@ido - Hah very strange. Look’s like you done exactly what I’m gonna do with the ends. Is that stick welded? The good thing about aluminium is that it brushes up very nice with scotch pads. Looks like you painted it in the end. Gonna TIG weld this one, can MIG weld (how I started to learn). Just as a point of interest they do have stainless too but ill get a few photos of whats available. I can only check for aluminium at my work place on tuesday but all goes to plan I can see this done by friday or so. I do have quite a few acrylics to get cut but that shouldnt stop me.
Yes about the weld, but mine isn’t aluminum. It’s steel but I brushed it and powdered coated it to make it look like it does now. I was going to do stainless but I didn’t see the point seeing as how 90% of it won’t even be seen.
I honestly never thought to do this in aluminum.
The rounded pieces I made from scrap pieces and bent them to shape and welded them to the ends. Once they were sanded and brushed really good you can’t see the weld and it looks completely seamless as you can see from the pics.
My project is going so slooooooowly but I’m almost done with cutting the wood on my Vewlix. I made mine based on the real cabinet as opposed to the original Donovon Myers plans and I made it just slightly wider to make it more comfy for 2-players. I sure hope my paintjob comes out looking half as nice as yours does! When I get closer to being finished I plan on posting a worklog like this.
I look forward to seeing this thing completely. If any of you have any questions about the frame just ask… for bolting in the leveling feet I welded a nut on the inside of the frame. It was the best idea I could come up with. Pics and process of building the end caps:
Excellent job on the frame there! Its pretty much exactly how I envisage my version but with the ends rounded the other way.
What thickness did you use for the frame?
I was going to go for 4 castor wheels (for easy transport) and then 2 leveling legs on the front of the legs just like the original vewlix. I see you have gone for all 4 leveling legs.
I would be very interested to see what your looks like soo far.
Are you state-side bro? If so what would you charge for something like that? I was going to just go the home depot route and Frankenstein a base, but that looks perfect!
Yeah that will look cool doing it the other way, and thankfully it’d be just as easy to do. I wanna see how yours comes out when you get it.
1.5"x1.5"
Thanks… when I get a little more done I’ll start a thread. I might be PMing you about some painting tips if you don’t mind lol.
Yes I live in Mississippi. As for the price, it would just depend on what kind of metal you want and how big it is. Since I didn’t charge myself I never really tried adding everything all up. Any kind of metal shop should be able to make it though… Dunno how much they’d charge though. Could be pricey unless you know someone. If you can weld you can easily make the frame… the rounded ends may be a little more difficult though if you really want those.
Great job ido - as far as the holes are concerned id only need to know the thread size of the castors B15 is using as we have all sizes of threaded insert up to 10 I think and it would be a small job to do that. Ive been to have a look and the closest in steelwas inch and a half box section. But that may be a good thing, it will cater for your cross braces perfectly. What I was thinking was making it in inch and a half overall and depending on how much of the rounded sections are on show I could weld 100mm say together in the underside giving you the width of 3’ but the weight of 1.5’. Excuse the bad picture but this was quickly done.
We have 1.5’ round tube too so the ends will be easy. Let me know what you think or I can check alu on tuesday. I can do it in steel just as quick, perhaps slightly quicker though. Plus I dont have to ask for permission. Oh and the ‘Antique silver’ looks like this…
Thats brilliant you got it in 1.5 x 1.5" for the cross members but to be honest I really did need the sides to be 3" wide throughout the entire length as shown. The reason for this is that the side pieces will actually sit under the white side panels and the other half under the base of the cabinet. So that it is taking the load of both pieces. To be honest as it is already pretty heavy I dont mind it getting any heavier. I am focusing more on the overall look to be honest.
I know I am being a pain but is it possible to get 3" x 1.5" for the side pieces?
I quite like the look of the antique silver look but just need to think about whether it will go well with the theme I am after. I will get back to you on that one.
Also the type of castors I was thinking of using were like the ones below where they can be bolted on or welded.
If you think these castors wont be upto the job then would it be possible for you to fit some into the frame. I want them to be around 75mm. Anything bigger and it will end up looking silly.
Do you think it would be a good idea to wait till tuesday to see if you have the exact size in aluminium before we decide on which material to go for?
I already have the castors but will need to post them to you for you to weld at the bottom if thats possible. If not I dont mind using any you might be able to get.
I thought so. If they are the ones you have in the picture I’d reconmend bolting them to the frame. If for whatever reason that the wheel fails, gets crap in it or jams its easy to take off. Better than grinding the bugger off just means 16 holes, and M8/10 bolts which I can do no problem. Its probably galvanized steel plate anyway so I’d have to strip them down anyway before welding. I’ll PM you my address tonight, get them packed up and I can have a look at what we got in alu. I do have a bit of steel at work that we use for underfloor supports for the larger structures I make at work and the odd bit of box section so whatever I have we will come up with something that will work. Here’s a picture of what I mean…
Seems I have unwittingly already made your support without realising it! The straight tubes going down have the metal under the small pieces of timber. It’s an easy job, just have to wait till tuesday if thats cool with you.
No problem, I shall post them out to you first thing Tuesday morning. I was thinking of bolting the castors on like you suggested but didnt want to trouble who ever was going to fabricate it to weld bolts on the frame at the same time. Im not sure if the m8/10 bolts will fit in the holes in these castors but im sure you could enlarge the holes abit. Your right they are galvanised so will require extra work to weld them so lets stay with the bolted option for ease of replacement should they need to be.
Lol@already building a similar frame. It took me a while to figure out what was going on in the pic but then traced the vertical tubes down and saw it there.
I dont mind waiting till Tuesday at all! I have been waiting for bloody 3 weeks from my friend to do it so alittle longer wont hurt.
Right, can’t find any 3x1.5, I’ve checked the price on that and a 5 meter length is £26.33 I can’t imagine it being more than £30-35. He’s going to check for me, Tuesday is delivery time if ordered today. It’s only delivered on Tuesdays so not sure how that works or what to do. I’m assuming it’ll be Wednesday now. If it’s easier, ring me, I’ll pm you my number now.
Holy shit, £59 for shorter 4m length, should have steel price in a few hours. Shame you don’t want 3x1, don’t even need to order it. And I found 25mm tube for ends. If it’s all made in 3x1 (braces too) itd be bomb proof.
Thats what I was thinking aswell but I guess it would end up heavier than a normal length of 3". I think Doomy is just going to order some for me instead.
as mentioned I do have that only in steel tho. It’s not ideal though as it needs big longish welds and as it’s thin gauge would warp a lot making it. Fixable but a lot more time. Will order tomorrow as b15 decided to go for it.
