The Tinbasher » Sheet Metal Fabrication

One (Hard Rocking) Night in Bangkok

Paul Woodhouse — Thu, 12 May 2011 22:16:10 +0000

Now before you ask, no we didn’t have anything to do with the above aluminium casting, cladding or installation for Bangkok’s Hard Rock Cafe stage.

That isn’t to say we haven’t done our fair share of cafe work. Stainless steel takeaway counters to be precise. But, you’ll have more luck finding the fellas being sworn at in Eric’s Cafe down by the tall buildings than you will any of the swanky Hard Rock variety.

Besides, Jasper in Thailand doesn’t bear thinking about. He’s bad enough ordering a Chinese in Blackpool.

Anyway, here’s an explanation of the installation from the designer’s site:

Hardrock cafe, Bangkok has opened since 10s years ago, we have so much bond with this place (even I can’t getting in) and its tricycle bike hanging on the 2nd level of this building. Time has passed, chance has come, this time we have got a challenge for making something awesome and interesting from our lovely technic, casting -from Thais’ ancient one (which originally use bronze)- and yes after designs passed, this one, the cheapest for production one is chosen and the project is conceived from the monitor through 5-axis CNC drilling machine to this sculpture and replicated them for 50-60 pieces.

Hardrock, stage installation from Anon Pairot Design Studio, this time come with extraordinary material, 100% Aluminum casting in exotic form with its freaking form make it rotate, flip and place in many pattern smoothly with our recognizing. It’s shiny quirky and beautiful with those characteristic might make people believe that it is not from the same mould. And this precious aluminum will show its gorgeous until it last.

Brilliant. And do check out the pics:

[Show as slideshow]

Google Workshops Hints at Long ‘Bashing History

Paul Woodhouse — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:28:50 +0000

Have you done a news search recently for ‘sheet metal’?

No, of course you bloody haven’t. But, if you have, did you happen to notice all the news archive stuff harking back to a time when sheet metal meant serious manufacturing and not merely a cottage industry hobby old tinbashers kept up with in their garage or basement workshops?

Then again, if I’m being more precise, harking back to a time when sheet metal unions seemed to be in perpetual conflict with anybody and everybody. Richard Nixon’s name pops up once or twice.

But the most arresting headline from 1931 reads:

SHEET METAL WORKERS’ UNION BOSS IS SLAIN

And the thing is it barely gets five single column paragraphs.

But, if Google’s searchable sheet metal news archive for the last century strikes you as slightly odd, then what about Google Workshops?

Wood, metal, welding and electronics shops are probably not what come to mind when you think about Google but in fact, we often have to build physical products to help us collect and organize information that’s found outside of the web. We do this at the Google Workshops, a hands-on facility equipped with everything from an oscilloscope to a miter saw and even a plasma cutter. Day and night—and even on weekends—the workshops are alive with Googlers working on personal projects—such as home furniture or model airplanes—as well as work-related ones like green business prototypes or components of our self-driving cars.

It’s one thing Tinbashers taking 20% of their allotted time to try out being a Googler, but who’d have thought Googlers would spend their 20% being a Tinbasher?

It feels almost like a circle of life moment.

Scottish Sculptor’s Steel Sculpture Shattered in Smash

Paul Woodhouse — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:03:09 +0000

Come on. It’s not as if it isn’t an accident waiting to happen is it?

The idea of erecting large metal (or any kind of material if we’re being honest) sculptures in the middle of busy roundabouts surely isn’t the best one your local council planning meeting has had of a Monday evening?

Is it not better to circumnavigate the roundabout with your attention fully on the road and upcoming exit or is gawping at some metal clad human figure while doing a 30 mph circle preferable?

Running off the side of the road and ending up in a ditch or pranging / cutting up another driver would be the type of accident you’d expect of a rubbernecker, but plowing straight through the hedge shielding the edge of the center of the roundabout and mowing down the the sculpture you’ve been looking at seems a tad bizarre.

