It was awesome to get back in the shed! I’d forgotten how good it feels to know you’re better than all the cheque book resto crowd
I’ll post pics at the end of each week rather than daily. Late start because the builder was here I think just to shit me because he knew I was starting on the bus. Got started on fixing the cargo door bottom today only for my welding helmet to shit itself (it has sat for 18 months) so started on the rear corner with the slapping spoon and a dolly and actually did pretty well for something I’ve never tried. Also busted out my new stud welder and that was good too. Grabbed a new helmet after the school run so back on it tomorrow.
I’m with Chessboard on this one, we have been waiting so long for an update, I personally have heard the “I’m taking all of August off to smash it out” only to find out that it starts on the 14th, all we ask is for a few photos each day, how hard can that be.
Don’t worry Wiz, I have a whole month, it just started 2 weeks later than initially planned. I took I a on a camera and was going to upload them all but it takes ages. Tomorrow I’ll take some on my phone and do a daily update.
Realistically most of the month will be spent metal working dents so won’t be exciting pics but you asked for it.
New helmet because Cheesboard thinks I’m talking shit, pissed the batteries in the old one weren’t replaceable.
Helmet
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Go back a few pages and you will see when I did my cargo door bottoms I stuffed up the rear door and the gap was too big on the bottom. Considering all the body welding was finished I thought I’d get that out the way first. This wasn’t the ideal way to fix it but I thought I’d have a go before buying a new panel. I’ll see how it goes when it’s time to bodywork it, if I can’t get it right I’ll re-skin it.
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Can’t even tell from the inside
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When the helmet shit itself I started a bit of dolly work on the corner below the battery tray, it came up awesome considering how wobbly it was
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Then I started on the roof, the first couple were easy little dings which just pushed out nicely
Found a section that was worse than I realised. Turns out It’s not as easy as YouTube will have you believe. In my mind I thought I’d metal finish the whole bus to perfection but it’s a prick of a job especially the roof, I just can’t reach in far enough with the dolly, and the slapping file at the same time. I’ve decided to get it to about this standard, won’t be a show car but will need no more than a skim.
Looking good mate. Don’t spend too much time on one spot or you’ll get no where. Focus on the worst spot and get it close and then move on. Eventually you’ll get back to where you started and you might make an improvement. Normally it’s when you’re so close to being happy you go to do that one last final bit and your back at square one.
You don’t want to know how long I spent on this roof.
Great start Matt. You’ve really put a bit of variation in your day.
What’s your approach to the days scheduled work? Sounds like you’ve got a spinning wheel.
I found a whiteboard up on the wall with all the different jobs to tackle worked well because when you got frustrated, do something quick and easy and you get the motivation back.
One time at band camp, I clearly remember spending two hours under my bay trying to patch weld up a hole in the floor where one of those bits where the middle seat bolts sit in. It wasn’t quick, it wasn’t easy, it was frustrating every time I blew another hole with the welder, job was a real bitch. Had to walk away and drink some beer. That helped too.
Love the daily updates too.
Ideas man
Minister for Finance
Scared of wife finding out what I’ve spent
Any updates mate
Talk around the fire while drinking beer at Lochie’s river camp spot was we were going to be getting daily updates
Keep them coming mate
