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View Full Version : I need a new knob.........



Big Shed
21st September 2010, 08:12 PM
........for the steering wheel of my Kubota tractor as the old one decided to split in two.

Decided to do something a bit different and make a new one from a Banksia nut, one of several I bought at the last WWW Show in Melbourne.
The idea will be to cast one in <acronym title="Google Page Ranking">PR</acronym>, tinted to the Kubota orange.

Never turned these Banksia nuts before so had a play first.


148092 (http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachments/f8/148005d1284972670-i-need-new-knob-img_2338.jpg)

They are hard but not too difficult to turn.

When you cut one in half it shows an interesting pattern, for some reason I expected the inside to be partly hollow.


148089 (http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachments/f8/148002d1284972670-i-need-new-knob-img_2334.jpg)

Roughly turned to the shape of a small yoghurt container to be used as the mould.


148090 (http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachments/f8/148003d1284972670-i-need-new-knob-img_2336.jpg)

Whilst the <acronym title="Google Page Ranking">PR</acronym> was curing in the pressure pot, I turned a nylon bush for the shaft to turn in (even though the shat sits in a bearing on the steering wheel attachment)


148091

Once the <acronym title="Google Page Ranking">PR</acronym> was cured, it was mounted on the (metal) lathe and a tenon cut on one end so the 3 jaw chuck could grip it properly.


148093 (http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachments/f8/148006d1284972670-i-need-new-knob-img_2344.jpg)

Once this was done, turned it to an oversize cylinder, drilled a hole in what is going to be the small end of the knob and tapped it to 3/8BSW


148094 (http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachments/f8/148008d1284972670-i-need-new-knob-img_2346.jpg)

Cut a 3/8 Whitworth bolt to use as a mandrel.


148095 (http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachments/f8/148009d1284972670-i-need-new-knob-img_2347.jpg)

It was then transferred to the wood lathe and turned to roughly the same shape as the old knob.
When I was almost finished one of the seed pods lost its' <acronym title="Google Page Ranking">PR</acronym> and I had to mix some more resin and fill that seed pod, using some blue-tack as a little dam to contain the resin.


148096


That fixed that little problem and on to finishing. Decided to try CA and see how it goes outside.


148097


With the nylon bush pressed in and the shaft fitted it was ready to go on the Kubota steering wheel, shiniest item on the tractor!http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/images/smilies/rolleye.gif


148098 (http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachments/f8/148087d1285059818-i-need-new-knob-img_2350.jpg)

woodturner777
21st September 2010, 08:33 PM
Hew, Had me worried there for a while when I seen the thread, I need a new knob.:U

Allan at Wallan
21st September 2010, 08:36 PM
What happened Fred? No pics.:?

Allan

Big Shed
21st September 2010, 09:07 PM
What happened Fred? No pics.:?

Allan

Don't know Allan, I could see them here, but just to be sure I have uploaded them again.

Manuka Jock
21st September 2010, 09:17 PM
:2tsup: Mate , thats' a knob that Pinocchio would be proud to have :U

mkypenturner
21st September 2010, 10:29 PM
nice knob:D

dai sensei
21st September 2010, 10:38 PM
Great job Fred, looks fantastic :2tsup:


..When I was almost finished one of the seed pods lost its' <ACRONYM title="Google Page Ranking">PR</ACRONYM> ...

Don't you hate that :(( Little bugg_rs love to jump :(. Thin CA when you are getting close to size helps

Sawdust Maker
21st September 2010, 10:42 PM
Now that's a knob that other knobs would be rightly jealous of :2tsup:


btw: just stole your idea re the blu tack :D

Big Shed
21st September 2010, 11:19 PM
Thanks guys, must say it was a fun project, nice to put all the skills together and come up with something useful.




Don't you hate that :(( Little bugg_rs love to jump :(. Thin CA when you are getting close to size helps

Will keep that in mind:2tsup: Must say it would be nice to find something that improves the adhesion of PR to wood.:doh:




btw: just stole your idea re the blu tack :D

Didn't really fancy the idea of putting it back in to another yoghurt container and start turning all over again. I use the blu tack mainly when I photograph my pens to keep the little festers in place.
Just from the $2 shop, probably why it isn't blue?:rolleyes:

Nai84
22nd September 2010, 12:24 AM
Hey Big Shed

WOW :o that is awsome I love it , Now that is some to bost about :2tsup:

Cheers Nai84

Paul39
22nd September 2010, 09:22 AM
Very nice!

What is PR?

Big Shed
22nd September 2010, 09:33 AM
Very nice!

What is PR?

Polyester Resin

Ed Reiss
22nd September 2010, 12:02 PM
Spiffy...neat project Big Shed. :2tsup:

Hors
22nd September 2010, 02:29 PM
Outstanding job.

Great use of a couple of mediums, and different tools.

Out of interest (as a newbie) what is your lathe (wood) model and what are your thoughts on it.

:2tsup:

Rum Pig
22nd September 2010, 03:17 PM
I hate to say this but that is a fine looking knob:2tsup:

I may have to do the same for my John Deer. Well its only a ride on but it is missing a knob:D

Big Shed
22nd September 2010, 03:42 PM
Out of interest (as a newbie) what is your lathe (wood) model and what are your thoughts on it.

:2tsup:

http://www.woodworkforums.com/f8/changing-guard-115302/

Hors
23rd September 2010, 08:11 AM
Thanks

Plenty for me to think about.

Nice machine, at the right price, but am thinking swivel head maybe.

Heard of anyone bring a single machine into AS from Burt Group ?

:2tsup:

artme
23rd September 2010, 08:43 AM
Love it Fred!!!:2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:

I have a square mouthed shovel with a rusty grip that bothers me. That is the sort of treatment I intend to dish out to make a new one!:):)

munruben
23rd September 2010, 09:18 AM
Excellent work. :2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:

TTIT
24th September 2010, 12:22 PM
The joys of being able to indulge ourselves with this hobby/obsession :;

tea lady
24th September 2010, 03:51 PM
Great nob! :D :think: Wonder what I can make knobs for then? :D Gear levers are soooooooooooooo boring these days aren't they? :D

Big Shed
24th September 2010, 04:58 PM
Great nob! :D :think: Wonder what I can make knobs for then? :D Gear levers are soooooooooooooo boring these days aren't they? :D

There are another 3 knobs on the tractor, gear lever, PTO range lever, speed range lever, might have to make some for those as well.:rolleyes: