Machine turned aluminum

[emiller]

Doug I did mine after seeing yours at Pamplin, It didn't come out as nice as yours but I can live with it. Last night on Discovery Channel they showing a fire truck being built and showed a guy doing that by hand on the fire truck. They do it to hide the scrathes that the aluminum will get over time.

[dhazard]

Side one is done!!!

[doug hodder]

Looks great Dan, just for everyones benefit...how long did that panel take? One awesome tear in the making, that's for sure!!! Doug

[Miriam C.]

That looks great Dan. Won't be any missin who's camper that is.

[dhazard]

I think about 2 hr to designee and build the jig. Only about 6hr going in 4 ½” circles.

[doug hodder]

I figured as much...and for anyone wanting to do this, if you screw up, you need to go back to the line prior to the one you just did and start over, as they all overlap and you can't just "doctor" it up in the middle...doesn't work like that if you want the full effect...that's one thing that drives the time, make sure everytime it's right where you want it or you run the risk of losing a lot of ground.... Doug

[dhazard]

I did have to back up twice.

[bledsoe3]

That looks great Dan.

[dhazard]

Some more info for anyone crazy enough to try this. I didn’t count the sandpaper sheets when I changed them out, but I think I did that side with about 15 disks. Most of the disks were damaged on the edge of the aluminum. They would get torn on a burr, one time It hooked so bad that the scochbright pad was destroyed, and had to be replaced. (The pad is between the sand paper disk and the backing plate to keep the grinder from hopping.)

[doug hodder]

Dan...just for my cabinet doors I bought a jar of 50 2" disks to do it all. I'd imagine that with a 4.5" disk you're going to blow through as many...I'm turning slower than you however, so don't run as much risk of damage to the edges, my issue is that they load up pretty quickly, even with cleaning them out with the crepe rod. doug

[dhazard]

I cleaned the disk every 3rd drop, and had very little problem with loading up, just tearing.

[dhazard]

Worked at making more circles today. Had to see what it looks like outside in the sun. This took about 2hr and 3 disks.

[doug hodder]

That really looks choice Dan!!! good job, when does the rest go on the side of the trailer? Doug

[Miriam C.]

Great looking tongue box Dan. You guys just keep pushing the bar higher. The rest of us will enjoy!

[dhazard]

That really looks choice Dan!!! good job, when does the rest go on the side of the trailer? Doug

At the pace I am going, I think it will be about 4 more weeks.

And I think another case or two of Guinness