Modding the Garage ?

[Kato]

I was complaining the other day about how my back was giving me grief after working on the bikes, Mrs Kato insisted it was nothing to do with the bike and insinuated that it might be down to playing Rugby at an age when one should know better might be closer to the truth, anyway I’m sticking with my theory, this got me considering that one of the things I’ve always wanted is a bike lift, but I don’t have a huge garage an those thing are very big and heavy so there is not really any room for one or is there!

I didn’t see the post man Monday morning but I’m guessing his back is also complaining also after delivering this lot? These tubes are 5 meters long not sure how he go them on his bike.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/kato--/Tubes.jpghttp://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/kato--/Alloy.jpg

I have been forced to take all the leave I had left this year, some silly new rule stating use it or lose it! and as Mrs Kato has been at work all week I dissapeared into the garage, lots of paper and several broken pencils later its satrting to look like a plan.

Oh and yes I do know my garage is untidy before you lot start having a pop.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/kato--/cutting.jpg

Bit of practice and I think I'm starting to get quite good at this alloy welding lark

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/kato--/Weld.jpg

Things were going far too well, I mean I had not hit my thumb with a hammer or set fire to the workshop or anything else untoward, I needed some washers to space out the pins holding the legs on my creation and I didn't have any so I head off to the suppliers not far from the house, I tell him what I need, he replies "there no call for stuff like that" I point out that as I'm standing in front of his counter asking for said item that there bloody well is a call for stuff like that and he might want to order some in, after much mumbling from both of us, he announces that he can order but they won’t be here until after Christmas, it never fails to amaze me that firms can advertise themselves as a hardware and engineering suppliers and then cannot supply basic materials so plan "B" I'll make the damn things myself.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/kato--/Washer.jpg

Quite a few of these important interludes later

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/kato--/Tea.jpg

And things are back on track, and I'm starting to think this was a good idea

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/kato--/GettingThere.jpg

So what I wanted was a bike bench that did not take up all the garage, could be folded away when not in use and easily moved around, I think I have managed to do what I set out to achieve, not 100% finished yet as I managed to order my chequer plate to short (bloody stupid metric system) thats why the bike is so far back on the table but there is more plate on its way, now then of to work on the Mk2.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/kato--/Testing.jpg

[utopia]

Nice job.
I assume your chequer plate is nice and thick, and won't sag too much under the weight of the bike.
Welds look very neat to me. What kit do you use to get a result like that ? I've never done much welding, even on steel, but I hanker after having a go and ally would be a major requirement.

[gary tompkins]

I think Kato uses a TIG unit. Nice welding mate I'm very impressed. Not sure what looks more sexy.. the bike or your DIY lift it's sitting on :mand:

I registered on a very useful welding forum a while ago, when looking to upgrade my MIG to a TIG unit. Got some great advice and was pointed in the direction of this welder...

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Tig_Welder

The fantastic results members achieved on Stainless steel and Aluminium using this relatively cheap TIG system speak for themself. I've still as yet to take the plunge on the TIG, but plan to buy one after I flog the 900 monster next spring and free up some cash.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=225192#post225192

[Pomp1]

Very nice job. Like it a lot!

[Albie]

Yes great job Kato and would like one myself. Maybe a little higher than that one. I like the way you have gone for alloy and not steel . Lightness and better looking and no paint.

Well done fella.You need to weld on a place for a plate and a mug to stop you having to move away from it.

[uksurfer]

but its not in the garage.... :chuckle:

Cracking job there, saved yourself a fortune i bet!

[Nickj]

Set me wondering and I find my SIP can do alloy. Must look into that sometime.

[Capo]

You may want to consider a stop to prevent the bike from going over the end when putting it on the table.

I've seen it done!!!

[Saint aka ML]

I was just about to post David had a bench for sale but no matter ... Rob you take modding way way to far ;)

As you are so profficient with welding malarky are you off on 30th in afternoon or prefferably 31st as I have no light on SS so can only use it at day light.

[Mark Taylor]

Nice work rob, I'm loving the blue blistered edge on the front tyre:mand:, dragon supercorsa pro unless I'm mistaken - proper sticky like riding on velcro:chuckle:, santa came early for me too;)

[Kato]

I think Kato uses a TIG unit. Nice welding mate I'm very impressed. Not sure what looks more sexy.. the bike or your DIY lift it's sitting on :mand:

I registered on a very useful welding forum a while ago, when looking to upgrade my MIG to a TIG unit. Got some great advice and was pointed in the direction of this welder...

