Machinist/Fabricators in the house?

G-Rex · 01-03-2011, 12:08 AM

Any of you guys/girls do machine work / fabrication?

I want to have some brackets made for my BMW to mount some auxiliary lighting. I found the perfect bracket, but the company went out of business several years ago.

I'm attaching a picture of the bracket I want. The other side would be a mirror of this side obviously.

Are there any of you out there that can make something like this? I'm thinking tentatively to make the bracket out of 14 gauge stainless, but I'm open to suggestions.

I can provide all of the dimensions and specs, but I don't have access to the equipment to fab something up like this.

Tmall · 01-03-2011, 08:15 AM

No local machine shops G? Something like that doesn't look too complex. It could go two ways, you could be amazed at how cheap it is.. Or you could have a heart attack because of the cost.

TommyHotWheel · 01-03-2011, 10:14 AM

If I was working I would whip A pair of those up for ya, but I am not, sorry. try a Hot Rod or Truck customizer, they would have the tools and I bet would be cheaper than a machine shop.

Cass · 01-03-2011, 11:03 AM

Have you tried the BMW forum? If not... I might be able to connect you to some folks in LA

G-Rex · 01-03-2011, 11:10 AM

Cass, I've been all over both of the BMW forums. I've made posts, but nobody has hooked it up yet.

Ah well, maybe I'll go get the equipment and do it myself. More tools can't be a bad thing, right?

If you have hookups though, I'm all ears.

derf · 01-03-2011, 11:25 AM

I can do it, but it won't be anywhere near as pretty as that is, and I have no way right now of purchasing materials other than what I can pick up in home depot.

Or you can try and do it yourself. A cheap angle grinder, a cheapo welder, and a few hours of work and it can easily be made

Krabill · 01-03-2011, 11:58 AM

I've got a local machinist here that does work for us and also builds bikes/buggies/toys on the side just for fun.

Shoot me some dimensions and I'll draw it up and bring it over to him so he can quote you.

Papa_Complex · 01-03-2011, 12:43 PM

I'm no fabricator, but it doesn't really look like too hard to do. If you've got a place to buy the sheet steel or aluminum, a drill, a grinder, a vice for the bend, and a bucket of Tremclad to dip the parts in when you're done, then you're all set. Hell, man, you're handier than that!

G-Rex · 01-03-2011, 12:43 PM

Heck I can draw it up.

What format do you want? AutoCAD, microstation, PDF? Lol

'73 H1 Triple · 01-03-2011, 01:19 PM

You could have that made out of polished stainless ( if you want shiny ) or just regular sheet stainless if you're coating it.

You could cut it yourself with a variable speed saber (jig) saw and a hole saw. Or have it laser cut or waterjet cut.

Use this search engine we use at work ( I'm a machinist )
www.thomasnet.com

Type in either "laser cutting" or "water jet" and pick your state ( or you can leave it blank if you're trying to find something obscure ). This search engine also works for fasteners, cutting tools , speciality shops etc.

Jeff

01-03-2011, 10:14 AM	#3
TommyHotWheel Imported from Detroit Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Michigan Moto: 2001 Suzuki TL1000R Posts: 989	If I was working I would whip A pair of those up for ya, but I am not, sorry. try a Hot Rod or Truck customizer, they would have the tools and I bet would be cheaper than a machine shop. __________________ Cry Havok! And let slip the hogs of war!

01-03-2011, 11:03 AM	#4
Cass Cassolicious! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Austin, TX Moto: SV Posts: 1,377	Have you tried the BMW forum? If not... I might be able to connect you to some folks in LA __________________ Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

01-03-2011, 11:10 AM	#5
G-Rex Where to next? Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: OK to the C Moto: TL1000R, Hayabusa, R1150RT Posts: 1,333	Cass, I've been all over both of the BMW forums. I've made posts, but nobody has hooked it up yet. Ah well, maybe I'll go get the equipment and do it myself. More tools can't be a bad thing, right? If you have hookups though, I'm all ears. __________________

01-03-2011, 11:25 AM	#6
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	I can do it, but it won't be anywhere near as pretty as that is, and I have no way right now of purchasing materials other than what I can pick up in home depot. Or you can try and do it yourself. A cheap angle grinder, a cheapo welder, and a few hours of work and it can easily be made __________________ Last edited by derf; 01-03-2011 at 12:23 PM..

01-03-2011, 11:58 AM	#7
Krabill WERA Yellow Plate Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Moto: 08 WR250R, 12 XTZ1200 Posts: 558	I've got a local machinist here that does work for us and also builds bikes/buggies/toys on the side just for fun. Shoot me some dimensions and I'll draw it up and bring it over to him so he can quote you. __________________ www.wrrdualsport.com www.designatedvaping.com Last edited by Krabill; 01-05-2011 at 10:24 AM..

01-03-2011, 08:15 AM	#2
Tmall Aspiring Rapper Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Halifax, NS Moto: '12 CB1000R Posts: 3,569	No local machine shops G? Something like that doesn't look too complex. It could go two ways, you could be amazed at how cheap it is.. Or you could have a heart attack because of the cost.

01-03-2011, 12:43 PM	#8
Papa_Complex Nomadic Tribesman Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brampton, Canada Moto: '09 ER-6n Posts: 11,150	I'm no fabricator, but it doesn't really look like too hard to do. If you've got a place to buy the sheet steel or aluminum, a drill, a grinder, a vice for the bend, and a bucket of Tremclad to dip the parts in when you're done, then you're all set. Hell, man, you're handier than that! __________________ "Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge, "Dorkness Rising" http://www.morallyambiguous.net/

01-03-2011, 12:43 PM	#9
G-Rex Where to next? Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: OK to the C Moto: TL1000R, Hayabusa, R1150RT Posts: 1,333	Heck I can draw it up. What format do you want? AutoCAD, microstation, PDF? Lol __________________

01-03-2011, 01:19 PM	#10
'73 H1 Triple restorer of the original Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Zionsville,PA Moto: '93 ZR1100 &'73 Kawasaki H1 500 Posts: 1,331	You could have that made out of polished stainless ( if you want shiny ) or just regular sheet stainless if you're coating it. You could cut it yourself with a variable speed saber (jig) saw and a hole saw. Or have it laser cut or waterjet cut. Use this search engine we use at work ( I'm a machinist ) www.thomasnet.com Type in either "laser cutting" or "water jet" and pick your state ( or you can leave it blank if you're trying to find something obscure ). This search engine also works for fasteners, cutting tools , speciality shops etc. Jeff