New Seat Covers for the Plymouth Sport Fury - Part II

I didn't intend on making a second blog entry for the seats but as I was recovering the rear seat, I thought of a few things I'd like to mention. First off, the tools I found most helpful in removing the old hog rings are shown here (L to R: nippers, needle nose pliers, side cutters, awl):

New Seat Covers for the Plymouth Sport Fury - Part I

My dear wife bought me seat covers for my car quite a while back. Like two years ago. I don't really know why it's taken so long to get them installed, but now that I've started the process... let's just say it is a workout. Now I know what the guy at work meant when he said installing seat covers is difficult (btw, hi Jason Huff if you happen to read this).

Here is the first seat finished and back in the car:

Sheldon Lathe "Under-Drive" Speed Selector Explanation

There isn't much information online about Sheldon lathes, I've found out. Atlas/Craftsman, South Bend, Clausing/Rockwell? They have quite a presence online (OK, Clausing not so much, but better than Sheldon). When I picked up my Sheldon 11-inch lathe a few months back, I immediately started scouring the net for information. Sites like VintageMachinery.org and Lathes.co.uk are great sites and have lots of free and valuable information. Yahoo groups also are a good place to find that elusive manual. But enough rambling. This post is about Sheldon's very cool four-speed "Under-Drive" or "U-Drive" system and how it works. Here's a photo of the U-Drive in my lathe (the two handles are removed to get the pedestal door open - they fit onto the two shafts poking out).

Bucket O' Bolts - Or, where to find that elusive screw.

I'm sure most guys that grew up like me tinkering on cars/trucks/tractors/etc have a large Bucket O' Bolts (BOB) out in the garage full of the remnants of past projects. You know the scenario, something gets pulled apart to fix or repair it, then gets put back together, and whatever leftovers there are scattered around on the floor get thrown into BOB. I personally use a 5-gallon bucket. It is no lightweight either. It's got to be tipping the scales at 80 pounds or more.

Atlas 618 Progress - Part VI: More 3D Printing - Cross Slide Chip Guard

A couple days ago I showed a photo of my cross slide chip guard cobbled from a piece of sheet metal. It worked but didn't look that great. What do I have at my disposal that could possibly make a better guard? Why, a 3D printer, of course.

Atlas 618 Lathe Progress - Part V: 3D Printed 40t Gear

I never did get immersed in CAD/CAM software up to this point in my life, as I never really needed the skill at work or home. That was for the younger folks, don'tcha know. Well, times change. My daughter bought herself a 3D printer a year or so ago and has been making things. Hmm, that looks like fun. But I have no idea how to even start to learn the skill. But then Mr. Pete (Tubalcain), "your YouTube shop teacher", put out a few recent videos on how he learned to make things on a 3D printer, specifically lathe change gears. And my 618 lathe was missing a 40-tooth gear. If he can do it, so can I. And by jove, it wasn't that difficult.