Yesterday, I ran my weekend errands and then decided to work on Other-Peoples-Boats. Other people have launch deadlines too apparently.
Speaking of deadlines...
Deadline Countdown
A friendly reminder set up by some 'friends'...
With the snow flying I did what I could on the engine instrument panel. Yesterday I managed to find the hardware I needed to push forward. Unfortunately I need more so it isn't quite finished.
I was going to make the panel hinge out for maintenance but I haven't been happy with any hinge stock I have found so far. I just don't like the look. Considering how many times I expect to have to get to the back of this panel it isn't really a big deal to remove the whole thing from the cabin. I think I am just going to screw the panel down and be done with it. The main electrical distribution panel is another story but this one should be about complete and need very minor and infrequent maintenance. I might just regret those words someday.
I also forgot my heat gun so the shrink tubing isn't on yet.
I cleaned up the inside of the corners of the instrument panel using a sharp chisel to work out the epoxy smears. I was trying to explain a detail of the inside corners to a friend and had a hard time using words so I am throwing up this picture as a demonstration. Its just some toerail scraps for a demonstration only.
My desire for a router last week was to easily round out the inside edge of the frame. And then I got thinking that I like how the corners come to a tight right angle rather than a round inside edge. That's what the demo picture is for. Had I thought about it, I would have rounded the inner edge of the frame pieces before I glued it up and then cut 45 degree angles in the ends to match them together. At this point I am not sure how I will finish the inside edge. I might leave it square. I might take a router with a quarter round bit or something more fancy and just walk it around the inside. Sometimes I get lost in these silly details. The closer I get to completing something the more I want to fuss with the details.
And speaking of details. Yesterday I suddenly started thinking about fuses and switches for my limited electrical system. I could have put it off. I have never had a car that needed a battery switch or fuse after all. On the other hand its something I probably would have put in at some point so in a last minute online shopping frenzy I ordered an on/off battery switch, 2 fuse blocks (for the battery and alternator outputs), and the appropriate fuses and spares. I could have waited. But I didn't.
Snow falling today. Big storm tomorrow. Sadly, that's all that is going to happen this weekend. I wasn't expecting my simple wiring job to take more than a day or two and I realise I have been tinkering with it for a month now. I better go back and click that deadline link...
7 comments:
Hee! I opened up the "friendly" link in another tab, intending to visit it in a few moments, and then... What IS that music? Gawd, it sounds...
OMG, Doom Countdown!!!
R.
Well with friends like that...
;)
With friends like that I might just get this boat launched this year :-)
You will thank me for my annoying pressure and jokes when you're sailing and/or relaxing in your cockpit this summer.
The music is Darth Vader's theme, R.
BTW, I wouldn't suggest leaving your edges square (other than perhaps a short distance to maintain your sharp corners).
Why? Well, for one, the sharp edges will fail to hold varnish effectively, so your varnish will fail more quickly.
Also, the sharp edges are more prone to damage, splintering, etc., and won't hold up nearly as well as some sort of edge treatment.
Plus, square edges make it look like the carpenter forgot a step, or cut a corner.
Keeping the inside corners sharp is fine, but there ought to be some sort of edge treatment over most of the inside, I think. (And outside).
Tim, you seem to know an awful lot about Britton's friends...
And about the music.
Hmmm...
R.
(who thinks it was a great idea!)
(and who has gone back to listen to it a few times)
(oh, and who showed it to a co-worker who once fixed up a Tartan 34 and hence could appreciate the Doom Countdown)
Brilliant! Absolutely love the Countdown to Doom!
All the best. May you and your vessel see the water soon.
Thanks.
I swear that theme song haunts my dreams.
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