Andy Scott Galvanized Metal Sculpture Crash Scene

But here’s the explanation from the BBC website:

A giant sculpture of a striding man by public artist Andy Scott has been knocked over in a car accident.

The 4m (13ft) structure, installed at Muirside roundabout, Tullibody, in Clackmannanshire, is one of five pieces in the county by the artist.

It is understood a car crashed into the statue, which sits outside the village police station, at about 2110 GMT on Saturday.

Central Scotland Police said they were investigating the incident.

The sculpture – also known as the Man in Motion – is made of welded steel mosaic and has the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle as a backdrop.

Brian Smith, a college lecturer who lives near the sculpture, said the impact of the crash must have been considerable.

He said: “Whoever crashed into it has made a fair mess.

“It looks like they’ve driven into one of the statue’s legs and brought down abut five or six tonnes of metal.

“I don’t know if it quite stopped them but it certainly slowed them down.”

Mr Smith said the erection of the piece in 2008 split the local community.

He added: “It’s quite an arresting sight when you see it lying there. I have heard from a few people that they never liked it, although I doubt they would prefer it looking like this.”

Sounds like they were sick of looking at it. Bit out of order though.

NEC Exhibition Stand for Axess 2 Limited

Paul Woodhouse — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:18:57 +0000

Here’s an exhibition stand we recently fabricated components of for Axess 2, who specialise in platform lifts for most purposes you can think of. The following pictures (which I think Axess took) show their entire stand from various angles while they where down at the NEC in Birmingham.

I’ve been told the Butler Sheetmetal guys were responsible for the flooring, the glass posts and the signage.

Floor leading to platform lift.

Exhibition stand interior with shiny logo.

Back of the stand.

Full frontal of Axess exhibition stand.

Somebody enjoying a ride in a lift.

So, to avoid any confusion, if you’re looking for a custom lift get in touch with Axess in Clitheroe; and if you’re looking for an exhibition stand, have a word with us down the other end of the A59.

I know how easily confused some of you people can get.

Manufacturing Exhibition at Reebok, Bolton

Large Hadron Collider Held Together By (644,328 mtrs) of Duct Tape?

Paul Woodhouse — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:39:49 +0000

Large Hadron Collider

We all know this is some feat of engineering. However, it’s extremely difficult to get a scale of the project. Not only is it impossible to imagine the sizes of particles whizzing around at beyond breakneck speeds, but it’s even more difficult to get an idea of how bloody big the thing is from the inside.

They’ve hardly started doing guided tours.

Thankfully, a certain Peter McCready has been allowed access to the Large Hadron Collider’s gizzards and has photographed some awesome panoramic views of the thing that you can swush around in full 360 degree loveliness.

Click here and give it a second or two to load. He’s even added sound effects to get a general feel of the ho and the hum of the place. [cap doff]

But, if you swing around for long enough you’ll notice the entire thing is held together by bloody duct/duck/gaffer tape. (OK, I’ll go as far as fancy aluminium tape.)

Your average roll of duct tape

Right, so if we take a look round the LHC then it appears we’ve got gaffer tape roughly every half meter. We can’t exactly say that it goes all the way round the circumference of the inner core, but by the looks of things it could very well do. The width of the inner core is approximately 3.8 meters leading to a core circumference of 11.932 meters with a total collider circumference under the Alps of 27 kilometers. [via]

So, by my reckoning (if we’re saying there’s duct tape every half meter that goes around the whole circumference), that means 644,328 meters of duct tape tops, at a rough cost of $336,227 if I were to buy it in 6″ (144 mm) wide 55 meter rolls costing $28.70 ea.

Let’s hope they got a bulk discount.

Obama’s in Town to Tout ‘Green’ Manufacturing

Paul Woodhouse — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:46:12 +0000

Now I don’t want anybody getting too giddy, but rumour has it that Mr. Obama is going to be around and about this neck of the woods at some point today.

Not that I have any intention of bracing the elements to take a peek – it’s been a touch nippy these past couple of days and my big coat has gone missing.

