The Tripper Award build

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

By now you have seen the really cool plaque Tripper got from the guys here at RRR. I know how you guys like pictures here so here is build from that project.

I started with my new carbide blade saw, and miter cut some 3/4 inch tube.
The saw makes a perfect cut. And the box works well for shipping stuff too.

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

So an old welder trick is to use a penny in the space between a joint of two welds. pennys are 1/16 of an inch thick. I knew I was going to grind off the welds so I really want the weld to go deep. note the 1/16 gap in the corners. I used my welding table to lay out the frame, and used a square to keep it true.

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

Welded the corners, getting ready to grind.

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

I wanted to use rivets, on the frame for effect. So I layed the spots out for the spacing.

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

Another trick, as simple as it seems really speeds things up. The tubing is 3/4, so half of that is 3/8ths. I use a piece of 3/8 stock to mark center on the tube. Then I center punched them, and got ready for the drill.

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

time for the drill....

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

I used a flat bar to hold each rivet up so I could weld it. I drilled the back side holes out a little bigger than the fronts, so I had a place for a weld after it was ground off.

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

I had time to stop welding, take my hood off, pickup the camera, and get the picture, and the rivet was still pretty hot.

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

Outside frame with rivets....DONE!

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

Next I used my 35 ton ironworker, to punch some flare holes in some 16 ga. steel.
Then I used my plasma, to cut the angles on the ends.

likes_2_tinker · Aug 9, 2008

more please

more more more that is ausome

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

I used pennys again to get the height I needed off the table to weld the sheet metal into the frame.

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

Next I used my ring roller to arc some 1/4 round rod.

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

As far as the design goes, I was let go by the rest of the guys to build pretty much whatever I wanted to. So I figured I would put in a bunch of the cool touches that I have seen on alot on rat rods.
What would a tribute to rats be with out a little web work?

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

The layout of how this thing was going to look was an on-going process...

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

The flying boob, er eyeball, had to have wings, so I drew them and cut them out with the plasma.

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

Here is the finished eye...

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

One more....

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

Then I built a skull and a maltese cross and welded them on to the frame.

Bonehead · Aug 9, 2008

Next I drew a hotrod rat side view, on a chunk of steel.

The Tripper Award build

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Started out playing with tinker toys!

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