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Zebedeewesty
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My new angle grinder ate its carbon brushes today. It's only been used for around 30 minutes since i got it in October. 
Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT My new garage in Wales
- Thread starter Zebedeewesty
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Workspaces sized between 265 and 485 squarefeet.
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Zebedeewesty
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Had a run out through Cwm Gwaun this afternoon. Stopped at Sychpant woods for a bit of a wander up to the view point. Planned to stop at the Bluestone brewing company on the way back but their taproom is closed on sundays. 
The motorhome started every time when asked. Hopefully she's now fixed.
One of the acrylic double glazed windows has a load of condensation in it. I've removed the two plugs on the back edge (which just crumbled as they were so brittle) and drilled a small hole in the bottom which let a lot of water out. I might connect my 12v tyre compressor to blow air through the holes and hopefully dry it out.
The motorhome started every time when asked. Hopefully she's now fixed.
One of the acrylic double glazed windows has a load of condensation in it. I've removed the two plugs on the back edge (which just crumbled as they were so brittle
) and drilled a small hole in the bottom which let a lot of water out. I might connect my 12v tyre compressor to blow air through the holes and hopefully dry it out.
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Zebedeewesty
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Holly hugging her cool mat.
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Zebedeewesty
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Zebedeewesty
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New carbon brushes for my grinder arrived today. Went to fit them and was greeted by a pile of bits of brush spring falling out as the back was removed. Fitted the new brushes and its dead. Nothing when the switch is turned on. I assume something inside has been damaged by the bits of spring.
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Zebedeewesty
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Managed to get it working again. Turns out the replacement brushes don't have the small slot down one side so they hang up before touching the commutator. Easy fix, though my fingers are black now.
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Zebedeewesty
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Got a bit cut out for the corner of the rear valance on the caravelle. Still needs a bit of trimming to get it to fit.
Prospecter
Well-known member
I am always impressed with your skills for keeping stuff going. I am sure your patch will look nice when finished.
Have you considered a rust preventer like WoolWax or similar?
Have you considered a rust preventer like WoolWax or similar?
Jacko264
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Prospecter
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Such a pretty time of year for you folks.
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Zebedeewesty
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It'll be coated in cavity wax of some sort in the box double sections after its painted. The bottom corners of the rear valance get all the muck thrown up by the rear wheels and as VW sprayed a rubberised sealant over everything at the factory which is now dried out, cracking and letting water get behind it against the metal they tend to rot from the inside out.
Nice piccies. You can't beat a bluebell wood. Theres loads of white bluebells (i assume they have a different name but i don't know it) in some of the woods round here. Not sure if i've ever seen them before.
It makes a change from the near constant rain the UK always seems to get at the start of the year.
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Zebedeewesty
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Rebuilt the inner structure below the tail lights. Bent up the bits that will fill the hole in the outer lower corner of the back valance. Grinder failed, munching on the new carbon brushes again so couldn't trim the bits to size.
Got a section of the cab floor behind the passengers heels welded up too. Still needs the welds grinding down.
Got a section of the cab floor behind the passengers heels welded up too. Still needs the welds grinding down.
Jacko264
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In the bluebell woods today there is lots of wild garlic that has white flowers
G
G
Prospecter
Well-known member
Good progress. Were it me, I'd need to go back over it after grinding to fill the holes I uncovered with the grinder. Looks to me like you'll be good to go after a little grinding.
Worked with an auto body guy who would say," Can't make it new. Won't see it from the highway." Obviously, you are working to a higher standard.
Worked with an auto body guy who would say," Can't make it new. Won't see it from the highway." Obviously, you are working to a higher standard.
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Zebedeewesty
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They're rare albino bluebells apparently. Only occur in 1 in 10000 cases.
I love walking through woods with wild garlic in though the dogs normally end up stinking of them for the rest of the day.
Yeah, i normally go back and fill in any holes as there always seems to be a few after grinding the welds down.Good progress. Were it me, I'd need to go back over it after grinding to fill the holes I uncovered with the grinder. Looks to me like you'll be good to go after a little grinding.
Worked with an auto body guy who would say," Can't make it new. Won't see it from the highway." Obviously, you are working to a higher standard.
It'll get filled and sanded, painted in red oxide then blue topcoat inside with the underside red oxide primed then seam sealed and top coated black before getting coated in tetraschutz on the underside with any box sections filled with cavity wax.
A sunny morning but with a freezing cold breeze. Left my hat in my other jacket too.
My new angle grinder ate its carbon brushes today. It's only been used for around 30 minutes since i got it in October.
What brand is it? My Ryobi lasted maybe 6 days use over 6 months.
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Zebedeewesty
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It was just a cheap black and decker one. My last one lasted nearly 4 years of heavy use which is why i bought another.
Just bought a Makita one. Will see how long this one lasts.
I drilled a small drain hole in the bottom corner of the Autosleepers double glazed acrylic window and removed the broken plastic plugs on the rear edge.
A few days in the sun and it's dried out so I've plugged the holes with a hot glue gun. The other side has a little bit too as its missing the plastic plugs too.
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Jacko264
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you do know garlic is poison to dogs ?
I bet you know that don’t you
I bet you know that don’t you
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Zebedeewesty
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Yep, only if eaten not run through though.you do know garlic is poison to dogs ?
I bet you know that don’t you
Prospecter
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I've been pretty happy with my Makita tools. I have a disc sander I have been using since the 70's
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Zebedeewesty
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I inherited some of my dads old tools from the 70s. Proper well build stuff which would probably survive a direct hit in a nuclear attack. Modern tools are cheap and nasty in comparison. Who thought using plastic gears in drills and grinders was a good idea?
