I have not failed

Posted by Ray17015 On 2012/1/19 14:43:53

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
― Thomas A. Edison


So, anybody care to know 500 ways not to make an A-pillar for a 526?

I started building the pillar a while ago, and all told have roughly 30 hours into the design/engineering of a new one. Since my original wood is lost to history, I can only use the shell steel to remake the pieces. My original idea was to make the entire pillar out of one piece of ash. After much work, and a large scrap pile. I had a piece about 75-80% of what I wanted. Trouble is, the other 20% was just not going to happen. Yesterday, I turned the last piece into shapely firewood, and started over.

New approach: I am now using pine to prototype the pieces, (cheap and very soft). I am also breaking the pillar down into logical pieces. Between proper joinery, and modern glues, my new pieces will be as structually sound as original.

The result, after about 4 hours, (and another large scrap pile) I have a piece that is MUCH better than what I was trying to justify using before. It is already quite rigid, even with only the pine.

Now, back to the fray!