Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner home made battery cover

Ok, I need some opinions please. I made a battery cver from some 304 stainless and didn't want to leave it plain so I had a wild idea and would like to know if it is dorky looking or what. [image]http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t241/mjtool/newcover.jpg?t=1175434894[/image]


mike

ok some how got image split.[image]http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t241/mjtool/newcover.jpg?t=1175434894[/image]

Opened it in another window. Looks good!! Can you take a closer pic of it so I can see how you made the top?

try again, [image]http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t241/mjtool/newcover.jpg?t=1175434894[/image]

ok the closer shot I took looks wierd in the flash. might need more buffing. the top is folded in 2 inches and comes within a half an inch of the terminals and you might be able to see the tab where the bolt goes thru. [image]http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t241/mjtool/closerupcover.jpg?t=1175436422[/image]


mike

I don't know what I am doing wrong with the pic but I think I needed to set the box and pan break a little tighter, that one bend looks rounded. next one will be tighter. I also cut those peg hangers out from eighth inch 304. took a lot of die grinding for that. I wll never do that one again.


mike

That cover looks terrific!

Soren

Looks pretty good. I like the peg hangers too. Did you make them too?

Nice floor!

thanks, yes it took me half the winter during lunch hour at work to cut and grind both of the hangers. and thanks for getting the pics up Soren.


mike

mike ,
the photo thing is easy, I had the same problem with my
photobucket.

the link in the Image brackets need to end in jpg or other image id.
the "?t=1175436422" at the end of your photo id needs to
be removed.

this is the answer I was given months ago and now I pass it on.

well ,the wife gets a little anal about the floor. I get itall brake fluid, antifreeze, gas oiled and scratched from projects and end up re-epoxying every other year. [It doesn't come close to some of them other guy's floors].


mike

Snekeptp, thanks for the tip. I wouldn't of gone to photobucket but I can only get 3 or 4 pictures in at the BA photopost.


mike

Cool cover. I like it.

Mike, I would love to make a cover myself! I have a break, but aparently it's not a box and pan break like you said. I would have a hard time making a box shape!! Any tips?

Benny,the break I used didn't even need to be a box & pan break because I didn't cover the ends of the battery, just the main side and the top. but if you want to cover the ends too, a b&p break is needed or build the ends seperately with one half inch flanges and attach them with stainless rivets or even bronze or copper fasteners might look cool. welding them on with a tig welder is a possibility but it would probably distort the flat metal. do you know a high school kid in metal shop? You would need to lay it out on the metal, cut off all that's not needed and bend away. let me think some more on that one,have to get going here,4 thirty comes awfull fast nowadays.


mike

I clamp down to a hard flat surface with a good edge using 1/4" X 2" flat stock and clamp flat stock to the piece where its to be bent and instant break. P.S. you can bend a box shape that way.

Battery cover looks great!

Benny, what Dog said could be done too.I laid mine out on the backside and duct taped it at the points where contact is made with clamps and the break to avoid scratches that would take a while to sand and polish out with the stainless.With dogs way just do the secondary bends with the flat stock.I used the D.A. sander on mine [the last step of 1500 grit] while it was still flat just because it was easier [hence the duct tape]. if I can help out any other way just holler.


mike

Every body, thanks for the input now and later, I was not sure if the T was too much. when I was doing it at work, my non riding co workers didn't have much to say except "what's the T for?". But they had to listen to me run the die grinder at lunch time for several weeks too when I was doing the peg holders.


mike

Yeah you guys have a point. I could easily do the secondary bends by hand, or even nip out the corners at an angle so I could at least start the crease on the break, then finish the bend by hand. I like the rivited look too and had thought of doing that. Might give her a go! As for cutting it out, I also have one of those bead roller/shear things you slap in the bench vice. That should do the trick. I am thinking about etching a union jack into it with the dremel.

I think you are really onto something there, having (apparently) ditched the plastic part of the stock item.
Having done that, it seems the whole concept could be extended in a number of ways for sides, top, etc.

Mike,

Quote:

---

---

Sweet! I'd ask you to make me one but then your custom would go out the window. Oh yeah the Westco's white writing on my bat'tree would also remain, this time enshrouded by that awesome 'T'!

Rattle can for me it is. Or break Carly Simon disk.

Nice work.

That would be cool looking. another thought I had was I have a 7 by 12 inch piece left over and cut it just high enough to stick inside the battery tray and bend it around the battery and then fit the plastic lid on top hiding the top edge of the steel. still not sure what to do for the strap and any sort of bling with the strap in the middle. just another random thought. Keep us updated.


mike

Thanks Moe, we could line the inside with colored plastic of your choice. we'd have to think of something other than a T though....[I wish I new how to find the smiley faces]


mike

Quote:

---

one a week or two ago posted that mesh battery cover that looked good too.

---

That was Dave (vintageT6 or something along those lines).

Good idea mike!! So they just sort of sit together.... Hmmmmmm...I could even roll a bead into the edge

Benny, keep us updated and pics..


mike

Oh it's gonna be a while... My break is buried in my storage unit and weights a solid 117 lbs (according to the shipping label). I think I'll get it all marked out, then take it to the storage unit and bend it in the hall way

I think I'm going to try that wrap around with the left over stainless I have to see if it works with the top,


mike

Here's my idea... Either roll or bend a little flange into a flat piece. Snip out a triange on each side so I can bend it on a crease... then fold. Then it will sort of slip over whatever wrap around I make.

sounds like it will work, just remember, pictures.


mike

Ehyup, I'll snap a few. Once I getaroundtoit.

I did my with aluminum easier to work with.Used original strap. [image][/image]

aluminum is easier to work with but dulls very easily too. Looks very good though.

Clear coat!

Then that eventually wears through, scratches , dulls with age , yellows etc...


peels

Looks good, I just bent another stainless one from leftovers. left it at work though. now I have to see if it fits. How hard was it to get that cover on?


mike

Looks great! Matching key ring too!

Soren