Sunset from last night.
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Zebedeewesty
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Had a walk up the hills this morning.
Prospecter
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Must have been quite breezy to move their fur and leashes off to the side like that. Beautiful view.Had a walk up the hills this morning.
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Zebedeewesty
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A bit breezy but still nice and warm. Its been 20c (68f) here today.
Been a nice day to sit outside and weld with coveralls on. Sweating like a pig
and every surface seemed to reflect the sun into my eyes. My new grinder only arrived mid afternoon so i didn't get as much done as i wanted.
Small bit welded up, filled and primed in the drivers footwell.
Got the welds on the bit behind the passenger's heels in the footwell ground down, filled and primed.
One section of the rear valance corner welded in.
Jacko264
Well-known member
De-walt Use metal gears
Prospecter
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Good progress, and more so since you were waiting on your grinder. It all seems to be coming together.A bit breezy but still nice and warm. Its been 20c (68f) here today.
Been a nice day to sit outside and weld with coveralls on. Sweating like a pig
My new grinder only arrived mid afternoon so i didn't get as much done as i wanted.
Small bit welded up, filled and primed in the drivers footwell.
Got the welds on the bit behind the passenger's heels in the footwell ground down, filled and primed.
One section of the rear valance corner welded in.
Prospecter
Well-known member
Good to know.
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Zebedeewesty
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Its getting there. Hopefully i'll have the last couple of bits welding in today. Once the back valance is solid again i can fit my new rear bumper.
Looks like our autosleeper is missing an exhaust hanger rubber and bracket though theres no sign one has ever been there and i have no idea what it should look like.
Lovely and sunny again this morning.
Bluebells everywhere.
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Zebedeewesty
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Got the repairs on the cab floors painted in topcoat with some clear over the top.
Welded in the repairs to the corners of the rear valance, welds ground down, filled, sanded and primed too.
I never did remember to straighten out the bottom left corner after it got whacked out of shape by a bit of tree branch i ran over and it flicking up and twatting the rear valance.
Welded in the repairs to the corners of the rear valance, welds ground down, filled, sanded and primed too.
I never did remember to straighten out the bottom left corner after it got whacked out of shape by a bit of tree branch i ran over and it flicking up and twatting the rear valance.
Jacko264
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Credit to you for doing the work on the van to keep it on the road 
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Zebedeewesty
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Both the caravelle and the T4 have their MOT run out within 2 days of each other next month.Credit to you for doing the work on the van to keep it on the road
I don't think the T4 needs anything, though the belt for the alternator/PAS/air con is squealing.
I think the belt tensioner has partially seized as the belt is quite slack. Its mounted on a steel pivot arm through an alloy mount. Its a ****** to get to being hidden away above the crank pulley, under the engine mount and above the chassis leg.
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Zebedeewesty
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Zebedeewesty
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Got the corners of the rear valance on the caravelle painted this afternoon. Not perfect but 10x better than the rusty holes that were there. Needs a spray of tetraschutz on the backs of the repairs then i can finally get the nice chrome rear bumper on. Its been without it for 5 months now.
Welded in the repair to the cab step too, then filled, sanded and red oxide primed it.
Welded in the repair to the cab step too, then filled, sanded and red oxide primed it.
captain14
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Some good body work skills there.
Were you enrolled in the learn as you go course over time?
Were you enrolled in the learn as you go course over time?
Prospecter
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Zebedeewesty
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The school of 'needs must'. I mostly just picked it up as i went along. I've had enough practice now. I did a 12 week evening course in welding as it was cheaper to buy a welder and do the course than it was to pay someone to do it for me. At least this way i know whats under the paint.
My beetle had a professional (though professional in what i'm not sure) weld panels over rot and slap 1/2" of filler over the top.
Gonna reinstall the bumper next, adjust the rear brakes a little and get an MOT booked for possibly next week.
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Zebedeewesty
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Gave the caravelle's cab step a coat of blue paint.
Fitted the new rear bumper. The holes in the rubber strip are from reverse sensors which didn't like the wet. I might stick a 20mm diameter red reflector in each hole.
Fitted the new rear bumper. The holes in the rubber strip are from reverse sensors which didn't like the wet. I might stick a 20mm diameter red reflector in each hole.
Kurt V
Member
I don’t often post on this forum, mostly just read, and I have really enjoyed reading this entire thread! I think what amazes me the most is how quickly things rust where you live. I live in Lincoln, Nebraska, and while we get quite a bit of rain and snow, the humidity is generally quite low. Which means things don’t rust all that fast. For example, This is the underside of my 1998 Jeep Wrangler. It has about 120,000 miles on it. You can still see the chalk mark from the factory on the frame. And it lives outdoors year round. 
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Zebedeewesty
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Do the road authorities salt the roads in winter there? The UK roads are normally covered in it in winter which accelerates the rust dramatically. Normally be have pretty high humidity in winter. Everything just seems to stay wet for weeks or even months.I don’t often post on this forum, mostly just read, and I have really enjoyed reading this entire thread! I think what amazes me the most is how quickly things rust where you live. I live in Lincoln, Nebraska, and while we get quite a bit of rain and snow, the humidity is generally quite low. Which means things don’t rust all that fast. For example, This is the underside of my 1998 Jeep Wrangler. It has about 120,000 miles on it. You can still see the chalk mark from the factory on the frame. And it lives outdoors year round.
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Zebedeewesty
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Still sunny and reasonably warm.
Seems the holes for the step mat are mostly the right size.
Seems the holes for the step mat are mostly the right size.