Control knobs and the poor man's lathe

[GraficO]

Here are a couple photos of the "billet" knobs I made to replace the stockers.

Granted, I bought a set of cheap J--P ones and modified them. I bought them originally because hey were advertised as Billet, but when I got them they were cheap cast/knurled aluminum from China. I paid $19 for a set of 6... but I've seen em on Ebay for as much as $56 for the set (which I warn... they are not even close to being worth that much)

Process: Lock the set screw of the knobs on a rod and put it in a drill chuck. Clamp the drill handle in a vise and auto-lock the trigger of the drill. I then went after the overseas cheapies with files, various grits of wet/dry sandpaper and then polished them to a billet shine.

I cut a channel in the outer ring with a hack saw and stretched an O-ring over the top of it.

The cheap camera doesn't do them justice... and although the photograph on Ebay looks good... they were just crap... this is one way to refurbish the crappy knobs into something that looks nice, has somewhat of the original flair and are custom.

Enjoy

 

[broncobeast66]

Those look pretty cool and I like the "poor man lathe"

 

[backpain]

I'm impressed. The only thing better would be me drinking a beer while watching someone make me a set and install them! Where's that guy?

 

[GraficO]

I only need 4 (custom dash)... and I have 10 more in my box of goodies... Throw me some suds and I might make a few

 

[sprinksbeme]

O ring is a nice touch.

 

[Ohio Bronco 21]

Good looking

 

[mustangtoby]

Cool idea - love to see stuff like this!

 

[marc]

GraficO those look very cool, you've inspired me to do something with the drillpress.

marc

 

[GraficO]

my pleasure... I have a couple products that I'm making in the next couple months that should be of interest to fellow Early Bronco folks...

one keeps the honest... honest and the other keeps things from poking you in the leg. That's the only hints I'll let out for now

Build a better mouse trap...