The worst ‘upcycling’ tragedy ever?

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, well I just knew I could copycat it.

But It's not staying that way and the next photo is with a EG3c drill, which is one of the models it was designed for.

You may notice that the spring isn't present, but I do have it but I've mislaid the top pin the holds it in place, but it is simple enough to make a new one if it comes to it.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 24/05/2021 19:01:11

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Martin,

I do actually like this and another good use for a brake disc also.

Regards Nick.

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

I am amazed at the amount some of this up cycled stuff sells for.

I am a qualified tightwad though.

Edited By V8Eng on 25/05/2021 10:05:34

Edited By V8Eng on 25/05/2021 10:06:13

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by V8Eng on 25/05/2021 10:02:09:

I am amazed at the amount some of this up cycled stuff sells for.

I am a qualified tightwad though.

Edited By V8Eng on 25/05/2021 10:05:34

Edited By V8Eng on 25/05/2021 10:06:13

Yeah I guess to people who have never set foot in a factory or machine shop, this stuff looks exotic. To me it looks like a bunch of old machinery stuck together an not particularly aesthetically pleasing at all. The drill press would look nice reconditioned and painted and in someone's workshop. But I would never in a million years want to look at it in my living room.

Now if it were a Manx Norton engine that might be different…

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Mark Rand on 24/05/2021 10:14:48:

Posted by Mike Hurley on 24/05/2021 09:52:07:

Perhaps someone could re-purpose a Bridgeport as a candle holder?

A bilgeport is far too flimsy to upcycle into a candle holder.

RIP Sir John!

Edited By Mark Rand on 24/05/2021 10:15:22

As soon as that was mentioned I thought of John too!

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Hopper, I agree the drill press would like nice refurbished and repainted, but I've got no intentions of having it in my living room or turning it into such as the OP has posted, however I do have this standing in a, not doing anything else corner, of my kitchen and as I refurbished it solely for display purposes, though it won't ever get into my living room. Tastes are different for just about everyone and such a thing as a Manx Norton engine wouldn't even be in my garage, except if I was given one and awaiting for someone else to buy it. Likewise many paintings that are claimed to be worth thousands of pounds, have no interest to me.

Regards Nick.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

My wife enjoys watching all the programs where they recycle and upcycle stuff from what I have seen many of them are just put together in the most shoddy way and how people can pay money for them I will never know.

Some(Very few) of them have been made to a good standard and with care which would look good in a living room enviroment. The only winner of many are those that do the work, to be honest would you put furniture in your house upcycled using OSB board which is exposed and just painted over

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Posted by Nicholas Farr on 25/05/2021 09:02:03:

Hi Martin,

I do actually like this and another good use for a brake disc also.

Regards Nick.

I actually like that, if I come across a giant micrometer at the right price (ie free!) I might have a go

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Thanks guys for the kind words! I do have several more of these large micrometers but have not got the time to get around to them.

They will be easier to make now that I have my tig welder so perhaps I'll have another go.

Cheers, Martin

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Nicely cleaned up Nick, I have one of those drills and have actually used it for drilling, though the chuck is only good for emergency wood jobs (ie when I can't be bothered to take the bit out of the electric drill). It was advertised in 1902 ME for 25/-

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

A few years ago I bought an Edwardian tourist / history guide to the countryside around the Upper Clyde, as a Christmas present for my brother who lives in the area with his local-lass wife.

The book was very fragile, in fact falling to bits, but all there; and they really appreciated it.

I had found it totally unexpectedly, among random second-hand books in a tea-room / chintzy second-hand shop whose wall-paper included music scores and very old OS map sheets. I told the lady at the counter why I had chosen it. She was impressed, and said a lot of old books are bought by people who like the illustrations so much that they tear the pictures out and throw the ruined volumes away.

It was not my only purchase from there, either (apart from many teas and cakes!). I found a Vapalux paraffin pressure-lamp there, and have overhauled it to full working order. Though the now-extinct, proper thorium-salts mantle would be better!

(For anyone else repairing old wick and pressure illuminating and blow-lamps, I bought the spares and instructions from Base Camp, now in Peterborough.)

