Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Oelfinger on July 18, 2019 at 3:02am

Hi, I started converting an old Volksempfänger (radio from nazi era) into a nice little tube amp.

This project has to wait because I finally found the car I was searching for for some years. It's a 1971 ROBUR bus. There is a lot of work to be done. The body was very much destroyed by rust, so I had to change about 4.5 squaremeters of steel sheet. Everything had to be formed by hand.

Today I'm waiting for the sun coming a little more up soi I can start the final paint job.

If you like you can watch >the whole story here/a> (many pics)

best regards, Peter

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on July 19, 2019 at 2:25am

Cool bus. It has a lot of room.

It seems that just about every auto manufacturer in the 70's used the same low grade steel that just rusts away. Haha  American auto makers cars were well known to have bad rust problems around the fender wells, floor pans and trunk pans. Of course a lot of salt was used on the roads and most of the cars didn't have a paint on the bottom of the cars,trucks and others.

Definitely show us that amp project later.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Oelfinger on July 19, 2019 at 3:42am

To make it worse, they probably used russian sheet, which was known for rusting very fast.

Much of the bodywork was made by hand. So they put one uncoated sheet on the other and set at every 3 inches a welding spot. (I used three times more) Water came into the uncovered gap and destroyed everything within a short time.

Nevertheless I love these old Robur- buses. They were very common here in the east of germany and nearly all of them have disappeared.

For me it's a childhood memory. We were brought to sports events, swimming school etc. in these buses. (they have 21 seats) The bus has a length of 23ft. and this is enough space for a nice camper van. I'm planning to use it next summer for a trip to Portugal.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on July 19, 2019 at 2:45pm

That's cool. We all tend to try and resurrect our childhood memories. My Dad would get cars, do some mechanical work and body work on them and then sell them for more than he paid. He taught me things along the way.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Daniel Walter on July 18, 2019 at 5:48pm

Hi Paul..

we've talked before.......would really like to get involved in your blog, so much good stuff.......question: why do the new "postings" not show up at the top? do i have to drill down to page 94 to see them.? doesn't make sense. thank you! photo showing steam bent wood being epoxied together: (can you believe walnut is in the list of top ten woods to steam ?! and red oak.)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on July 19, 2019 at 2:56am

Hi Daniel,

I started this thread awhile back no even thinking about the blogs that could be done. LOL

Usually the way these threads work out is: click on the title of the thread and it goes to the first page/beginning of the thread, but if you click on the last reply it goes to the last page unless someone has commented on something in the middle. Just the way CBN has things setup.

Didn't know that about the Red Oak. I have seen Walnut on acoustic guitars before. I want to steam some wood sometime in the future just got way too many things going on right now. There's a large learning curve to steaming and bending wood and anyone that can pull it off has much respect from me.

I think you have enough clamps on that one.Haha Gluing up neck assemblies require many clamps and sometime clamping jigs.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on July 19, 2019 at 3:11am

I bought something a week ago that's pretty awesome and once I finish learning about all of what it does, how to set it and control it and the results of it all, I'll probably start a thread on it. So far I'm liking it alot.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lonman on July 20, 2019 at 10:18am

Not yet decided what this will be, but I know 24inch scale, 3 string, pine neck, oak fretboard. Not sure if I will be fretting or not. not much room on neck for frets.  Am going to do my first blow torch look on the neck.  Any tips for blowtorching wood?  Thanks for looking. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kigar on July 22, 2019 at 5:45pm

If you can try the torch on a piece of scrap it would be good to get the feel of it. It seems like nothing is happening then suddenly it changes. I'd suggest a broader flame and not to close or you will get lines running across the wood.  Follow the grain, don't freak out when the little whiskers flame off!  Keep a bucket handy and have a safe way to hold as it will get hot. You can always darken more if it is not to your liking but sanding off char kind of sucks.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lonman on July 22, 2019 at 10:14pm

thanks for the tips Kigar. Looking forward to giving it a try

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on July 24, 2019 at 12:26pm

If you run the torch down the length of the wood, you'll get even coverage. If you run the torch across the width of the wood you can get a uneven wave like appearance.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lonman on July 27, 2019 at 11:24am

thanks Paul for the tip

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 93
• 94
• 95
• 96
• 97
• …
• 108
• Next ›
• Page