I have no pictures, yet. I have a stack of cedar that is quickly being turned into boards and saw dust. Due to surgery (not mine) cub scouts pine wood derby and a school schedule coming up this month I informed my boss I’d be bringing my build challenge to work with me. I’ll post some pics friday.
Terry
Good luck with your build, Terry. A coal tower is a real worthwhile structure, that’s for sure! I’ll be watching this one with interest.
So, here’s yesterdays work. Luckily, it was slow in the morning.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140117_080159_221_zpsb3e4d32a.jpg)
I was up early (for me) this morning and got some more done.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140117_084339_717_zpsa0d76eeb.jpg)
Got one side done and the bracing put in.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140117_084350_187_zpse9e5b59e.jpg)
I used my table saw to cut a groove in the main beams that the slats slide into. Glued together with bracing it should be very strong.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140117_090700_840_zps7e9261b9.jpg)
The PVC will end up being the sand bin. I’m now out of slats so I’m gonna have to go cut some more. So far I’ve spent $3 on some nails and a piece of brass for the coal shoot.
Terry
Nice job Terry, looking forward to seeing it completed.
WOW! Terry, your making good progress. More than I can say here, but my work was small fiddly work which is not my best suit.
I haven’t got to the fiddly stuff yet. I’m sure that will slow everything down. plus I made it a point to make all my angles 45 degrees. Easy cutting and planning!
Terry
Nice work so far!
Looks good so far.
Very nice. Good workmanship.
Doc Tom
Here’s the result of yesterdays work
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140118_101909_512_zps7d8d41b1.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140118_101937_537_zpsd921ae2e.jpg)
Rivits in the sand bin
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140118_101921_528_zps8339b883.jpg)
Todays work. This whole project is going way better than I thought it was going too.
Terry
WOW! You can say that again Terry. lol
Looks good Terry
Todays work
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140120_082251_002_zpsd4823e94.jpg)
Side bracing.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140120_082241_582_zps307d3a81.jpg)
Walkway frame.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140120_084053_359_zps354b433a.jpg)
Planks glued on.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140120_082232_303_zps94d097b3.jpg)
I stole a funnel from Mrs. Burr’s utensil drawer to make the top of the sand bin.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140120_085620_367_zpsec2e0687.jpg)
Cut down and roughed in place.
Not as much progress today. Have to much non railroad stuff to do.
Terry
Very nice. A word of caution. When you get it done and set out on your layout, find some L-shaped rods to hold it down. Mine acts like a sail on a windy day and it’s blown over on more then one occasion. The chute on the front was taking a beating…
My coaling tower has also been blown over a number of times – I guess because they’re tall and top-heavy they act like a sail. Eventually I’ll prolly screw mine down to the benchtop.
Your build is coming along very nicely, Terry - I love the background of your pic about the rivets in the sand bin, and Mrs Burr’s funnel - lol.
I already made plans to have an anchor system. At 3’ tall I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t last long in my wind tunnel of a back yard.
John, what are you looking at in the background? The station, the tank, RC truck, sci fi models, crane in pieces, war gaming miniatures or giant can of cigarette butts? I think that covers most of my hobbies…
Terry
So, today the coaling tower almost became firewood. I was really unhappy with a few things and then found out that my workshop is so dry that the major pieces of cedar decided to crack. But, I had a few adult beverages and am back at it today. Here is the result of yesterdays work and some of todays.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140121_094448_777_zps16895b14.jpg)
Walkway added and some supports.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140121_115323_518_zps0ec09163.jpg)
More bracing and the sand dome in place for looks.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140121_094508_478_zps49bf48fe.jpg)
The back…
Test fitting the door.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140121_112459_979_zps3bd21bc5.jpg)
Making the ladder.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140121_113716_011_zpsc5826dfd.jpg)
Ta Daaa! A ladder.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20140121_124023_964_zps8e108783.jpg)
Bracing on the back.
More to come!
Terry
Looking good -T-. Did you find the stone tile? Did Mrs. T miss the funnel?
Looks good so far…
I made a box for the bin out of PT 1/2" plywood when I built mine and glued the strips to that since I found the wood doing the same thing. Gaps were showing up where the wood was twisting and warping.
Ken, in retrospect I should have done that. I’ve been adding bracing to the inside, a lot of bracing, in hopes this won’t happen. The cracking that I experienced was in the main legs of the tower. Kinda sucks because the wood that I was using was ‘kiln dried’. I honestly have had better luck with the crappy cedar the fence company gives me. Oh, well. I’ll keep plugging on. By the way, that’s a great looking coaling tower.
Terry
