I needed some tail light brackets for my truck but didn't want the stock ones plus i wanted to lower the light's and tuck them close to the bed... So they had to be made. A buddy for mine hooked me up with some 1/4" aluminum plate used in our NYS traffic control boxes...it was a 'leftover' piece.. So, i made a template of what i wanted from some cardboard, transferred it to the plate and started cutting. Filed it to the final size then drilled the mounting holes. Then i decided it looked to boring so i drilled some 'style' holes it them. can't call em lightening hole because they don't weigh much to begin with I used a Roto- Broach for all the holes... These thing's are slick as hell and make VERY nice hole's.. Once i had two made, i took to wet sanding them to smooth them out for polishing.........then polished them to a nice shine.... This could easily be sort of a tech post really.. Flat plate like this can be used for a LOT of stuff and can look pretty cool when done. So don't toss that stuff out, find a box and keep in just in case..Plus, there are no special tool's needed to make stuff like this, i really did use a hack saw and files..nice and cheap Tony
Tman is so often so honest mostly sometimes NO!!! please. Play with the shape some (a lot), much much smaller and lightning hole placement. Clean up the edges and think of the metal artistically?
Simple, slick and nice and the best thing about it is that you did it yourself by hand. I may have to file that one back for future reference.
What were you thinking? I'm not actually done polishing them yet anyway.. I know i can thin them down some, but it'd be kinda tough to change where the holes are located due to where i wanted the lights. The one thing i didn't want was to have the outside hope on the top to be half way between the tail light and the bed....you'd only see half from the rear of the truck..so i placed them closer together to solve that....... And without them, they look like crapola...kinda like solid chunk's of aluminum You think they are out of proportion with the light/bed???? Thanks guy's..both props and constructive. Tony
Ha..no, but my buddy was actually busting my balls when i was cutting it and said "why don't you just use the water jet"..
I see now you used what you had material wise...what I meant (and should have said) was that they look fat? and all straight line or 90 degree. Soften the lines. Reduce the material width across. I do not have AutoCAD on this pc. Hacksaw lines can be cleaned up with a file/sandpaper or on a grinder of any sort so don’t be afraid of cutting angles for radius, using a Sharpie and grinding after. You asked hey! do you still have the lower piece of aluminum?
No, thats cool.. I did ask. I did keep them squared off, but did it on purpose not because i was 'ascared to make radius' . Figured i'd keep with the lines of the rear stake pocket...but, i can see what you mean by 'fat' now that you mentioned it.... I do think they look cool, but now can that there's some room for improvement..especially down by where it bolts to the bed...that area is a bit W-I-D-E.. Like i said, i asked because i wanted to know what you were thinking... So, thanks for the input.. Tony
Not trying to bust your balls, but I can see where InjectedA is coming from - they are just a bit arkward looking. ? Maybe if you make the corner radiuses match it would help. I also think the lightening holes should be the same diameter when they are in an area with a constant width like this. Here's a very rough drawing of an alternative design that could look a bit cleaner ...
Your not busting my balls..we're talking about a set of brackets and an hours worth of my time..i don't take it personal. Sometime's it's cool to get other peoples thought's anyways..helps in broadening the mind.. Case in point, i didn't think about the thickness of them.. I dig your drawing too.. Thanks.. Tony
I like em ..they work dont they..how can you beat that for a bit of your time and first time out of the gate? refining always comes after
Thanks.. Thats kinda what i'm thinking.. 41, thanks for the image too.. I never thought of doing it like that. Sad part is, it would have been less work
Less work and a fraction of an ounce lighter A tip for next time you need some lightening holes on a bracket is to use a black marker pen and draw them on first. It makes it real easy to try different layouts.
When someone hammers out something it is always with pride. And rather that vision is right or not with others, on here when asked for opinions you will get them. I hope and think this board is about offering alternatives or what others see that will help you endeavor to better your vision. I havent been on here a lot so I will say the courtesy displayed now is WAY above norm on stuff. An opinion should offer constructive direction, yours or theirs. God I guess I am officially old .
Good for you! I've made lots of sheetmetal parts with the same two hand tools, got the job done when someone else was trying to "do it better" with machine tools. Viva elbow grease!
I agree. And your right about how thing's are now vs the way they were too. To me there's nothing wrong with offering an opinion providing it might actually help the person you are passing it along to. And getting upset when someone does give an opinion is retarded. Especially on the net, and when a person opens the door for opinions by posting something. I laughed last night when i thought about it, i really dig the drawing Simon Sez posted..more than what i did I never even thought about that design as simple and it is....go figure. haha Today i've already sketched out two more version's using that idea as a base. I'll post what i make when they are done. Thanks to all for the props, and ideas. Tony
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