I have decided to make myself a well fitting custom hood ornament to replace the one that has been missing since long before the car was mine.
I'm looking to solder a small decorative bucket from a hobby store or something to a small piece of amp cable to run it through the hole. Plus, the amp cable would fit well I think as a stand for the bucket.
So, what materials would take well to sodering with speaker wire? Or better yet, what wouldn't take too well to the solder?
Replies (14)
swez on 04/3/2007 16:18:05
Hehe, this is funny and I get the point.
Why solder when you can use crimping hardware or even a fast cure epoxy adhesive for the job? Can even use a hair dryer to speed up the curing process.
This way, the bucket can be any metal, plastic or even ceramic and still hold fast. The wire should be short and stiff so it does not flop around at highway speeds and ding your hood to death.
The bucket should be miniture and light weight for the same reason and still go through a car wash from time to time w/o damage or falling off.
Galvanized metal does not solder easily. If I recall, it takes a certain alloy of solder, (Plumber's solder) and high temp melt point as well. That means using a torch and MAPP gas in some cases.
A Copper clad bucket might look very nice here too. You may be able to find such a thing in the craft department at WalMart or any good arts/craft store. In most cases, copper (Cu) is coated with some form of sealant. In time, that sealant will wear off and the copper will oxidize.
Ahhhh, those little bug candles we buy in the summer might work out very well. Most are galvanized tin and the small ones are very cheap too. They may not be in season just yet, but that might work. It could even be painted if you clean it well, prime it and then paint as desired.
Hope that helps,
Swez
cplkittle on 04/3/2007 21:33:47
You could sculpt your own from lead... Lead is sometimes used in solder. Lead is toxic though.
Galvanizing is poisonous when heated, very bad as in deadly neurotoxin.
I would think any metal would work, the only thing is that different metals vary in density, and the more dense the metal, the longer it will hold heat. When soldering the key is to heat both items to be joined to a temperature that would melt the solder, not just drip hot solder onto the items. What I am getting at is that you will probably run into some aggravation with the fact that if the bucket is hot enough to melt the solder and make a good bond, it will take a long time for the bucket and the solder to cool. A friend with a spray bottle of water might be needed here.
trunkisloud on 04/3/2007 23:08:32
dude i bolted a beacon light from the front of a bass boat on the hood of an 85 regal once...red and green lights in full effect........it was different.
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/4/2007 01:18:01
Good points there guys, I think the way I will go here will be to punch a hole through the bottom of the bucket, put the amp cable through, screw on a wire screw, and epoxy the bottom.
I was definitely thinking small, like the size the hood ornament would be. I'm going to use 2 sections of blue and silver 8ga, as this will the factory hole nicely.
Should be fun, cool and well fitting to the rebadging I did. We also have 17 names logged in right now. I haven't seen that board so full in a minute.
cplkittle on 04/4/2007 21:45:30
I have noticed alot of new names also. Not all of them posting though. Nice to see we have an audience.
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/4/2007 22:11:17
Yeah, it is nice to have an audience. Place has seemed dead last few weeks, but it seems to be picking up a lot. Sucks when it is dead. I have nothing to do!
swez on 04/5/2007 10:08:15
Things often pick up after tax returns are filed and refund checks are pending. That, plus nicer weather seems to spawn new activity on this site which lasts for most of the summer until school starts up again in the fall.
The winter season is often slow as much of the northern US is cold and many will table their projects until warm weather returns. That's usually a time for planning, snagging blow out priced gear and then thinking about installs to come later. Have seen this cycle many times and it's nice to see some new faces on the board again.
Swez
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/5/2007 10:16:57
Well, this is my first winter/spring transition, and will be my first summer here on CK. Wish I would have known about this place before some of the less graceful systems were installed in the Bucket.
Last summer I went through 2 decks, 2 amps, and countless sub setups. But the majority of this was just messing around with old home audio gear I had lying aroung, and only purchased a deck after my old JVC Kameleon's CD drive went over the deep end. I am sure i would have something much more solid by now if I would have joined this club of knowledge sooner.
swez on 04/5/2007 10:22:56
You are coming along just fine Shoot... give it time, learn the ropes, ask plenty of questions and feel free to experiment a little too. Most times, we learn the most by trial and error in the beginning. This site can cut the trial and error time to a minimum as we all have been there before and learned from past mistakes of our own doing or someone elses errors.
Cheers Mate!
Swez
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/5/2007 10:34:22
Yeah, all the knowledge I have learned here has treated me great, and then some. It is nice to get opinions, facts, and busting of myths from people I KNOW know more than me at car audio. From after a year from I first started, nobody could answer me a question, because they didn't know, or were using their answer to try to sell me something.
