Another two hobbies. Metal spinning & Tig welding.

Hi,

Just another two hobbies/skills I learned whilst restoring vintage coach lamps and mower petrol tanks.


I needed six new reflectors for the pair of coach lamps of three designs; here's two of one design. I fully restored A Union Graduate woodturning lathe adding a 1.5hp 3 phase motor powered by a VFD and made a bespoke tool rest allowing the 42" long metal spinning tool to be used. This is not only an incredible difficult skill to learn but as I found out highly dangerous; a great deal of leverage is required to manipulate the spinning tool it being done freehand; I heard a loud crack as I fractured a rib but I carried on with the tool in a different position on my chest.


I was restoring A Suffolk Colt petrol mower and the petrol tank was leaking so decided it was time to learn how to weld aluminium; here are the tank ends of a spare tank I also made by metal spinning.


The original leaking steel petrol tank on the right and two new aluminium tanks I made; I copied the original tank but as I had some large diameter aluminium tube decided to make a different style of tank that could be universally used if ever I needed another petrol tank.


Tig welding is another incredibly difficult skill to learn as seen here; it's also highly expensive not just for the Tig welder but lots of pure argon gas is needed; I used hobby cylinders of argon gas but these were very expensive not lasting long so I opened a BOC account and rented industrial bottles. Aluminium is here one second gone the next but once I start to learn something I never quit however difficult it becomes.


Yes Tig welding aluminium isn't easy; I've been arc welding and can oxy/acetylene weld steel and have done so for over 60 years but aluminium welding is something totally difficult.



The video shows a metal turning lathe being used for metal spinning; I used my modified woodturning lathe with traditional manual spinning tools.
Traditional metal spinning tools; longest is 42".

Enough for now; I'm not at all clever but I make up for it by being downright stubborn. There are so many hobbies to choose from so why ever be bored. I've been learning to play my violin for over four years and I'm struggling but slowly improving. I like leaving my comfort zone.

Kind regards, Col.

 

Good for you having a go at something new, and I don't think you're stubborn, more like determined which is what you have to be if you want to do something well .

 

Hi,

Thank you @Michael Hewett. I feel like a voice in the wilderness because so many highly skilled people of my age have passed away taking their skills and knowledge of a lifetime with them.

Society are being groomed and aren't realizing it; look around anywhere these days and see most people with a mobile phone welded to their ear; the younger generation no longer want to get their hands dirty doing as my generation did over 50 years ago when fathers taught their lads skills which set them up for future life; girls too were taught domestic science. The government now know more about us than we know about ourselves. Practical skills like mine are mostly now history; health & safety has prevented tools being used in schools; I've bought lathes and other machines from schools because such things were no longer taught. Kids can't play conkers because it's unsafe unless they wear full personal protection.

The world now is bonkers. It would be interesting to know the average age of forum members?

Kind regards, Col.

 

70 next month @Retired

 

I am 75 'and a half' @Retired !
but I only feel like 12

The mechanic in the garage where I take my car is female, and she's very good too, knows exactly what's wrong and how to fix it. She explains it all to me but I haven't got a clue what she's on about ...
Her dad is there as well but I think she's in charge.

 

Hi,
I am 82; my hobby apart from gardening is woodwork, which I am slowly getting back into after a recent illness that knocked me for six.
To get me going again I am trying to make some simple planters to take Tulips and crocus -- maybe throw some Daffs in as well.
This is me with grand-daughter earlier this year on Beaumaris Pier.

 

Hi,

You're still a youngster @Bluejayway and long may you remain so.

Nice one @Michael Hewett I'm 78 but feel younger than you because I think I'm 9 and can still climb trees. At work we had lots of females working on the production lines assembling electric motors; unfortunately the way things are going with new generations coming up even the young lads aren't interested in practical hobbies. I was amazed that a grandson of a friend had got a degree in sports science.

Thanks Cordy for adding the excellent picture of you and your very pretty grand-daughter. I'm sorry to learn of your recent illness and wish you the very best of good health and luck as you tackle making your planters; take it steady though. Good on you.

Woodworking in all it's forms is a very rewarding hobby and if used around home can save a fortune. I detested woodwork at school; I failed the woodwork exam when I left school; I was in the top class so I was bottom of the school in woodwork; however I now enjoy woodworking a great deal. I wish I could bottle the smell whilst my workshop is involved in a woodworking project. I also love the smell of oil and petrol each time I open the garden hut doors.

Kind regards, Col.

