We finally renovated our downstairs loo! A project that involved a range of different skills… Plumbing, Cladding, Wall prep, Painting! it had it all and was alot of fun to get finished. Just in time for summer BBQ parties
IM A MAN WITH A VAN
Meet Tonto!!! my new Peugeot Partner van - complete with functioning flashing warning light!… After a sad good bye to my first car, Lola the Corolla i decided to take the plunge and get my self an adventure wagon! with this space for lots of upgrade projects, biking trips, camping trips and general van based tomfoolery!
New guitar project incoming!
Plans are underway for my next hand built electric guitar. Watch this space !
Driveway model
My dad recently got his driveway ripped up and re-landscaped in order to fit more cars infront of our house. Using my self taught SketchUp skills I modelled the new design for him to use to show the contractors what it is he wanted! It was a lot of fun and surprisingly satisfying modelling my own house focusing on the scale and layout to be as accurate as I could. The drive turned out great !
Bike Restoration
Back in 2013 I was given a tired old ridgeback commuter bike with the intent of fixing up to become a useable mode of transport for my older sister. Most of the chain had corroded and rusted over and the gears where next to useless so I decided to convert it into a stripped down single speed, a perfect urban cruiser!
This project really only existed to keep my idle hands busy when i was home form uni within my first year and as such spanned most of 2013 with me doing one job at a time over about 5 weekends throughout the year. Once it had all been completed I ended up keeping the bike for myself to use for my final years at uni!!!
More recently I decided the dodgy paint job and optimistic drop handle bars weren't fulfilling the aesthetic potential of such a useful and simple bike
Step 1 - Tear down
Bit by bit I took the bike apart carefully keeping track off all parts.
Step 2 - Remove all stickers and decals
Trick I learnt when removing stickers off my car, applying heat melts the glue and makes the stickers come off far more easil
Step 3 - Break out the stripper
Using a combination off paint stripper wire brushes and sand paper I removed the layers of paint and smoothed the underlying steel. note to self... paint stripper doesn't work in the cold!!!
Step 4 - Clear lacquer time
Clear lacquer was applied as it should protect the rust prone steel whilst allowing the industrial look of the frame to show through. Always wear masks when using aerosol paint... that stuff can really mess you up if you breath it in!
Step 5 - Reassembly
I couldn't be happier with how this bike turned out, the steel look with the addition of all the original aluminium accessories reminds me of an old aircraft! I think ill knick name the bike hawkwind!
Bridge Concept (Blue Planet inspired)
After watching the deep sea episode of blue planet and seeing the Venus flower basket I decided to do some research. Performing a form analysis and learning the structural features of this incredible feat of nature I through together a little bridge concept. I find nothing inspires my design more than the natural world, evolution is truly on of the best designers!
Website up and running
The website has just been refreshed with some of my latest and best work. Im excited to start posting to the blog and using this website as a platform to display my design adventures.
Hope you all enjoy what is to come.
Thanks