Well the last months gone fast, as it all ways does when you're having fun. We've been doing a lot more hands on stuff now. Our group has striped the interior of a Toyota Corolla hatchback and are busy removing the exterior - Engine, Exhaust, and Suspension etc.We'll get to paint it and fit a roll cage ready to be used as a track car at the end of the year. For safety reasons we won't be welding the roll cage, it'll be manufactured to track specifications off site.
On the subject of welding we've been learning how to Gas Weld. I have done it once before but a very long time ago so was a bit nervous to start with. Getting the flame the right temperature is so important. If it's too cold it can over heat your work as you have to take longer to get the weld, but you often think the flames too hot and turn it down more instead of up! Confusing but rewarding when you get it right. First we used 1.6mm steel and fusion welded them. It's thick enough so you don't blow holes through it but hard to get penetration so we changed to 1mm, which is easier to heat but easier to burn through as well. We also did bronze braising which I really liked and did quite well on my first go. Here's a couple of pics.
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| Pretty ugly at the start |
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| Not bad |
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| Slowly getting the hang of it |
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| Bronze Braising |
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While the welding room was being used by other students we got started on our Panel Beating. We had earlier cut out holes on a piece of curved sheet metal and we now had to cut out a circle to fit in. Tomorrow we'll weld them in and learn how to make it fit nicely so there's no visible sign of 'damage' once it's painted
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| Get the idea?! |
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.On the Motorsport side of things I helped flag marshell at the Holden Club days at Manfeild. Was neat to be close to the track and see and hear the cars close up. I've been told I can help in the
