I made a VW coaster

[rsparts]

And I thought I'd share

I turned the wood part specifically for the emblem and then poured Envirotex Polyeurothane in it. The Envirotex levels itself out and then dries to a rock-like hardness in about 3 days. Anyway I thought it was neat.

The wood part is Fir

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee122/bubba83_99/vwcoaster1.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee122/bubba83_99/vwcoaster.jpg

[Mr_Diesel]

Do you still have a few of these? Thinking about them for late Christmas Gifts!

[rsparts]

Do you still have a few of these? Thinking about them for late Christmas Gifts!


No I can't seem to prevent the polyeurothane from bubbling and looking awful when its done. I don't know how I got that first one to look so good. If I can turn out a few more, I'll let you know.

[Mr_Diesel]

Perhaps you could use the polyester fiberglass resin? I know most auto parts / auto body places sell it for pretty cheap. If you did it right that would give a near mirror smooth finish. What other stuff do you make? Do you just have a lathe or a full shop? I'm interested in knowing what you can do. I recommended another guy on here talk to you about making wooden instrument bezels or dashboard pieces.

[rsparts]

Perhaps you could use the polyester fiberglass resin? I know most auto parts / auto body places sell it for pretty cheap. If you did it right that would give a near mirror smooth finish. What other stuff do you make? Do you just have a lathe or a full shop? I'm interested in knowing what you can do. I recommended another guy on here talk to you about making wooden instrument bezels or dashboard pieces.

Well I make clocks, lamps, tables, wooden shift knobs...


I'm working on a clock right now that I'm using an old Beetle speedo to make
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff113/rs------/speedoclock.jpg

I started making clocks about 3 years ago...this is the first one I made and I have it hanging in my living room
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff113/rs------/vwclock.jpg

I also make lamps out of cam shafts and carbuerators but I don't have any pictures and I sold all of those. I make tables out of crank shafts and steering wheels.

All I have is a table saw, a lathe, and a drill press. I had a welder but some jackass neighbor stole it one night along with a bunch of other power tools. I work out of my parents shed but I have to drive 20 minutes from my house to theirs everytime I want to do something so I haven't been working quite as much as I used to....as it gets warmer, I'll start working on more stuff.

[Mr_Diesel]

I like the Beetle clock! That's a shame about the tools... I had a similar experience recently. Well, keep us posted if you think of any more ideas!

[zukgod1]

I'll bet if you could make some sort of vacume chamber you could make some nice ones without bubbles.
May not be to hard to make actually.

Those Coasters would be a HOT item I'm guessing.

[rsparts]

When I first started making the coasters, Black Forest Industries wanted to possibly pick them up as a regular product but then I never heard back from them...which wasnt a big deal because I couldn't get them to work anyway. I had about 35 orders for these things when I first started posting them...but another problem I had was finding the emblems I needed to make them. Dealership wanted $50/emblem...screw that

[rsparts]

I like the Beetle clock! That's a shame about the tools... I had a similar experience recently. Well, keep us posted if you think of any more ideas!


I will be making some more lamps our of VR pistons and VR cams. I'll also be making a table from the crank shaft so those will be for sale once I'm through. Crank tables usually run about $200 and lamps tend to cost about $30. Shipping is a bitch and a half for the tables since they're so heavy.

on a personal note...
I'm trying to make back the $5000 I just spent to have the motor replaced in the Jetta I just bought from a jackass mechanic at a VW dealership here in VA so any money I make will be going right back into my house fund. I used every dime I had saved up in my house fund for this car. I was sold a lemon by this guy and then the motor blew up. I'm now $12,000 in the hole for a 2000 Jetta VR6 and now I have no money to put into a down payment for a home. My wife and I are struggling enough as it is to pay rent and bills and then this guy sells me this car and I have nothing to show for it but a big empty hole in my pocket. It really sucks when people treat other people like this just to make a buck. I've been praying everyday that my situation will get better. I don't mean to bore anyone with my sob story but I haven't had a chance to vent to anyone but my wife and she's getting tired of hearing it....it only depresses her more.

I'll let you know when I finish some lamps. I'll post up some pictures when I'm through

[Mr_Diesel]

Well... look at the bright side, you now have a Jetta with a fresh power plant in it! I would definately be interested in that piston lamp!!!! I'm interested to see how you are going to do it. When life gives you lemons (blown engine) make lemonade (piston lamps!)

[stinkysGTI]

I like your work :)

I'd be interested in a piston lamp also if you're still making em

[rsparts]

I like your work :)

I'd be interested in a piston lamp also if you're still making em


I just got my old motor home today and I'll be tearing into it tomorrow. I'm going to sell what I can off the motor ...ie. oil pan, head, valve cover...etc. etc... but I will be using the crank, pistons, cams, and block for furniture items so I'll post some pictures of lamps and such as I finish them. If you're interested in the items once I've made them, they will be sold on a first come first serve basis. Keep in mind that the block table and crank table will be extremely heavy so those will be priced accordingly. I appreciate the comments and support from you guys and I will be in touch with pictures as I complete items. Thanks

Ryan

[Mr_Diesel]

If you take paypal, I'll take a piston lamp!

[rsparts]

If you take paypal, I'll take a piston lamp!


You don't need to worry about reserving yours. You're #1 on the list

[stinkysGTI]

Will you let us know in this thread?

[rsparts]

Will you let us know in this thread?