 

I used to do a lot of mechical work but after big family bust up i lost my will to do things, i'm just starting to get back into some things (small jobs) but as now most things you have to get online (i like to go and get stuff) but things are not on the shelf's now

My other half saids " how old are you!!!!!!!" and i answer "6" _ _ _ _ _ Months

 

Hi,

Things aren't the same any more @Jiffy So many places have closed down especially craft stores. I used to love visiting local scrap yards for raw materials but there's only one real scrapyard left in Huddersfield; my ideal holiday would have been a Thompson's tour of Yorkshire scrap yards. Bron often accompanied me but would sit in the car reading a girly magazine. I can still buy bearings and drive belts but our local council hate cars so I keep away from Huddersfield Town center; I don't travel by cycle or the public busses; clean air is commendable but it's bankrupting the country and causing real hardship to many familes; if my car isn't welcome then I'm not welcome. Kirklees Council can add many speed humps but fail when it comes to pot holes. I don't understand the madness of electric cars; my Skoda Yeti is 2.0L diesel attracting £35 per year road tax because it's fitted with the automatic stop/start and it's the Adblue model; it can go into Ulez zones so why can't all diesels be made like this.

I used to visit Rufforth Auto Jumble the first Saturday of every month; the last time I visited about three months ago will be my last; the whole site is badly run down; I was worried about damaging a wheel or tyre dropping down the many pot holes; if it's been raining and the potholes are full of water then they can be a nasty surprise; lots of my favourite stalls have gone too. The grass car park turns into a bog if there's been heavy rain; it's easier to shop on eBay.

Rufforth Auto Jumble

What kind of small jobs do you like doing @Jiffy I'm always interested watching what projects are being carried out like @shiney's current epic greenhouse replacement.

I've just taken a dozen currant scones out of the oven; there are endless hobbies to choose from.

Kind regards, Col.

 

At the moment it's just repair jobs, i used to service and repair engines and general maitence of vehicles and machiney but i was piggy in the middle between 2 boss's who was allways right so every which way i went i copped it and lost my conferdence which i've never got it back which is why i'm a hermit, i just like things to go sweet so i can get my conferdence back but in today world it's hard!!!!!

 

Hi,

I feel for you @Jiffy it's not a nice place to be in. Being an hermit is better than mixing with untrusted people only too willing to stab you in the back. The only way to beat such people is to say stuff them and improve your own life; usually things work out for the better.

I'm in the lowest point of my life after my wonderful wife Bron passed away in March after over 48 years of unconditional love; we excluded anyone from our life who brought trouble including my entire family of vultures. so called friends who were untrustworthy were dumped; Bron and I were virtually on our own with very few genuine friends but it pleased us; we no longer had to watch our backs.

I'm virtually on my own now and would give anything to have my Bron back beside me but I can carry on knowing Bron is still very much with me in spirit; I talk to her all the time and I don't NEED anyone else; I just want to be left alone in peace and solitude; I'm not at all lonely because I know Bron will love me until I die.

I meet enough people whilst out shopping and fuelling the car so I'm not totally isolated; I can stand my own company and look after myself. I could have become extremely depressed as I cried for months and I've declined kind offers of help and support; my grief is my own and I need to feel it. I've never been in such a black place before but I can tell you @Jiffy; you'll be much stronger and tougher than you think; I hope I'm not on a soap box but I've found an inner strength and after going through the immense hurt of Bron passing away nothing else can ever hurt me as much again.

Your two ex bosses will always be right but now you're clear of them; please look after yourself; if you're on your own make proper meals and get stuck into jobs around home; I've baked a dozen currant scones this afternoon and I've just done the ironing. It's seven months since Bron passed away and it's still raw; the last thing Bron would wish for me would be for me to live the rest of my life sad and unhappy. I've no intention of ever dating or marrying again; I've half a century of good very happy memories with Bron to keep me going. Do you have any good memories to focus on or hobbies you enjoy doing.

I can only state how I'm surviving in spite of the worst year of my entire life.

Good luck for the future.

Kind regards, Col.

 

There's a definite likeness there!

 

The domestic science I was taught at school was not exactly practical. We learnt every single cake making method - rubbing in, creaming, whisking etc. We learnt how to make various types of pastry. We learnt how to make a cake in the shape of a hedgehog with chocolate spines. But when I went to university I realised I didn't know how long to boil a potato for ...

We did also get to do some woodwork and metalwork at school, and the boys did some cookery and needlework.

