Project 5 from Trip. Category: Metal Art
So I finally started on this art piece today, I've been thinking about it for months now, and the last month or two the idea hasn't changed at all; figure that means I'm ready to go :)
I'm pulling parts from my 'wall 'o shame' for this, parts I've taken off bikes that have failed due to neglect, improper use, old age and should have been replaced, etc. The core components are from a Softtail clutch that exploded
I soaked everything for a week to fully degrease, then sanded the remaining friction material, what of it there was, and got all the plates smooth and shiny, then another soak.
http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Fu...CF075C07DE.JPG
I decided the best way to cut was bolt cutters. This put a nice cut, not all the way through, but enough to where I could snap them free once all marks were made.
Next step was to use a file to clean up the ends a bit.
http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DA...8DB918785B.JPG
No need to fully true the ends, the cutters left essentially a bevel.
http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Sw...070A2F05A6.JPG
First pieces ready to go, though holding them was a bit of a pain. I despise welding magnets, hate how they pull the arc. What to do...
Gravity and ingenuity to the rescue!
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8v...5D3C6247E7.JPG
Worked like a dream!
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xt...EB759108CE.JPG
Welding with 1/16 1.5% lanthanated, CK9 with gas lens and a#6 so I can get some stickout to get into the corners (you'll see as it goes, they get trickier and trickier the more pieces get added. Set to 60 amps, but using the pedal between half and 3/4. Trying out silicon bronze, but favoring the 309L I started with. It'll get painted, so either will do. Having an easier time tacking with the 309, but the silicon bronze flows nicer post-tack. Using these as it's a medium carbon steel and there will be some spring steel parts as well.
More cutting and welding to come, some soldering as well...
