Guest Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 So I needed something to put that big pressure gauge I am converting to a VU meter on to. Steampunk came to mind, of course, and after lots of Googling and looking at steampunk stuff I decided to not go down that route. Well not exactly anyway. Had the idea of going for the old curved wireless kinda setup with the gauge off to the side a bit. Kinda like this, with a big angry mouth grille in the middle. So....either rusty dome with shiny front or the other way round. The leftovers from the old SS water tank should do. Good size too, A bit of rusty plate, the leftovers from the other rusty radio. (Everything's connected in one way or another ^_^ ) Ok, time to sharpen the chalk and get to work. Marking out the front plate. Cut with jigsaw....what a struggle....that plate is HARD! Front welded on, time for the mouth. More jigsaw-ing After lots of poking around at the scrapyard I finally found this somewhat battered stainless sheet... It was folded in half and kinked but should be able to straighten it out. Polished up ok, but is going to need a bit more panel beating to get it straight. Should be fine wih some black mesh behind. ^_^
Darren69 Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 I reckon you come out of that shed looking like Sammy Davis Jnr some days. 2
Guest Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 You sharpen chalk in the lathe? Nice! :-) Yep :lol: I reckon you come out of that shed looking like Sammy Davis Jnr some days. Not far off some days, I tell ya :blink: is this a pizza oven? A mate just came over and said the same thing ^_^ Ya' welding seems to get neater all the time I have my moments
Guest Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) Sprockets on, sort of. The front one, which will be the "knob" is an old chainsaw clutch which I modified years ago to take a small sprocket. Back when I was building chainsaw powered RC cars. I might add something to it, weld a plate across the front or something, we'll see. The sprocket at the back, which will be connected to the volume pot.....somehow....will most likely also undergo some surgery. Might drill the holes out a bit bigger and/or add something to it. ^_^ And these are the speakers which are going in. (To begin with anyway, no doubt I'll change my mind halfway through ) Still brand new in box. Have had them for ages and been meaning to do something with them. We'll see how they go. Edited June 30, 2015 by Dirty_vinylpusher
Guest Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) I've seen a few...."things" at the scrap yard with what looks like valves/tubes in them.... Just did a bit of Googling and apparently one can make them glow (if connected in the right way) using 12V DC...? Is ths correct and is that the case for all tubes? Also saw one guy poking holes in the plastic at the bottom and putting LEDs in them.... ...Which would probably be a better idea actually. A row of tubes running front to back at about "2 o'clock" on the dome would look sweet. ^_^ Edited June 30, 2015 by Dirty_vinylpusher
caddisgeek Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 I reckon you come out of that shed looking like Sammy Davis Jnr some days. What, with one eye? 2
Guest Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 Has anyone got some big ol burnt out valves they would like to donate?
Guest Muon Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 I've seen a few...."things" at the scrap yard with what looks like valves/tubes in them.... Just did a bit of Googling and apparently one can make them glow (if connected in the right way) using 12V DC...? Is ths correct and is that the case for all tubes? Also saw one guy poking holes in the plastic at the bottom and putting LEDs in them.... ...Which would probably be a better idea actually. A row of tubes running front to back at about "2 o'clock" on the dome would look sweet. ^_^ The heaters? Well yeah, but check the data sheet for the given tube for pin locations, and check as some will take 6.3v or 12v and some only 6.3v, also when feeding them is it going to be in series or each one power individually. Someone correct me if I have anything wrong
RankStranger Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) Makes me think of Mike's stereo from Monsters Inc. (You have no idea how long it took me to find these screens. Just don't ask) Edited June 30, 2015 by RankStranger 3
Guest Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 The heaters? Well yeah, but check the data sheet for the given tube for pin locations, and check as some will take 6.3v or 12v and some only 6.3v, also when feeding them is it going to be in series or each one power individually. Someone correct me if I have anything wrong Lighting them up with LED will probably be safer and easier Makes me think of Mike's stereo from Monsters Inc amp.jpg (You have no idea how long it took me to find these screens. Just don't ask) :lol:
acg Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) Lighting them up with LED will probably be safer and easier Depending on the tube DVP, you will need 2V, 4V, 6.3V or 12.6V (there may be other voltages). You can apply this as either AC or DC, it does not matter one little bit but they will draw some current to make them glow hot like that. You can get brand new tubes for two fifths of stuff all though...have a look at these little Russian beauties. They are the little tubes in the picture below: EDIT: they are 6.3V tubes. Feed them about 1A of current. Edited June 30, 2015 by acg
Guest Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 Ortofun is kindly donating a handful of tubes for this one. ^_^ Still, if anyone has some blown ones rattling around I'll be interested for future projects.
Guest Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) The bottom edge at the front is too thin. One of those things, been walking past looking at it, trying to convince myself "it's ok".... But I've finally decided that it's not so I'll have to cut it off and replace it with a wider piece. Needs to be about where the top of the little clamp holding the mesh is. Stuffed it up when I cut it. Had it marked out to be wider, clamped a guide to it to run the grinder against, but clamped it to the wrong end, so to speak, and the grinder wandered off a bit on to the piece I wanted to keep. Tried to correct it and, well, this is how it turned out. Getting too carried away.... :angry: Edited June 30, 2015 by Dirty_vinylpusher
Guest Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) Mmmmm those big ones are nice Edited June 30, 2015 by Dirty_vinylpusher
acg Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 Mmmmm those big ones are nice They are as big as your hand, $45 each and need 12.6V AC or DC.
acg Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 The bottom edge at the front is too thin. One of those things, been walking past looking at it, trying to convince myself "it's ok".... But I've finally decided that it's not so I'll have to cut it off and replace it with a wider piece. image.jpg Needs to be about where the top of the little clamp holding the mesh is. Stuffed it up when I cut it. Had it marked out to be wider, clamped a guide to it to run the grinder against, but clamped it to the wrong end, so to speak, and the grinder wandered off a bit on to the piece I wanted to keep. Tried to correct it and, well, this is how it turned out. Getting too carried away.... :angry: What about welding a piece to the top of the 'thin' bit? Could be like a cool steampunk scar.
Guest Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 What about welding a piece to the top of the 'thin' bit? Could be like a cool steampunk scar. Yeh but the thin bit is not even, note how it's wider on the right end. I'd have to take that in to account as well and either square the thin bit up or make the new bit uneven..... If I cut a new piece, and get it right this time, it will at least be even. Might actually have some flat bar here somewhere which would be even easier. Hmm
Guest Muon Posted July 1, 2015 Posted July 1, 2015 Lighting them up with LED will probably be safer and easier :lol: Agreed
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