Recent HDU projects

[Kevin-shopVOX]

Bad a$$!

 

[Saw Trax]

Nice work- looks fantastic!

 

[synergy_jim]

Stop on by Kevin. Its done except for the base. Maniac… that looks cool!

Everyone else, thanks…. here is the final rusted product ready to be mounted on the base.

 

[letterman7]

Looks great! Question is... does it actually spin?

 

[SignManiac]

Absolutely impressive!

 

[synergy_jim]

Looks great! Question is... does it actually spin?

It does spin. We are locking it in place though…. The paint on the pvc pipes doesn't hold up to the friction that well. It does spin rough, since they are square cut gears on a chain. If i had any desire to spin it smoothly, I would have went with more of a round cut tooth on the gears.

 

[SignManiac]

Jim do you have a rough guesstimate on the number of hours to route and finish all of that?

 

[synergy_jim]

routing was roughly 30 hours total. Finishing and assembly, I'd say the better part of 5 days if I add up all the time. We have worked on it sparingly in our down time, so its rough to get a accurate count.

 

[SignManiac]

That's the problem I have with all the routed textures. It's easy to run a router for thirty hours on a project. I have some smaller trees that take eight hours each. I have to wonder what portion of my electric bill is being eaten up on jobs like that.

I can't begin to imagine what Dans electric bill is. His machine must run 18 hours a day with the stuff he produces. If you've got 30 hours of machine time in it at $100 an hour, there's $3k alone, then five days of man hours, that adds up fast. I'd say you have a nice $10k sculpture there

 

[synergy_jim]

Our electric bill here runs 400 to 500 per month. On a heavy machining month, it will hit 600 max. I don't really figure the electric as a separate cost. Its absorbed in our overhead figure.

By my estimates, I would sell that gear set for around 9-10 thousand with the base. I usually work on projects with customers with their budget in mind. I could have made this set for $5K, but it would be a lot less detail and they would still be happy.

Lucky for me, this set stays here as a sample… We do stuff like this so we can blow peoples minds and make their little things they want look like childs play...

 

[letterman7]

Very nice... very nice. Trying to get a sense of scale from the one photo with the gentleman in the back leaning on the bench. How tall is this, about 5' or so?

 

[synergy_jim]

5' tall with another 18" being added to the bottom soon. it will be on a base with casters.

 

[skyhigh]

looks great..... I especially like the paint job.

 

[synergy_jim]

Man that thing is awesome!!! Thanks for the step by step pics.

If this doesn't make people want to check out one of Dan's workshops....I don't know what would!

Thanks Pat…. I keep telling everyone its worth every penny…. ( I would have paid the $$$ just for the paint and finishing training )

a little disclaimer though… I've been running CNC machines and doing 3D design for 15 years. You learn a ton at Dan's, but it helps to have a good foundation before you go.

 

[synergy_jim]

SCORE!!! The gearbox is getting added to the Coastal website and doing a tech article for possible publication….

 

[synergy_jim]

Coastal did a write up on my shop and our gearbox. Pretty cool!

http://precisionboard.com/sign-making/thats-metal-finish/

 

[graphicwarning]

http://precisionboard.com/sign-making/thats-metal-finish/

Very Cool!

 

[Auburnpeanut]

Awesome stuff Jim!

 

[BK Vinyl]

Just went down a rabbit hole of looking at all the stuff on your website after reading the article. Very nice work you're doing over there.

 

[synergy_jim]

not HDU, but some of our faux finishing techniques on everyday end tables….

 

[synergy_jim]

Our latest sign project

monument sign currently under construction. Scuplted concrete, steel and HDU.