Anyway, he’s going to be visiting some place that fabricates wind turbines in Bedford Heights, which only has a population of around 11,000 and is just down the road.

Apparently it’s all in relation to Obama’s economic stimulus plan and companies involved with new energy sources such as those in tiny towns building wind turbines.

Or, government grants for going green.

Personally, I think it’s a rather good message to be sent and a good way of sending it

Stainless Steel Bernoulli Balls and Tesla Dreams

Paul Woodhouse — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:31:41 +0000

A curious instinct tells me I should make Steph get out more. Whether I give her a key or up her housekeeping are a couple of options I’m pondering.

The problem with her doing bits and bobs for me is that she’s very easily distracted. I should know seeming I’m forever having my tract dissed. Once in a while she’ll concoct a scheme or get diverted by an online interest that is, well, remotely interesting.

Of late, she’s been getting into all things Tesla – the first time she mentioned a Tesla Coil I replied that they wouldn’t come cheap at the Family Planning Clinic. Then again, cracking woofers like that and I should be slightly worried about her tapping me up to be the hamster in this particular Tesla cage:

If you like electrical and scientific wonderments – and if you don’t then you’re a bit odd – the Tesla site I found that on has loads of other amazing Tesla-related stuff you can replicate (or not) in your back garden.

I may show you some of the more exciting stuff at a later date, but something I did come across was these Bernoulli Balls:

And this stainless steel Bernoulli Ball:

Now the weird thing is, round about the same time I was being Tesla’d 24/7 by Steph and checking various Tesla sites out, we received an inquiry at Butler Sheetmetal about a stainless steel ball sculpture that bored little oiks kept knocking off its perch:

Stainless Steel Ball Sculpture

And they wanted to know if the boys could do something to ensure the thing remained upright for long enough for people to enjoy it. It’s not too much to ask, is it?

Obviously, with Bernoulli Balls in mind, I suggested an oversized leaf blower and some elongated industrial straws for balance. Personally I thought it was a bit of inspired genius.

They just told me to stick to the blogging. Fair enough fellas.

Hopefully I’ll have something to show you once it’s done to show you how they did it.

I really don’t anticipate any Benny Hill-esque chase routines as they try to fix it and it goes hurtling off down some field.

Not that any of them would catch it, mind.

Powder Coated Planters Getting Planted

Paul Woodhouse — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:17:51 +0000

If only we knew we were moving in more illustrious circles then we could bang on incessantly about them. Apparently we did some stainless steel tree rings that were to be inspected by Her Majesty not so long back, but nobody deemed it newsworthy enough to tell us what they were for until way after the event. Bless ‘em.

But if we’re not rubbing shoulders with invisible royalty then we’re tickling the odd palm with one of those peculiar handshakes. Apparently, that truckload of powder-coated planters we sent down to London a couple of months ago were to be housed in an old Masonic Lodge. As this picture testifies:

Most of the pictures we take tend to be of them in the process of being made or being shipped, and it’s generally up to the kindness of a client’s heart should we receive any pictures of our planters once they’re planted up. But, with this lot we’ve had the rare opportunity to get a series of pictures of them actually being planted up, which makes for a change.

You can view plenty more from where they came in the planter set here.

The finished set of planters in situ are going to look rather impressive I think.

Finding Just the Right Guys for the Job

Paul Woodhouse — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:53:23 +0000

As with many smaller sheet metal companies, there tends to be quite a bit of sub-contracting that goes on. Obviously, the smaller you are the less facilities you have in-house. And the busier you get, the more sub-contracting out you need to do.

So, it’s kind of important that you find half decent companies that have a remote idea as to what they’re supposed to be doing. We don’t have any in-house facilities for powder coating, so any planters that require a colour need to be done elsewhere.

The Butler boys recently did a rather large planter job for somebody in London and I think I recall the odd email between the powder coating firm and John fizzing through my inbox. I got an email last week with a few pictures of the planters leaving the powder coaters – Trevon Industrial Finishings in Colne. And, as John succinctly put it in his correspondence: “They really pulled us out of the shit with this one and did a fantastic job.”