Practical skills I think are fantastic for mental health, you get such a positive glow from making or mending something. I'd really like to get into some woodwork and that's something I might take up when I retire in a few years. For now I'm sticking to my gardening and dressmaking.

 

29 years and some months here (300 months to be exact ).

At school we learnt both "boys and girls" crafts in 70s until the age of 11 when we had to choose one. So everyone learnt knitting, sewing, using sewing machine, woodwork, basic electrics (my doorbell never worked ) and some metal crafts. Everybody had to do domestic sciences, and it was very practical from basic cookery skills to ironing.

Practical skills are disappearing from the society I'm afraid. The best builders and carpenters seem to come from East Europe nowadays, they still have the eye and the feel to get things right.

I do admire people who have, or learn, these skills whether for job or for a hobby.

 

Hi,

During four years of two hours per week woodworking at school I learned very little @Escarpment the woodwork teacher was a bully often having a lad bent over a bench whilst he applied the strap; the strap was actually three straps made of different widths of mining conveyor belt; on my very first lesson this bully showed the class the three straps; he called us all by one name "Septimus" the worst teacher possible.

Now I thoroughly enjoy woodworking at first on a very need to do basis but then after my first success my confidence rapidly grew; now I can make anything of wood. I wanted an hobby that was way out of my comfort zone so chose restoring vintage radios never having seen inside a valve (tube) radio;


This Bush 1938 valve radio was the ugliest radio I'd ever seen; it was going to be scrapped just to sell the valves so I bought it very cheaply as seen.


The same Bush radio after I restored the cabinet; I also learned how to french polish

I restored about 100 such radios during my ten years working on them. I joined the BVWS (British Vintage Wireless Society) At first I felt intimidated by the skill of the highly technical subscribers thinking I'm well out of my depth but I was pleasantly surprised to be welcomed with open arms as I started to ask all the silly questions. It quickly dawned on me I could get killed by electrocution if I simply picked up a chassis whilst it was live; I hadn't a clue as to what a DMM (Digital Multi Meter) was but I needed one then I quickly learned how to take voltage readings in both AC and DC also resistance readings.

I progressed very quickly then one day Bron said why don't you submit an article to the BVWS to have it published; this worried me because I was mixing with experts whilst still being very much a novice. I took the plunge and submitted three articles thinking possibly I might get lucky and have one of them published; I was amazed to have all three articles published in the next issue of the BVWS Bulletin. I went on then to have about 12 articles published and in 2009 was honoured with the best restoration award.

My last restoration was a huge challenge which I did publically on an open forum really pushing my luck sticking my neck out;

Restorer's dream. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

I fully restored the cabinet the story running to 14 pages as seen at the link above then I fully restored the chassis; I was on my own restoring the cabinet but I received massive help and guidance as members walked me hand in hand as I tackled the chassis; these TV's are killers if messed around with; the LOPT line output transformer has huge voltage on it in both AC & DC it was scary at times.


Lets tackle a rough TV. This is both a TV/Radio of 1957 it's an Ekco T311. this is how I bought it; it had no front safety screen and the cabinet was riddled with woodworm and the veneers were delaminating; it was a huge challenge indeed.


I couldn't make it worse.


Or could I.


A bracing length of wood to support it in correct position as I started replacing sections.


New veneering under way; this was going to be special; no bland common veneer but a totally different veneer to a totally different style.


Yes the same TV now reveneered the traditional way with hot hide glue to make it more difficult then I french polished it.


Here's the chassis; out for the first time in many years; the LOPT was missing from the enclosure middle left just leaving wires which needed identifying; this was the extremely dangerous part; with the LOPT kindly and generously given to me by a forum member I was well aware of the danger; I could draw a spark 1" long to chassis using a well insulated screwdriver.


I survived and here's the chassis restored and put back home.


Older members will recognize this very old test picture.

Having finally fully succeeded in restoring this wreck of a TV I gave up restoring these and converted my wireless den back for woodworking; the challenges had now gone because I knew whatever old radio or TV was thrown my way I could restore it

Whilst I was doing these restorations my lovely Bron was also very busy with her card making; silk flowers and drawing portraits; we shared our passion for hobbies fully supporting each other.

I like to encourage anyone to try something totally new but please don't try restoring vintage radios or TV they are lethal to play around with.

I had around 70 vintage radios in my collection looking untidy so I sold most of them just retaining special ones and the TV was sold to a museum.

Time now to settle down to a YouTube movie; another day slips quietly by.

Kind regards, Col.