Thread: Slow build of a half track

A little warmer here Keith 28 outside but the shed feels more like 38 as it feels a lot cooler outside than in the shed. Also a picture of the mallet which I was unable to load the other day.


DSCF7663.jpg


OK the half track has come to a stop for the moment while I make a jig to cut some tyre treads.
I could just cobble something together but thought that a better job of building it is needed as I want this to last quite a few builds a little like my spoke drilling jig I made. This is going to take a little time. I will be changing it to my needs.

I have the base and the gear as well as the stop the corner bracket will hold a spring which pushes against the gear stop(funny shaped piece in the last photo). Even though it is a jig I use it to practice using tools

This is based on Nine fingers one and so far is basically the same at this point just moved the locking arm. So a big thank you to Nine Fingers for showing his


DSCF7674.jpgDSCF7672.jpgDSCF7670.jpgDSCF7666.jpg

Top work on both lots of items Derek.

Always a pleasure to look at your work

Regards

Keith

Have to laugh Derek, Remember two years ago when we were in London;
the train announcer kept telling folk to talk water with them BUT if faint get off at the next station and the attendants will give assistance, it was only 30deg's....

Keep cool Derek in the shed, hopefully we'll get back one day and have more time than just a long phone call!!
Cheers, Peter

Thank you Keith.

Peter it is what people are use to If I lived it Australia then I would also think the temperature here in the UK was cool. The problem being is not just the temperature but the humidity I lived in Cyprus for 3 years and found it was great to be able to do what I wanted yet it was over 30 some days.

Mid afternoon here now thought I would come in for a cuppa and add today's update

I started by marking out the tool holders, I am making two for two different machines

DSCF7675.jpg

I did drill the two holes in the centre but no photo. Next step cut these out and also the two supports which will be fixed under the main base so as to give clearance for the adjusting nut for the movable tool carriage, also the two side slides to keep the carriage square. Then it was onto the tool holders once cut to there final size but before cutting them in half I drilled for the pivot points as well as the screw holes to tighten them around the appropriate tool. This stage seemed to take ages as there are three diameter holes for the clamping screws and could only drill the pilot hole in the bottom once they had been cut in half drill was not long enough. You will notice that on each tool clamp there is a letter not so the halves will get mixed up but to show which side goes to the front just in case the holes go slightly off when they where drilled, we have all at one time found this happen especially in a open grain wood.

DSCF7676.jpgDSCF7677.jpgDSCF7679.jpgDSCF7680.jpgDSCF7678.jpg


This photo shows roughly where things will fit once complete


DSCF7681.jpg


I have also started to sort out some hardware for this like threaded rod an nuts and some furniture fittings that I rescued from old items which I scraped and recycled the wood and any fittings you never know when thay will come in handy(where have I heard that before).

This jig is so good Derek, you'll have to draw it up please.... ....Cheers, Peter

Originally Posted by crowie

This jig is so good Derek, you'll have to draw it up please.... ....Cheers, Peter

I will start a drawing at the same time as I build it Peter but will not pass it on until complete as some things may need changing as I build. In other words except for the original design by nine fingers the changes are being done as I go along(making it up) So watch this space for when it is complete and look for the drawings

Very interesting!!!
Buying a ticket for this one.

Took a day off of working in the shed yesterday so now back onto the tyre jig.

First job clean up and glue the two supports on the bottom these lift the base to leave room for the adjusting wing-nut so the tool assembly can slid backwards and forwards.



DSCF7691.jpgDSCF7697.jpg
The base of the tool holder was the first part to cut and drill the centre hole is where a threaded rod will be glued and the wing-nut attached and then the two holes near the edge with the t nuts in are for the height adjuster which can be seen in the last photo. The threaded rod with the wing-nut has been damaged on purpose so the epoxy glue will get even more of a grip on the piece it will not be put in place untill all the bits have been drilled or sorted on the tool holder.


DSCF7693.jpgDSCF7694.jpgDSCF7695.jpgDSCF7699.jpgDSCF7700.jpgDSCF7698.jpg


The side supports are now cut and if you notice the tool clamp is set so that it is off to one side and not right across the centre line this is to accommodate the two different tools I intend to use for one it will be as you see the dry run and for the other the tool assembly will be rotated through 180deg as one is shorter than the other.



DSCF7703.jpgDSCF7701.jpgDSCF7702.jpg

The very last photo is all the parts made so far and just dry fitted together in this you can see the height adjuster.

DSCF7704.jpg

I am also drawing this up with measurements to do a PDF when it is finished as it is no good doing it now as things could change. So far everything on this jig I have found either in the wood pile, scrap box or my little draws where I put stuff I find just in case I need it which I try to avoid having a clear out because as soon as I do I will want the bit I though out and is now on the local tip.

How many here have done that

You are indeed a skilled craftsman Derek

Regards

Keith

To continue with the jig Stuck down the two outer guides to help with a little clearance I put a piece of paper between the tool clamp and the second guide this leaves just enough for it to slide in theory because when it dried it stuck a little when I turned the tool clamp assembly 180deg.


DSCF7726.jpg


On investigation I found that the locking screw underneath had set at a very slight angle so a very little sand in the base board slot freed this up.

Next up was some of the hardware on the index plate. I still need to cut the threaded rod to length and fit it in place with a nut under the base.

DSCF7730.jpgDSCF7729.jpgDSCF7735.jpg

I needed to locate the locking pawl and drill a pivot hole for the post and also mark the corner bracket and pawl so the spring will line up this hold the pawl against the indexing plate. I drilled a hole in both the pawl and corner bracket for a very short piece of dowel this hold the spring in place. Last thing was to glue the corner bracket in it's place.



DSCF7732.jpgDSCF7731.jpgDSCF7728.jpg


I should be complete tomorrow and be able to do a test that is once I have designed the mechanism for changing the clamp plates(square bits with hole in the middle)


DSCF7734.jpgDSCF7733.jpg


It will be good to get back onto the build but at least I will have a jig for wheels in the future with this type of tread pattern.

That is one slick jig Derek. Can't wait to see how the wheels come out.

Bret

Plus One

Well done Derek...Cheers, Peter

Early afternoon here and just come in from the shed after completing the tyre tread cutting jig. I would like to thank Nine fingers for the inspiration as some of this is from his design I have just tweaked it to what I want.

Today's work on it consisted of cutting some of the threaded rods to the correct length as well as making the two threaded pieces which unscrew to allow me to change the tool holders. I then fitted both machines and did the final adjustments to the height adjuster.




The first lot of photo's show the Dremel fitted and the next ones show changing over to the hand piece for my other hand piece. I made a couple of threaded rods with square nuts for the change over and found them tight to fit in the upright holes so screwed them in and they made their own thread if these wear out I can always put an insert in the uprights



DSCF7741.jpgDSCF7744.jpgDSCF7745.jpgDSCF7746.jpg


DSCF7748.jpgDSCF7749.jpgDSCF7750.jpg



The picture of the bottom shows where I glued a magnet so as not to lose the spanner for adjusting the slide mount could not find a second wingnut so used the one I had on the wheel clamp as they need changing more then the slide as once that is set for the wheels in a set it does not need doing again until different sets are needed.

DSCF7743.jpg


Finally the results of a test run I did find that I need some very small minor tweaks. On the whole I am happy with the results


DSCF7739.jpgDSCF7742.jpg


I would like to say that I have to thank a forum member(Nine Fingers don't know his proper name) who made a basic jig and I have modified his design.

So Nine Fingers if you are reading this Thank You for the inspiration


I will get around to writing a pdf with a drawing over the next week and will post on here or as a separate post.

Anyway back to the half track build over the weekend.