Faint praise indeed. Now I have quite a pedantic eye when it comes to finishes, and I have to say that pictures do show a very good paint job. And the bottom line is that the customer is awfully pleased as well and will be sending us even more pictures once they’ve been planted up.

You see, it’s all well and good taking credit for a job well done, but on this one Trevon obviously went above and beyond the call of duty and really helped us out to the point that we’d have been in quite a hole otherwise. The customer isn’t going to care where you get the things painted, powder-coated, or finished. All they care about is the finish once they receive the finished article(s) – and quite right too.

It’s just that you might not be deserving of all the credit lavished upon you. Unless we deserve a pat on the back for sourcing the best industrial finishings company this side of Manchester that is.

Antique Sheetmetal Fabrication Books?

Paul Woodhouse — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:42:38 +0000

Following on from the same lady who gave us the antique sheet metal tools, we also have the list of sheetmetal fabrication books dating from as early as 1907.

Here’s the listing of the books as it was provided to me in the email:

Antique books

1. sheet metal

a) Sheet Metal Work; Neubecker; approx 1912; fair cond.; sections include: tools and methods of obtaining patters, workshop problems, skylights, roofing, cornice work, index. 263pgs

b) [Practical] Exhaust and Blow Piping, a treatise on the planning and installing of fan-piping in all its branches; W. H. Hayes; 3rd ed. 1922 [copyright 1918]; The Sheet Metal Publication Company, New York; excellent cond.; chapters include: connecting dust separator and feeder, constructing the feeder nozzle and switch, designs for hoods and sweepers…; 200pgs

c) Sales catalogue for roofers and sheet metal workers; LD Berger, merchant and manufacturer, tinners’ and roofers’ supplies, 59 2nd st. Philadelphia; 1914; poor to fair cond; includes pictures, descriptions, and pricing for a wide variety of tools and sheet metal products, cornices; 255pgs

d) Warm Air Heating and Winter Air Conditioning; The Lennox Furnace Company; 1948; good to excellent cond.; chapters: different types of heating systems describedk designing a gravity warm air heating system, industrial and commercial wramair installations; good to excellent cond; 285pgs

e) Practical Sheet Metal Work and Demonstrated Patterns; Volume III – skylights; a comprehensive treatise in several volumes on shop and outside practice and pattern drafting; 1911; good cond; David Williams Company, New York; chapters: Making flat skylights; a novel method of building a double pitch skylight with gable ends; pattern for a valley bar, a turret skylight, details of a lifting sash…; 114pgs

f) Practical Sheet Metal Work and Demonstrated Patterns; Volume V – Cornice Patterns; a comprehensive treatise in several volumes on shop and outside practice and pattern drafting; 1911; good cond.; David Williams Company, New York; Chapters: Pattern for a Head to fill the end of a cornice cut off obliquely, pattern for mullion intersecting gable mold; pediment chart, pattern for a miter a different angles, pattern for bottom on bay window…; 112pgs.

g) The New Metal Worker Pattern Book, a treatise on the principles and practice of pattern curring as applied to sheet metal work; Geo W. Kittredge, David Williams Co. New York; 1907 [copyright 1896]; fair to poor condition; contents: terms and definintions, drawing instruments and materials, linear drawing, geometrical problems, principles of pattern cutting, pattern problems; 421pgs.

h) Standard Practice in Sheet Metal Work; National Association Sheet Metal Contractors, a reference book compiled for the use of architects, engineers, sheet metal contractors, installers of warm aair heating systems, and vocational training schools; by the trade development committee of the national association of sheet metal contractors of the U.S.; 1929; very good condition; Sections: roofing, gutters, skylights and ventilators, metal cornices, metal ceilings, blow pipe and exhaust systems…; 767pgs.

I don’t have any pictures of these, but I suppose some could be arranged if need be. I’d appreciate anybody who has any knowledge or interest in these to get in touch and I’ll pass your information on.