, downtube gear levers and rear derailleur. Unfortunately I couldn't find a band on front mech, I have a couple of DA ones but they are braze on fitting. I was positive I have a 600 tricolour one somewhere but I couldn't find it for the life of me. Tomorrows another day
Once together, which didn't take long but was a nice chance to sit outside with the family, none of us were sure on the brown Brooks, I think it needs a black seat but not as chunky as a B17. Original idea was brown seat and brown bar tape but not now, not sure, I do have white and also black bar tape??
Used the wheels and tyres from the JT as well as while I have different wheels, they are still 7 speed with the same large volume Jack Brown tyres.
Anyway just thought I would share a bit of pointless afternoon pishing about, but in sunshine

Jamie

IMG_2734 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_2738 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_2743 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_2747 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_2752 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_2753 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[Mr Panda]

Re:

That's really nice Jamie. Needs a wee Aussie flag somewhere

Also need to get that door frame stripped and painted