I'm actually working on a piston lamp now. I'm in the process of cleaning the piston and deciding what color to paint it. Mr_Diesel, please let me know what color you want the piston. Keep in mind light colors will show more detail in the metal. On past lamps, I painted them black and they really just looked like a mound of black metal...If it were to be white or biege or some light color, you'd really be able to tell it was a piston.

[stinkysGTI]

I'd love to get a lamp if you have any extra pistons; and if so, could you make one with a clear coat?

[rsparts]

I'd love to get a lamp if you have any extra pistons; and if so, could you make one with a clear coat?


I had said yes but now I'm thinking no....there's no way I can get these pistons completely 100% clean of any and all grime and carbon build up without extensive cleaning...and by that I mean media blaster or some sort of acid bath which I have no desire to do. I can; however, paint them a similar color to silver and then clear them...that would make them a uniform color

[stinkysGTI]

That's completely understandable. What about a metallic gray? Like the VW gunmetal color :)

[rsparts]

That's completely understandable. What about a metallic gray? Like the VW gunmetal color :)

I'll see what I can do. My internet at home is down and my camera is acting up so it maybe some time before I can update from home with pictures.

[rsparts]

a little progress on the first lamp

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff113/rs------/headrod.jpg



and i found out why my motor blew up...it was eating itself. when i pulled the head off, i noticed not 6 pistons...but 5...where did the other one go?...answer....to the oil pan in little bite size pieces.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff113/rs------/bentrod.jpg

[Mr_Diesel]

The piston decintigrated? What happened? Did a valve drop or something?

[rsparts]

The piston decintigrated? What happened? Did a valve drop or something?


No idea. I did notice a couple of the valves were bent inside the head and one of the valves was sticking out about 1/2" from its seat. I also noticed the seats on a couple valves were all sorts of messed up.

[stinkysGTI]

ouch!

That lamp in progress looks good :)

[rsparts]

ouch!

That lamp in progress looks good :)


Sorry I haven't updated this in a while. I ended up breaking the first lamp I posted as I was driving the connecting pin back into the head, it broke the head in half and I had to start over but I think my second one came out much better. I changed the design and this is what I got. My only problem now is getting the cord to stay hidden behind the rod well enough that it won't be seen.

I off-centered the socket on purpose to give it a little more character
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff113/rs------/IMG_1139.jpg


and this is what it should look like with a shade on it...again its off-centered but I think it makes it look kinda different..in a good way.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff113/rs------/IMG_1142.jpg

[Mr_Diesel]

I dunno... the off center thing kinda wierds me out. I think it would be cool if you tack welded the rod/wrist pin on the inside of the piston so it sits vertically. Leave the rod cap on the piston and drill a hole through the top of the cap to mount the lamp guts. What do you think?

[rsparts]

I dunno... the off center thing kinda wierds me out. I think it would be cool if you tack welded the rod/wrist pin on the inside of the piston so it sits vertically. Leave the rod cap on the piston and drill a hole through the top of the cap to mount the lamp guts. What do you think?


The piston heads are not good metal for welding as I've attempted this in the past. The heat from the welder just eats through the piston head.

[stinkysGTI]

it's a little weird I guess, but I like weird :lol:

I think it looks cool; a nice change from typical lamps. When I saw the first picture, I thought you were gonna make a dual-light lamp :)

[rsparts]

I think it looks cool; a nice change from typical lamps. :)

that's kinda what i was thinking too. something different to look at while you're sitting at the computer reading mindless jibba jabba on the vortex

[rsparts]

alright here it is...finished and ready to go. price is $35 shipped unless you're in Canada. Shade is not included...the wife would be angry if I sold her lamp shade

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff113/rs------/lampleft.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff113/rs------/lampright.jpg

[stinkysGTI]

awesome :)

I know Diesel had dibbs, so it's on him unless he doesn't want it. If not, I'll take it for sure :)

[rsparts]

awesome :)

I know Diesel had dibbs, so it's on him unless he doesn't want it. If not, I'll take it for sure :)

don't you worry, I got another one comin soon;)

[stinkysGTI]

cool, thanks :)

[rsparts]

Alright so who wants it?:)

[rsparts]

has been sold

[stinkysGTI]

Cool, that means I'm next right? :) :)

[Mr_Diesel]

You going to make any more?

[rsparts]

Cool, that means I'm next right? :) :)

yup




You going to make any more?


and yup. I have stuff to make 2 more.

[rsparts]

Hey Stinky, I sent you a PM.

[stinkysGTI]

got it, thanks. I'll take care of that later today

[rsparts]

much appreciated

[rsparts]

Sorry to Mr_Diesel for not getting back to you sooner. I'm starting your lamp this afternoon so you should be hearing from me sooner than later.

[stinkysGTI]

I got the lamp here at work sometime last week while I was out sick. Thanks rsparts

[rsparts]

:) good to know.

Unfortunately for Mr_Diesel, someone broke into my shop and stole not only some power tools and supplies, but they made a point of smashing everything they didn't want, including the piston which cracked the head. I think I know where I can get another piston so my apologies go out to Mr_Diesel.

[Mr_Diesel]

DAMMIT! I just don't think it was ever meant to be... :? That's awful that that happened! Did you file a police report?

[rsparts]

I was pretty mad. Yes, I filed a report but as these things go they probably won't be able to help me. It's harder to trace tools to a theft than something like a car or anything else with ID numbers on them. This is the second time someone has broken into and stolen my things. Renters insurance is a good thing for sure.