You should seen the old way I "calculated" ohmage. I was running my old house stereo at probalby a twentieth of an ohm with all the crap I had hooked up, and with my old ohmage "formula," was pretty convinced that I was running a cool 8 or so! I am suprised that amp held up for as many years as it did!
Ck is like my spot now, because working graveyards, all my buddies are asleep or at work when I get off of work, or vice versa. No more killer Saturday night parties....... I haven't had a drink in weeks because of it too! All the damn stores are closed after work.
I might get bored and start kicking this out in a few, once hobby stores open up. My parent's saw how much effort I have put into the Bucket, and actually recognized the improvements, and have finally granted me permission to do what I want with the old hoopty, as long as it is wise finiacially.
I can see it now "MOM!! I Don't neeeeed Rent money! I Neeeeed This MRP M450! MOOOOOooOOOM!" Just kidding! I would be cardboard boxin' it already!
cplkittle on 04/5/2007 22:16:33
Hey shootuh, I just had an Idea..
They make 'liquid plexiglas' It is a clear epoxy resin. You could take your bucket hood ornament, wrap it in that elwire by streetglow.
http://streetglow.com/site/products.accessories.elwire.php
The wire is 18ga and the entire length illuminates evenly. That would be pretty cool.
Once you get rims, you should look at this:
http://www.motionlite.com/
I have installed a few of these. They are the s#!+ at night. I'll dig through some of my pics and post a few.
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/5/2007 23:32:41
I would get pulled over so fast with that stuff! After a police impersonator assualted a few womon, Colorado illegalized all blue and red neon, and anything that flashes.
A great Idea, but not worth the trouble, because if I get pulled over, I am in deep ****. Those lights for the rims look sick. Stuff like this just makes me wanna move!!
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/6/2007 09:43:41
Those motionlites are tooo sick though! those are waay cool. I will be building the hood ornament today, will post pics in a few!
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/6/2007 13:27:39
Got the ornament finished about an hour ago. I got a small bucket from hobby lobby for a big ballin 77 cents. With a price like that, I decided to get a spare in case something happens.
I just punched a hole in the bottom, and used this stuff called "DucoCement" to glue it to the broken part of the original ornament. this is the same stuff I used to hld my new blinker lens on with, and it holds better than the undamaged one that was on the other side, so I figure it should be just fine for the old ornament.
Decided the amp cable and stuff was just gonna be too complicated in the long run, so I just skipped past it. It does look great, and fits the old Ghetto Hoopty Bucket like a glove.
I'm looking to solder a small decorative bucket from a hobby store or something to a small piece of amp cable to run it through the hole. Plus, the amp cable would fit well I think as a stand for the bucket.
So, what materials would take well to sodering with speaker wire? Or better yet, what wouldn't take too well to the solder?
Replies (14)
swez on 04/3/2007 16:18:05
Hehe, this is funny and I get the point.
Why solder when you can use crimping hardware or even a fast cure epoxy adhesive for the job? Can even use a hair dryer to speed up the curing process.
This way, the bucket can be any metal, plastic or even ceramic and still hold fast. The wire should be short and stiff so it does not flop around at highway speeds and ding your hood to death.
The bucket should be miniture and light weight for the same reason and still go through a car wash from time to time w/o damage or falling off.
Galvanized metal does not solder easily. If I recall, it takes a certain alloy of solder, (Plumber's solder) and high temp melt point as well. That means using a torch and MAPP gas in some cases.
A Copper clad bucket might look very nice here too. You may be able to find such a thing in the craft department at WalMart or any good arts/craft store. In most cases, copper (Cu) is coated with some form of sealant. In time, that sealant will wear off and the copper will oxidize.
Ahhhh, those little bug candles we buy in the summer might work out very well. Most are galvanized tin and the small ones are very cheap too. They may not be in season just yet, but that might work. It could even be painted if you clean it well, prime it and then paint as desired.
Hope that helps,
Swez
cplkittle on 04/3/2007 21:33:47
You could sculpt your own from lead... Lead is sometimes used in solder. Lead is toxic though.
Galvanizing is poisonous when heated, very bad as in deadly neurotoxin.
I would think any metal would work, the only thing is that different metals vary in density, and the more dense the metal, the longer it will hold heat. When soldering the key is to heat both items to be joined to a temperature that would melt the solder, not just drip hot solder onto the items. What I am getting at is that you will probably run into some aggravation with the fact that if the bucket is hot enough to melt the solder and make a good bond, it will take a long time for the bucket and the solder to cool. A friend with a spray bottle of water might be needed here.
trunkisloud on 04/3/2007 23:08:32
dude i bolted a beacon light from the front of a bass boat on the hood of an 85 regal once...red and green lights in full effect........it was different.
