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Backhoe thumb project

R

RobVG

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2009
Messages
1,028
Location
Seattle WA
Occupation
17 excavators and a stewpot of other stuff
I hadn't thought about braces.

Thanks Dig_Texas.
 
joeeye59

joeeye59

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2008
Messages
358
Location
New Haven, CT
Occupation
A Man with a Backhoe
Dig_Texas said:
I only use the hoe ancillary to my main business, HVAC; primarily geothermal heat pumps. My main use for the plasma machine is making transition fittings and I also do some sign work. I'd love to get a bigger machine; have got to focus on the main source of income. Here's a photo of a cutout I made for a customer. Most signs I've seen do not have a backing and they are hard to read. I made a backing plate and painted it a contrasting color and it really pops.
Click to expand...

Thats a very nice sign..., I say the best sign ever...! the letters won't wear away..., will never fade..., years down the road the plate behind it will always do its job with age... I like that set up...
 
Dig_Texas

Dig_Texas

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2012
Messages
82
Location
Texas
There seem to be a lot of metal profile signs out where I live but the problem I had with all of them was that you could never see what it said or what it was a picture of unless you were really close. The difficult part (for me) was getting the 1/8" x 1" strip formed around the circle since this was a budget job and I didn't want to drive into town and have the local ornamental iron place roll it for me. I'm thinking about just cutting a buinch of strips and having them rolled so I have some winter projects. It's been to hot around here for welding (105 today)

I'm trying to find a place to take the next one to get it powder coated; I've got a couple of new designs floating around
 
joeeye59

joeeye59

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2008
Messages
358
Location
New Haven, CT
Occupation
A Man with a Backhoe
Dig_Texas said:
There seem to be a lot of metal profile signs out where I live but the problem I had with all of them was that you could never see what it said or what it was a picture of unless you were really close. The difficult part (for me) was getting the 1/8" x 1" strip formed around the circle since this was a budget job and I didn't want to drive into town and have the local ornamental iron place roll it for me. I'm thinking about just cutting a buinch of strips and having them rolled so I have some winter projects. It's been to hot around here for welding (105 today)

I'm trying to find a place to take the next one to get it powder coated; I've got a couple of new designs floating around
Click to expand...

Yeah stocking up on the common design stock is always nice to have on hand. Oh yeah, powder coating must last much longer than paint.

Hows your steel table set up for sign making? I don't know how deep you are into that being you said your focus is in other areas for your working income. Just wondering if you get into welding jigs on the table/bench and cut holes in the bench so to install pegs for heating and bending the metal signs and such? I figured you must have a nice setup. I can see what you mean about bending the circle, I'm not sure how thats done being I never seen it done, I would think if you were to bend a long bar stock around a half circle jig twice, then join the two half circles with another jig having the two half circles overlaping them to where you cut down the centerline for joining the two halfs..? I aways wanted to see the tricks of the trade lol... Like in the picture with that round sign, it looks like its a 2.5 wide by 0.5 inch bar stock, I can sure see where thats a hard job to bend that into a circle, then plasma cut the letters? I'm sure you make a hard job like that look easy.
 
P

pipefitter72

New Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2013
Messages
1
Location
juliette georgia
Nice design on the thumb. I have an old 555 ford that i put a quick and dirty thumb on after a tornado tore up mom's place.I am currently drawing up a decent one to replace it. I would really like to have a copy of your design to get ideas from. I can use .pdf or .dwg would be even better. thank Kane
[email protected]
 
D

dmoore

New Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2013
Messages
1
Location
texas
Copy of your plans

Dig_Texas said:
I've been lusting for a backhoe thumb for years and finally decided to build one. I drew the plan up in autocad using a compilation of designs from different thumbs I've seen. When I get time I'm working on converting the 3D image to working and dimensioned drawings if anyone would like to build one similar to this one. I used heavy wall seamless tubing for the bushings and 2" CRS for the pins. Since I don't have a line bore and this is a budget project, I turned the pins for a .015 clearance. All the tines and support structure is 1/2" plate. I tacked it together with a MIG welder and welded the assembly with 5/32 7018. Photos show construction up to mounting on the dipperstick, I got busy and just had time to sandblast and need to paint it.

My .pdf 3D drawing file was over 100kb. If anyone would like a copy I can email it to them.
Click to expand...

I'd like to get a copy of your 3D file.

Email: [email protected]

Thanks in advance!
 
curb guy

curb guy

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 7, 2010
Messages
191
Location
central ohio
Hey, Texas,how do you like your PlasmaCam.I would love to have one,just not sure which one is best.How much research did you do before deciding on PlasmaCam? What,in your opinion, are the pros/cons.And, if you don't mind me asking, how much did your unit set you back? Thanks!
 
T

TatTic

New Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2014
Messages
1
Location
Co Down NI.
Would it still be possable to get a copy of the 3D and plans. I am about to build one here in UK.

george . shaw @ gmx . com

Thanks
 
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