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Tig_Welder

The fantastic results members achieved on Stainless steel and Aluminium using this relatively cheap TIG system speak for themself. I've still as yet to take the plunge on the TIG, but plan to buy one after I flog the 900 monster next spring and free up some cash.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=225192#post225192



Good machines those GT for that price you'll not get better, I'm on that forum also, just don't log on very often

[Kato]

I was just about to post David had a bench for sale but no matter ... Rob you take modding way way to far ;)

As you are so profficient with welding malarky are you off on 30th in afternoon or prefferably 31st as I have no light on SS so can only use it at day light.

Yes mate I'll be around as usual give me a call first to make sure you are not wasting a trip.

[Kato]

Yes great job Kato and would like one myself. Maybe a little higher than that one. I like the way you have gone for alloy and not steel . Lightness and better looking and no paint.

Well done fella.You need to weld on a place for a plate and a mug to stop you having to move away from it.

Albie, I choose alloy over steel exactly for that reason lightness, I can pick it up with one hand, fold the legs in and stack it out the way when not needed, can't do that with the steel / hydraulic jobbies.

It puts the bike 18" off the floor which I find is optimum height for me, got the Idea from the race paddock some of the teams use them for the smaller bikes they just pick them up and stick em on top, but those were a bit weak & flimsy, also not wide enough to use paddock stands, as with most things these days I could not buy what I wanted so had no choice but to make it

Used 3mm chequer plate and 10swg 6082T6

[gary tompkins]

Good machines those GT for that price you'll not get better, I'm on that forum also, just don't log on very often

Which one are you using yourself?

How expesive do you find TIG to run (for consumables) compared to a budget MIG unit?

[Kato]

Which one are you using yourself?

How expesive do you find TIG to run (for consumables) compared to a budget MIG unit?

Mine is an italian brand but it looks identical to the R-Tech so probably made be the same chinese sweat shop, get a foot pedal it makes life SOOOOO much easier

Initially forgetting the machine itself set up is quite high with different tungstens and fillers rods, also working out where is best to get gas is a pain or was for me until I found my current supplier now I'm paying £40 each re-fill instead of £75 the theres the deposit on the bottle, don't even think about the desposable bottles for argon as there is about 4 minutes welding in one of those I use these guys (http://www.southwestgassupplies.co.uk/index.html) check the distributers page to find nearest stockest

[BigOz]

I use Adams Gas who have a hobby gas service that uses a refundable deposit on the bottle rather than rental.

My welder is an R-Tech Inverter with a scratch start TIG kit, I've had no problems with it.

http://www.adamsgas.co.uk/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=54

Andy

[gary tompkins]

Thanks for that link Oz - very useful

I rent an X-size 19kg Argolite (Co2/Argon mix) bottle from BOC. It lasts around 12 months depending on how much MIG welding I need to do.

May have a rethink on this next year as rental cost is getting a bit silly, especially if I make the switch to pure Argon for TIG in 2012.

[Lima071]

What is the cost of the light weight racing lift, including materials and gasses?

[Kato]

I use Adams Gas who have a hobby gas service that uses a refundable deposit on the bottle rather than rental.

My welder is an R-Tech Inverter with a scratch start TIG kit, I've had no problems with it.

http://www.adamsgas.co.uk/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=54

Andy

BigOz...You might want to consider a change of supplier I used to use Adams and while I had no problem with their service I switched to SWG because Adams are 9 litre bottles filled to 137 bar whilst SWG use 10 litre bottles filled to 200 bar therefore you get much more gas for your money and the cost is the same from both firms.

[Sam69]

Air products do a bottle which is about the 2/3 the size of a boc large bottle and filled to 300 bar they work in kg which is 15.1kg comes in around £33 per fill but I can go through a bottle in a few day on a good run so if you are only using a bottle a year price may change. You could fib when starting the account tho tell them you use more than you do.

[Kato]

Sam the point here is that with both Adams & SWG there is no rental charge, you pay a refundable cylinder deposit and just fill as you need.

[gary tompkins]

Sam the point here is that with both Adams & SWG there is no rental charge, you pay a refundable cylinder deposit and just fill as you need.

Which is the killer with BOC

I pay nearly £50 p/a to rent my 15kg bottle... on top of £40 a re-fill

Hmmm... definately time for a rethink in the new year :grump:

[danielo]

Nice work Kato, it looks great.