My next project? 1921 Packard Coupe

3 minute(s) of a 548 minute read

How did you spend your weekend?

Fairly much as usual I spent mine out in the "garage" working on the seat frames. It is amazing how much you can achieve with basic hand tools and a little dedication. 

Below are the completed seat frames started on Friday afternoon and finished about 4.30 Sunday afternoon. The third photograph shows my high tech welding bench and tube bender. The most sophisticated tools that I have used are the two magnetic "welder's friends". As I work 99% of the time on my own they are invaluable. I use an ancient gas welding set-up a four inch angle grinder with thin cutting disks and a drill. Oh yes and my brains! Funny how many people, as they grow older, forget how to use them....

7-18-2011

Hi Chris 

How is it all going?

You are correct the outside of the backrest is to be covered with 3mm ply as is the perimeter of the base. The frames are with Tony (my terrific Trimmer) now. I will try to get some progress photographs. His shop is about 20 minutes from my home.

The curved sections of the frame for the back rest are cold formed using my patent tube bender, seen in the foreground of the photograph of my welding"bench" etc. That is an old 13 inch rim cut in half, a bar welded across the "well" at one end and a extension "handle" on the other. Simply insert one end of the tube to be bent under the bar and carefully apply pressure on the other end. Presto a nice 13 inch radius bend. It works with both square and round ERW tube up to 3/4 inch with a wall thickness of 1.6 mm, without rippling or distorting the tube. All the welds are gas-welds (oxy-acetylene). I do have an equally ancient Arc (electric) welder that I use for heavy gauge materials. None of my tools or equipment are under 25/30 years old. Perhaps that is why it all works so well. Not necessarily fast but they get the job done! Just an aside, I have found that 90 year old hickory Dodge Four (23 inch) wheel spokes make excellent hammer handles. I have been using one for about 20 years!!!

Bernie J.

Just don't tell the judging people. I know that the finished results will look "right" and as I have said before they won't fall apart , squeak or rattle. The seats are to be upholstered in Biscuit hide with Chocolate brown carpet on the outside back.