Design Help

[Whodat1004]

So this afternoon I went out into the garage and started working on making my own wind cover. With out really thinking I just started working. I came up with this:




Now I cant seem to figure out the best way to make a domed top or something to cover the opening in the top with. I was looking for some help. Any body have any ideas? Mind you I dont have a welder but pretty much everything else.

[yashman19]

Can't really offer any help in furthuring the desing, but I think it looks great as is, and should serve the purpose of a windcover already. I know all the windcovers you see online are covered, but arn't at all really necessary. As long as it extends above and beyond where your coals sit, thats all it really needs to do. Maybe if it was really windy, you might have some problems, but I think you should test it out first how it is, and see if you like it. If wind still manages to get to your coals, then you can worry about a roof.

Also as a minor note, since this has to do with DIY, I'm going to move it to the "How-to Funhouse" later tonight. I'm not moving it now because I want you to be able to see this message, and not wonder what happened to your thread

*Edit* Got any info on the materials you used, just incase someone wants to tackle a similar project in the future? Always looking for cool, inovative ideas in the How-to Funhouse.

[JoeLipinski]

So this afternoon I went out into the garage and started working on making my own wind cover. With out really thinking I just started working. I came up with this:




Now I cant seem to figure out the best way to make a domed top or something to cover the opening in the top with. I was looking for some help. Any body have any ideas? Mind you I dont have a welder but pretty much everything else.

Well you are going to need to attach a handle so you don't burn your fingers. I would say to attach a dome, I would make a cone shaped piece of metal, holding it together with the metal holders that is holding your cylinder together, then I would cut a small portion of the cone (at the point) off so you have your air intake concentrated. I would then bend the bottom part (the wide open part) straight and insert it into the top, attaching it to the top with more of the metal fasteners, that you used on the cylinder part.
This is basically what I mean:

[SafeSearch]

first of all, how malleable is this metal? and do you know what kind specifically it is?

if i was doing this, for the perfect dome, i would first heat the metal over like a burner or a small fire if you have a backyard, to soften it up a little, but be careful of the heat! then like get a reasonably large rock and secure it safely, then pretty much just bang the metal on it, or bang the rock on the metal, depending on if its a good or bad shaped rock.

kinda like this: http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/9138/windcover12zi.jpg


if its malleable enough, it should be able to make a decent dome, if not a full cover.

[Whodat1004]

Its a grade of aluminum. A year or so ago my dad picked it up from the supply yard. I polished it for a few hours hoping to make a backsplash for behind the burners on the stove out of it. Its a pretty decent gauge. I am not gonna forfeit the nearly mirrored finish by beating it on a rock. I'd like to try to keep the surface nice since I did spend a few hours on it and that would just be counter productive in my opinion. I am familiar with heating up a piece of steel to soften it up even after it cools. However, the heat will discolor the thin aluminum I think and I dont want to do that either. I think I'll just go with yash's idea and just leave it.

[art_official]

by the way, safesearch, you have a spelling error on number three, despite it being fully correct in number two

[JesusDoesVegas]

The rock idea is a good step, but the better way to do it would be to get a metal bowl or some other very hard perfectly round surface (a rock would probably break, and if it didn't the shape it would leave behind would be crude). Heat that metal up, and lay it on top of the bowl (the bowl should be upside down ^ like that) start from the center and tap away at it until its taken the shape of the bowl (remember to keep heating the metal as you go to keep it soft). You will have to re-polish it, but the final result would be worth it. while you are at it, you could go to your local craft store and pick up some metal working punches, and put a nice design in it (or just use a small chisel or screwdriver that you don't care about). When you cut the final piece, leave a lip to connect so it can connect to the cylinder.

If you aren't down with that, a cone type top would work just fine. I would recommend cutting out your pattern with paper first as a sort of prototype to be sure it will fit (my measurements are always off with the first time... I like to cut corners. no need to waste your materials)

As for the handle, I think if its metal it may still be pretty hot (I've never used a wind cover). You could do a nice looking wooden handle with a wooden dowel...

The arm support would be a piece of aluminum. This is a crude drawing, I hope it shows the idea. The arm support could also serve to cover up the seam in the cylinder.

edit - damn image hosting... Edited January 24, 2007 by JesusDoesVegas