We had a custom mantle/fireplace surround installed a couple of years ago. As you see from Craig, it can make for some interesting and beautiful woodcraft.
That really is looking great ! Warm glow of tubes with warm feeling of hickory.
Ever consider an acrylic top to show off the internal wiring work ?
Thanks guys! I am very pleased with how it is turning out. Just so you know, this wasn’t some special board I ordered or kiln dried myself. Just a reasonably cheap board right off the Menards shelf.
I did have to search through about 12 boards to find this particular one that was a bit darker, had lots of figuring, and was straight as an arrow. Some of the others were pretty nice looking but slightly warped or super straight but much lighter colored and not as much figuring. YMMV
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We did all of our kitchen cabinets a few years ago in knotty hickory, it looks awesome. I haven’t played around with it much myself, but you may have encouraged me to try it.
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I finished machining the top plate after work yesterday. Went in to work early this morning and painted it then baked it in one of our ovens. The tubes, sockets, and caps are just sitting there for overall reference:
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That looks awesome! Just to be clear…you simply painted it with a high temperature engine paint (something off the shelf from a big box store?) and baked it? Is the oven at work anything special or were you just avoiding baking paint in your kitchen oven?
Back history: when I was still single I stored my racing slicks in the living room, cleaned cylinder heads and other car parts in the dishwasher, and cured painted engine parts in my kitchen oven.
Fast forward two deades… I can’t spray paint anything in our garage when it it is too cold to have the overhead door open. The fumes somehow make their way under the door and into our house.
Yes, just off the shelf spray can Dupli-Color high temp (500 °F) engine paint from Autozone, Advanced Auto Parts, etc. I apply two light coats, ten mins apart, then a heavy/wet coat after another 10 mins. I let it air dry for 30 mins then bake it at 175 °F for 2 hours. That bake cycle drives 99.99% of the solvents out and after a 20 min cool down it is fully cured. I do it at work because I can and there are zero complaints at home about the smell 
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The baking in an oven step is not necessary but I would have to leave it at work for at least a week before I could bring it home and continue with the build.
That looks great!
Yeah - I don’t think my wife likes the smell of paint in the house. Lucky for her, I’m not very good with a spray can so it’s a pretty rare thing around here.
I tried re-setting my springs by ‘baking’ in the oven at a high temp as they were compression tightened down. i.e. I wanted to lower the car as I was auto crossing. Didn’t work, so just had a buddy use his blow torch to cut them down. At that time no speed shops offered lowered springs for a Lancia. The dayz of being single…
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Fulvia, Stratos? The Stratos is one car I’d like to take a ride in….
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For sure to that!!
Nice choice of color, Craig.
Nothing that fancy, a Beta. Schottensteins family (ie Value City / OSU basketball stadium fame) did a last boat buyout - so like 1/3rd off, so priced ~ VW jetta at the time.
Sorry to sidetrack
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That looks fantastic, Craig.
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Yes, beautiful!
BTW, how much power will this thing make? I seem to have missed the application too.
Very, very nice, and Amperex tubes
Amperex tubes courtesy of Tom S.
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