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/4/2007 01:18:01
Good points there guys, I think the way I will go here will be to punch a hole through the bottom of the bucket, put the amp cable through, screw on a wire screw, and epoxy the bottom.
I was definitely thinking small, like the size the hood ornament would be. I'm going to use 2 sections of blue and silver 8ga, as this will the factory hole nicely.
Should be fun, cool and well fitting to the rebadging I did. We also have 17 names logged in right now. I haven't seen that board so full in a minute.
cplkittle on 04/4/2007 21:45:30
I have noticed alot of new names also. Not all of them posting though. Nice to see we have an audience.
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/4/2007 22:11:17
Yeah, it is nice to have an audience. Place has seemed dead last few weeks, but it seems to be picking up a lot. Sucks when it is dead. I have nothing to do!
swez on 04/5/2007 10:08:15
Things often pick up after tax returns are filed and refund checks are pending. That, plus nicer weather seems to spawn new activity on this site which lasts for most of the summer until school starts up again in the fall.
The winter season is often slow as much of the northern US is cold and many will table their projects until warm weather returns. That's usually a time for planning, snagging blow out priced gear and then thinking about installs to come later. Have seen this cycle many times and it's nice to see some new faces on the board again.
Swez
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/5/2007 10:16:57
Well, this is my first winter/spring transition, and will be my first summer here on CK. Wish I would have known about this place before some of the less graceful systems were installed in the Bucket.
Last summer I went through 2 decks, 2 amps, and countless sub setups. But the majority of this was just messing around with old home audio gear I had lying aroung, and only purchased a deck after my old JVC Kameleon's CD drive went over the deep end. I am sure i would have something much more solid by now if I would have joined this club of knowledge sooner.
swez on 04/5/2007 10:22:56
You are coming along just fine Shoot... give it time, learn the ropes, ask plenty of questions and feel free to experiment a little too. Most times, we learn the most by trial and error in the beginning. This site can cut the trial and error time to a minimum as we all have been there before and learned from past mistakes of our own doing or someone elses errors.
Cheers Mate!
Swez
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/5/2007 10:34:22
Yeah, all the knowledge I have learned here has treated me great, and then some. It is nice to get opinions, facts, and busting of myths from people I KNOW know more than me at car audio. From after a year from I first started, nobody could answer me a question, because they didn't know, or were using their answer to try to sell me something.
You should seen the old way I "calculated" ohmage. I was running my old house stereo at probalby a twentieth of an ohm with all the crap I had hooked up, and with my old ohmage "formula," was pretty convinced that I was running a cool 8 or so! I am suprised that amp held up for as many years as it did!
Ck is like my spot now, because working graveyards, all my buddies are asleep or at work when I get off of work, or vice versa. No more killer Saturday night parties....... I haven't had a drink in weeks because of it too! All the damn stores are closed after work.
I might get bored and start kicking this out in a few, once hobby stores open up. My parent's saw how much effort I have put into the Bucket, and actually recognized the improvements, and have finally granted me permission to do what I want with the old hoopty, as long as it is wise finiacially.
I can see it now "MOM!! I Don't neeeeed Rent money! I Neeeeed This MRP M450! MOOOOOooOOOM!" Just kidding! I would be cardboard boxin' it already!
cplkittle on 04/5/2007 22:16:33
Hey shootuh, I just had an Idea..
They make 'liquid plexiglas' It is a clear epoxy resin. You could take your bucket hood ornament, wrap it in that elwire by streetglow.
http://streetglow.com/site/products.accessories.elwire.php
The wire is 18ga and the entire length illuminates evenly. That would be pretty cool.
Once you get rims, you should look at this:
http://www.motionlite.com/
I have installed a few of these. They are the s#!+ at night. I'll dig through some of my pics and post a few.
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/5/2007 23:32:41
I would get pulled over so fast with that stuff! After a police impersonator assualted a few womon, Colorado illegalized all blue and red neon, and anything that flashes.
A great Idea, but not worth the trouble, because if I get pulled over, I am in deep ****. Those lights for the rims look sick. Stuff like this just makes me wanna move!!
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/6/2007 09:43:41
Those motionlites are tooo sick though! those are waay cool. I will be building the hood ornament today, will post pics in a few!
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/6/2007 13:27:39
Got the ornament finished about an hour ago. I got a small bucket from hobby lobby for a big ballin 77 cents. With a price like that, I decided to get a spare in case something happens.
I just punched a hole in the bottom, and used this stuff called "DucoCement" to glue it to the broken part of the original ornament. this is the same stuff I used to hld my new blinker lens on with, and it holds better than the undamaged one that was on the other side, so I figure it should be just fine for the old ornament.
Decided the amp cable and stuff was just gonna be too complicated in the long run, so I just skipped past it. It does look great, and fits the old Ghetto Hoopty Bucket like a glove.
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