5 Attachment(s)
Windshield Frame, If I can do it anyone can.........
Alright, I will retract my previous statement. After pondering what Steve said (Roadster32) I thought I'd give a windshield frame a shot. I had a piece of 3/4 EMT, metal conduit, and bent the radius to fit cowl top. After I saw how easy that was to form, and finding a similar tech article on the H.A.M.B I decided to acquire a piece of 1/2" black pipe. $10.00 at Home Depot. Although not as easy to bend, with the help of a couple of trees in my front yard the arch was formed. I thought I took pics of this but did not.
Next, probably the hardest part. Cut a 3/8" wide grove in the center of the top of the arch. I laid out the line with tape and marked the sides in silver marker to give me a good visual guide for the cuts. I clamped the piece in a drill press vise clamped to table and made the cut with a cutoff wheel in an angle grinder.
THIS PHOTO IS FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY!
Attachment 47762
And yes I know........No Guard. I can't see with the guard. DO NOT Do as I DO. OK disclaimer out of the way. I do wear glasses and full face shield, and never put any part of my body in line with the blade. And wear welders gloves. Because I have been hit in the hand with a chunk of wheel before. OUCH....... and actually the best view of the cut is from the side anyway.
Attachment 47763
With the cut made in the arched portion and the remaining piece of straight pipe, I clean the groove with a disk and check the width with a piece of 3/8" scrap. Making sure it slides along the groove. This needs to be straight, or the glass may crack when installed.
Attachment 47764
I made a pattern for the windshield frame out of 1/4" ply. The dimensions were acquired from Speedway. This is based on a 2" chop from stock.
Attachment 47765
This is my pattern. I'll use this to make sure the frame is square to the pattern when final fitting is done and when welding.
Attachment 47766