Topic: Building my own cafe seat

[matchanu]

I just cannot justify shelling out the bucks for a fiberglass seat. Besides, I dig tweeking my own ride, makes things more personnel.

Anyway, I'm thinking of a 5 piece alumnium set up rivited together. Aluminum for the weight, rivits because I think it looks cool, (like a WW2 figher). I'll utilize the same mounts and lock from the stock seat.

I'm still working out some details, but I'll post pics and updates.

[ProTeal55]

Sounds like a killer idea.
Make sure you post progress/final pics....

[matchanu]

I'm building my cardboard minatures now to see how it'll all work.

So far it looks fairly straight forward.

[cleveland]

Like PT said, we want to see you post progress and finals. 

[matchanu]

O.k., full size cardboad mock up complete.

Taking it to my metal supplier/cutter today.

Figured out a way to hide all of the rivits minus the rear plate.

I'll post some pics before too long.

[KB02]

I'll post some pics before too long.

Hurry, hurry, hurry... we wanna see!!!!

[matchanu]

Here's a PDF file of the basic concept.

Cut a flat piece of Aluminum and bend it to shape. The seat pan and end piece are rivited on to give it shape and stability. A second seat pan will be used for upolstry.

It's not much to look at, but I don't want to leave everyone just hanging.

[matchanu]

O.k., slight road block.

The aluminum and labor to cut the sheet exceeds the cost of the fiberglass unit.

I'll have to rethink the material.

[tsflstb]

Check the scrap heaps for some old appliances.  I can't think of anything that would use thin gauge aluminum, but there's some good sheet metal on old washers/dryers/fridges.  A lot of the brackets on my bike are made from the skin of old computer and VCR cases.  Feels good to "re-cycle".  Thats a good pun, admit it.

[Geeto67]

O.k., slight road block.

The aluminum and labor to cut the sheet exceeds the cost of the fiberglass unit.

I'll have to rethink the material.

Go to your local vocational training school (espically one that has an airplane program) and ask if they use sheet aluminum and if you can pick through the scraps. I had a friend going through this at one time and he asked the teacher if he could have a long piece of airplane skin and the teacher just gave him a new sheet of aluminum.

[matchanu]

It's not the Aluminum so much as the cost of cutting it.

If I had my own band saw this wouldn't be an issue.

Although, I probably could use a jig saw with the right blade.

Hmm, Let me mull on this a bit.

I have to go out of town for the next two weeks on Sunday, so this project is temporarily on hold anyway.

[Geeto67]

It's not the Aluminum so much as the cost of cutting it.

If I had my own band saw this wouldn't be an issue.

Although, I probably could use a jig saw with the right blade.

Hmm, Let me mull on this a bit.

I have to go out of town for the next two weeks on Sunday, so this project is temporarily on hold anyway.

ever hear of tin snips? Done plenty of metal type stuff with nothing more than a pair of tinsnips, a grinder wheel on a dremel, and a rivet gun. Seriously, tin snips are cheap and you'll have a much firmer handshake at the end of the weekend.

[Bob Wessner]

Or, if it is too thick for snips, how about laying it on some 1" Styrofoam and using one of those rotary plunge cutters? You know, the one's they claim will cut through tile, drywall, etc. with no starting hole.

[matchanu]

It's not the Aluminum so much as the cost of cutting it.

If I had my own band saw this wouldn't be an issue.

Although, I probably could use a jig saw with the right blade.

Hmm, Let me mull on this a bit.

I have to go out of town for the next two weeks on Sunday, so this project is temporarily on hold anyway.

ever hear of tin snips? Done plenty of metal type stuff with nothing more than a pair of tinsnips, a grinder wheel on a dremel, and a rivet gun. Seriously, tin snips are cheap and you'll have a much firmer handshake at the end of the weekend.

Thought about that.

Tin snips tend to bend the metal you are cutting, the lines need to be clean.

The seat plate and rear plate have to be thicker than the shell for stability.


mulling.........

[matchanu]

Maybe ABS plastic?

A lot less dent resesistant.


I'll go to one of the suppliers today and ask.

[Geeto67]

Tin snips have a curling side (waste) and a straight side - you have to pay attention to which side you cut with. Lots of people make that mistake and think the tin snips do nothin but curl the sheet metal but it is not the case when used properly. I have an industrial set and ti cuts 1/8th inch no problem. There is also a hacksaw with a metal cutting blade.

There are some hot rod shops out there that sell pre cut and formed bubbles which I imagine you can cut up to help make your bubble back.

[matchanu]

Tin snips have a curling side (waste) and a straight side - you have to pay attention to which side you cut with. Lots of people make that mistake and think the tin snips do nothin but curl the sheet metal but it is not the case when used properly. I have an industrial set and ti cuts 1/8th inch no problem. There is also a hacksaw with a metal cutting blade.

There are some hot rod shops out there that sell pre cut and formed bubbles which I imagine you can cut up to help make your bubble back.

I'm going for more of a box back, rounded edges, good sweeping angle to the rear.

Thanks for the info about the tin snips, I never really considered I may be usuing them improperly.

[Rocking-M]

Use a grinder with a cutoff wheel. 1/8 diameter cut  off wheels are out
there for most all 41/2" side grinders. Follow your line real close then dress it with
a grinding wheel if need be. Jes my 2 cents but this is the way I have done it.

[nteek754]

hey all kinda wanna see some home made seas  im biulding a cafe and its a low budget project and for my seat i took an old  homemade king queen seat cut bent bilted rivited it down to a solo  witch will have fiberglass back part  i might have to go with the snap type verses the sewn  where as i dont have a sewing machine but sister does and that would be my  first choice and she wont charge cause im her macanic to her 74 750 k along with my other three my baby 73 k with  70 836 engine a 77 stocker and a chopper i biult excuse the typing got left arm in sling from shoulder surgery  man im alot  faster useing two fingers and with the capitols  so any way some pics and coaching on the  covering of the seat would be great  thanks craig in maine seven fifty four ever

[chrisf]

Hi:

I skinned and riveted 1/2 a car using aluminum (http://www.fiaccone.com). Most of the pieces were big--too big for a band saw. For your app, I think 3000 series aluminum is good. Cover it in blue painters tape and cut it with a medium tooth jig saw. It works perfectly fine. This project should not cost you more than $10 in material. Metal supermarkets sells offcuts by the pound very cheaply.

--Chris

[hymodyne]

pic of my seat.

foam covered in glass mat, bondo, glass mat and bondo again.

hym

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n213/hymodyne/100_0546.jpg