' ' '

The uncomfortable thought has struck me that we can't criticise those " art-works" too heavily given that we've highlighted and encouraged so-called "steam punk" from time to time. Nevertheless it is tragic when irreplaceable tools that could still be used for their proper purpose, are destroyed by sheer ignorance, as by that farmer.

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

I have in my possession a genuine 500V Megger, one of the more modern of the hand-cranked models, before the advent of electronics.

I would be happy to apply its probes to sensitive parts of the anatomy of anyone who performs or purveys this sort of abomination, apart from the aforesaid bilgeport which obviously would fall over under the weight of the light bulb…

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Bazyle, I was given mine by a retired workmate about 18 years ago, for doing what was literally a five minute easy job for him. I had to make a new handle, which I made by shaping a suitable file handle to the same profile as the original one and the pin for it was replaced also, plus a small repair to the top of the table raising / lowering screw.

Regards Nick.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Mark, I'm sorry, but I can't agree with what you would be happy to do with anyone's sensitive parts of their anatomy for what they legitimately do with their own property.

Regards Nick.

[robin colemanParticipant @robincoleman77853]

The cable used is probable three core as I buy similar cable for my radio restorations.

[Diane CarneyModerator @dianecarney30678]

Does this count as good upcyling? The piano has been in my family since about 1920 and I learnt to play on it, but after two house moves it had become useless as a piano as it was untuneable (despite the est efforts of several highly regarded piano tuners). I didn't want to scrap it so I have 'repurposed' it! It still contains the fully strung harp which still 'sings'. I have since done away with a very cumbersome desk. So liberating…!

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Posted by Diane Carney on 27/05/2021 09:36:58:

Does this count as good upcyling? The piano has been in my family since about 1920 and I learnt to play on it, but after two house moves it had become useless as a piano as it was untuneable (despite the est efforts of several highly regarded piano tuners). I didn't want to scrap it so I have 'repurposed' it! It still contains the fully strung harp which still 'sings'. I have since done away with a very cumbersome desk. So liberating…!

That’s what I call good upcycling.

Do the foot pedals work as mouse buttons?😉

Edited By V8Eng on 27/05/2021 09:46:38

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Diane, that looks like a novel idea and yes I think it does count as good upcycling.

Regards Nick.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Much more congenial in the living room than a crusty old drill press, for sure.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Posted by V8Eng on 27/05/2021 09:45:39:

Posted by Diane Carney on 27/05/2021 09:36:58:

Does this count as good upcyling? The piano has been in my family since about 1920 and I learnt to play on it, but after two house moves it had become useless as a piano as it was untuneable (despite the est efforts of several highly regarded piano tuners). I didn't want to scrap it so I have 'repurposed' it! It still contains the fully strung harp which still 'sings'. I have since done away with a very cumbersome desk. So liberating…!

That’s what I call good upcycling.

Do the foot pedals work as mouse buttons?😉

Edited By V8Eng on 27/05/2021 09:46:38

Actually that would be very easy to arrange. Get an old USB mouse, preferably not optical, ditch the ball, arrange two microswitches to be actuated by the pedals, wire those in parallel with the button microswitches in the mouse. Just plug the mouse in and the PC will repond to both sets of buttons.

Robert G8RPI

[PeroParticipant @pero]

Hi Diane.

Nice to see an old piano put to a new use after its musical days are over. Could perhaps be improved by replacing the computer with a Cowells ME90 with some nice shelving at the back to hold the accessories, but perhaps that's just me and a little wishful thinking!

Pero

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I've seen a beautiful telecaster-style guitar made out of timber from an old piano.

Neil

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Neil, perhaps that guitar hums the tune to itself, for the song; "My Old Piano" by Diana Ross (1980 got to No. 5) when there is no one around.

Regards Nick.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

I guess a pianola would make a fine computer desk, using the pedals to turn an alternator for the laptop power supply ???

[HacksawParticipant @hacksaw]

I'm going to have a go too..

I found this " Aerograph "water separator from an old compressor , it shines up well

I like shiny old tat..

It should be plain sailing to convert to a wall light

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