Hello from Norfolk

[OuBallie]

UK that is not VA.
I'm retired, my career being in the electrical profession, in the design and sales of HV switchgear and control circuitry.
Prepared and raced my Ford Anglia 105E, ex-road car, at Kyalami F1 Circuit in the early 1970s.
Had my own hobby shop from mid 1970 for 8 years before selling, it specialising in miniature steam engines, and later other hobbies. Wonderful experience.
Now in the UK, having worked for the same electrical company I was last employed at in SA, as Electrical Manager.
That's all now finished and a new era started on somewhat of a downer when in November of 2007 I was diagnosed with two lots of cancer, yadayadayada.
The usual story of operation, treatment and side effects etc, etc.
Nothing surprised me more, however, than getting engaged on my 65th! I really thought I was a confirmed bachelor :-)
Still far too young to get married though.
My fiancé Iwona is a nursing sister, so I can say I fell with my bum in the butter.
I have a fully equipped workshop (converted single garage) and am about to start restoring my 1935 Austin Seven Ruby, having extended and enclosed the carport to make it weather proof, it's now 30ft long by 10ft wide.
Photos and details will be on the web once work on the car starts.
I just need to get the two doors up to finish the carport. Waiting for the paint to harden off before putting them in place.
That's it for now folks.
May your hammers keep hammering.
Geoff & Iwona

[Barry]

Welcome Geoff!

[HEATNBEAT]

Hi and welcome Geoff!

[David Gardiner]

Hello Geoff, welcome to allmetalshaping, I am not too far from you as I am in Harwich in Essex.

David

[OuBallie]

For the welcome guys.
Hoping to get the two doors up this weekend, but weather turning with rain forecast and 9-11mph winds from a different direction each day.
If it's the slightest bit windy then it's a no-go.
Where I am, on the highest point of our town, the wind whistles over the town from the west and we get the full blast. Property is south facing.
Neighbour helped me turn the 7x7ft garage door round so I could paint the outside, after I had drilled for hinges, and it acted like a sail in the very light breeze!
Was thinking of measuring where one of the top hinge screw holes would be on the carport upright (40mm sq tube) then drilling and tapping to make it as quick as possible to get that top hinge secured in place.
Just need a couple of hinges secured, then I can mark through the rest.
The sides of the steel Up-and-Over garage door have shallow channel sections riveted on, making the use of a transfer punch easy.
The other 'side door' is a normal width external house one so nowhere near as unwieldy to manipulate into place.
Will be spending today preparing for the off, whenever the weather allows, neighbours willing.
Regards
Geoff - much cooler today

[metal manny]

Welcome Geoff.

'Spent many happy youthful days at Kyalami - sadly it's not the same nowdays.

[OuBallie]

Greetings people,
Can't believe that a year has gone bye already!
Where the heck did that go?
Anyroad, I've put some photos of the Austin up on Photobucket.

http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/Ge...?sort=3&page=1

I've also got two of my machines up and running, namely a Boxford shaper and an "Excel" filing machine, with the two milling machines to follow soon.
The lathe and drilling machine already done.

I think I have at last cured the carport leaks.
I was too stingy when overlapping the roofing sheets between old and new sections of the carport, with the result that rain water was being blown under the joint.
Serves me right

I really, really, REALLY need to sort out my tool drawers, as I am having to go through each one to find anything.
That's 60plus drawers, so I will be doing that in the evenings I think.

That's it for now folks.

Geoff - From another non-summer UK!

[Peter Tommasini]

Hi Geoff welcome to the forum
Peter

[OuBallie]

Forgot to mention that I had to wait two weeks for suitable weather before we could put the two doors up.
My idea of tapping the upright proved to be a good idea, as it only took seconds to secure the top of the door, with the rest being easy.
The side door took somewhat longer, as I had to juggle bits of wood to block the door frame from the brickwork, but eventually it too was up.
The following two weeks I glazed the gap above the big door to roof line, but filled the gap above the side door with wood as the shape wasn't conducive to having glass cut. This actually worked for the better, as I fitted an extractor fan there to exhaust paint/welding fumes & condensation.
The last thing was to line the inside of the garage door with white coated 22gge steel sheet, and I now have a nice big area to attach printed info and diagrams using magnets.
^*#% car battery flat again and I need to get to my local post office to collect two parcels!
New battery tomorrow I think. Well it is 7 years old.
You really would think that battery technology would have advanced by now wouldn't you

Geoff - A cold UK.