Rackufacture: Torch Stand

Last night was supposed to be about brazing up a coupla more tubes and then doing some destructive testing. But what the first joints taught me really quick was that I need a place to set my torch without turning it off if I'm ever gonna get anything done. So I was gonna throw something super quick and dirty together, but then it ended up taking on a life of its own. My first project, I guess.

My friend Tracy at work, who's done tons of frame brazing, took a look at the work I had done the other night and helped me out with some suggestions. The one with far and away the biggest impact was that I was using a tip that was way too big - a #3. So I was able swing past Sears on my way home and find a #1. Not much different to look at, but huge difference in the amount of heat it puts out - much less, making it easier to control.



Another problem that's pretty evident is that my vice is tearing up parts. I have some wooden clamp shoes around somewhere that I made a long time ago, but they're clumsy and don't work very well, so I made these out of sheet aluminum. Totally and shamelessly stole this idea from Alistair. I'm a big league idea thief these days.





First chance to use the new benders . . .



Cutting out the u-tubes. Lite beer, yeah, I know. Cut me some slack here, will ya? I'm getting nickled and dimed to death with things like torch tips and all kinds of other krap. I need to balance the budget.



Fab sequence . . .







First shot at removing flux . . .



First shot at some finish work . . .



Finished product . . .



Works like a champ . . .



Getting a little closer to an actual rack. Baby steps, man, baby steps.