Post by catmando1 on Jul 28, 2012 16:57:05 GMT -5
Okay, I posted this before, at least pics, but wanted to post more specifics on the 6" pvc beam...... I have kind of went through just roughly what I did at the time I built it, but it was a first for me and I didn't even know how good it would turn out to be and lacked confidence in it. Because of that, I didn't really plan it out with certain measurements or angles, I just kind of built it at the moment, and quite honestly, just used my eye as to what measurements looked about right to me. The hardest parts to do, was the longer angle measurements and cuts along the sides, and getting the nose of it to a shape that I liked. I actually just used my eye to make that, and drew everything on the pvc before I cut it out. It took 2 people to do it, one to cut, one to hold. Once I got it cut, I went back and smoothed out and rounded the cut edges with a fine rasp, then sanded it smooth.
Then I built a box for it to rest in, only with the top open, and one end, so the bottom end of the beam would rest in it for good support. Two people were required to so some of this too. Then I built a frame from 2x4's, as you can see in the pics below, to fit the pvc beam nice and snug in, and to fasten to. I set the beam in the box, then brought it up to the angle I wanted it to be so I wasn't bending over, nor reaching up while I was working a pelt. That happens to be at my diaphragm area, just below my heart and between my rib cage. We steadied it in position, made sure it was setting square, and I drilled a hole clear through it with a special extra long drill bit for 3/8 size, as well as the two 2x4 supports holding it towards the front. Then I used all thread, ran it through and fastened it all together with washers and nuts. I repeated this process on the lower end, only through the box. Other than that, it was all about building the frame how I wanted it which took little planning.
I wish I had better plans for it for you and others, but it just didn't happen that way. I just experimented and guessed, and used measurements that seemed the most logical and best..... and it worked out. You get enough of an idea, that you can build something similar, but it will need to fit you and your space anyway. Once main thing to think about, is the length of the working part of the beam. If it's to short or thick, smaller pelts will not fit as the beam will get to large too quickly. To long of a length or thin, it will be flimsy and will break under stress and cold. Over all length should be considered as well or it will cause you to have to work too low and bent over, or to high of an angle and reaching. Do some thinking, measuring, and use your craftiness and wits to make it customized. It doesn't have to be exactly like mine, but should be somewhat close. Here are pics again to refresh your mind of what it looks like again. I'll give some rough measurements, but I can't promise they will be right for you. Also I have trouble getting small rats on this, but large/med or bigger are fine, so adjust for that if you want.
Complete length of pvc= 5 ft.
Length of cut/angled working portion= 24 in.
length of nose area= 2.5 In.
width of nose base= 5 in.
length from nose base, to end of cut= 21.5 in.
Try to angle from the base of nose (5 in width), down 21.5 inches to the center of the pvc on the sides. This will require some eye work and guessing, as well as a string, long square or straight edge, etc. Once you mark and cut the angles, cut a straight line from the bottom, right up to meet the end of the side angle kerfs.
Good luck, and if I can answer any questions about it, I will.
Jason
Then I built a box for it to rest in, only with the top open, and one end, so the bottom end of the beam would rest in it for good support. Two people were required to so some of this too. Then I built a frame from 2x4's, as you can see in the pics below, to fit the pvc beam nice and snug in, and to fasten to. I set the beam in the box, then brought it up to the angle I wanted it to be so I wasn't bending over, nor reaching up while I was working a pelt. That happens to be at my diaphragm area, just below my heart and between my rib cage. We steadied it in position, made sure it was setting square, and I drilled a hole clear through it with a special extra long drill bit for 3/8 size, as well as the two 2x4 supports holding it towards the front. Then I used all thread, ran it through and fastened it all together with washers and nuts. I repeated this process on the lower end, only through the box. Other than that, it was all about building the frame how I wanted it which took little planning.
I wish I had better plans for it for you and others, but it just didn't happen that way. I just experimented and guessed, and used measurements that seemed the most logical and best..... and it worked out. You get enough of an idea, that you can build something similar, but it will need to fit you and your space anyway. Once main thing to think about, is the length of the working part of the beam. If it's to short or thick, smaller pelts will not fit as the beam will get to large too quickly. To long of a length or thin, it will be flimsy and will break under stress and cold. Over all length should be considered as well or it will cause you to have to work too low and bent over, or to high of an angle and reaching. Do some thinking, measuring, and use your craftiness and wits to make it customized. It doesn't have to be exactly like mine, but should be somewhat close. Here are pics again to refresh your mind of what it looks like again. I'll give some rough measurements, but I can't promise they will be right for you. Also I have trouble getting small rats on this, but large/med or bigger are fine, so adjust for that if you want.
Complete length of pvc= 5 ft.
Length of cut/angled working portion= 24 in.
length of nose area= 2.5 In.
width of nose base= 5 in.
length from nose base, to end of cut= 21.5 in.
Try to angle from the base of nose (5 in width), down 21.5 inches to the center of the pvc on the sides. This will require some eye work and guessing, as well as a string, long square or straight edge, etc. Once you mark and cut the angles, cut a straight line from the bottom, right up to meet the end of the side angle kerfs.
Good luck, and if I can answer any questions about it, I will.
Jason
