Jerry Feather

Incidentally, you'll notice that the two corners next to the rounded corner cut-outs are both broken off. That happened in the mill with the fly cutter. I went back and rummaged through the shavings under the mill and found both of the broken off pieces. I'll trim them and glue them back on next time I mix up some epoxy. That will save a bit of time in trying to get some other material to fit and stay in place when glued on.

Jerry Feather

Hi MJ. Good of you to ask. I thought about giving you the short answer, which is that I am self taught, for the most part, but then I decided to give you the long answer instead.

When I was about 5 or 6 my maternal Grandad came through our town in central Colorado on their way to Utah where he was to become a millwright at Hill AFB in Ogden Utah. He was a farmer from Missouri, but like most of them he was very handy. I recall that one morning while I was in the backyard playing he came out where I was and picked up an old hand saw that was laying there and asked whose it was. I told him it was Patty Ray's grandad's from across the street. He looked around a little bit and then said "well it's ours now." Then he took it into my dad's kind of shop and took the handle off of it and then began with a cold chisel and hammer to cut the blade up into smaller blades. The first one he made was a miniature kid size hand saw blade. He filed the edges smooth then filed some teeth into it and drilled some holes in it then fashioned a wooden handle to it, varnished it and then presented it to me for my very own. That was both my first tool I ever owned and was perhaps my first inspiration that told me that if you need something you don't have to go to the store to buy it; you can just make it yourself.

From that point I think I began to work with whatever tools my dad had around to make various things that came to mind.

Later, in High School I took wood shop and learned more about tools, equipment, and materials. Later in college I took a couple of wood shop classes.

My Dad was a good craftsman, but he didn't teach me much about wood working. What he did teach me was that what you made could always be a little bit better. When I made things and showed them to him he would usually say something like that's fine, but what about this or that? That might have been discouraging to me but I took it the right way and always knew what he was talking about because I most often could remember taking the short cut that gave rise to the flaws. So, what he taught me was to be a perfectionist.

Aside from all of that I have taught myself by reading watching and listening. My mind has become that of a fabricator which is just another form of problem solving. Its a lot like practicing law. Its not so much working with your hands but rather with your brain.

The real trick to all of it is to gather about you all the kinds of tools and equipment that you might need to do the fabricating that comes to mind. I built most of my own home myself a couple decades ago and although I hired some of my clients to do some of the heavy stuff, I did all of the finish work myself. I had more and better tools than any of the guys who subbed for me.

So, at this point it is not so much wood work but rather all sorts of work. I have a machine shop, wood working shop, plastics shop, paint shop, welding shop, sewing shop, sheet metal shop, and much of in can be configured to become just about any other shop that I might need.

Here's a picture of the little saw that probably inspired it all.

P.S. For some reason I have the feeling that I have posted this story here once before. Even if I did, that's ok, since I kind of wanted to hear it again myself.

Randy V

That's a lot of work - very impressive!

MjRocket

Very cool..Thank You for sharing Jerry, its really neat that you still have the saw that started it all.

Jerry Feather

I have the center section kind of on its way. I have the basic body out of plywood screwed in place and will glue it in later if I don't decide to change it. It is a bit thinner than the other plywood I have been using, and I think I have a piece of the other that I would rather use.

I think I am going to have to add some material to the front corners in order that they blend with the bottom of the front bumper cover better than if they stay as narrow and as sharp as they are now. That will mean that I need to kind of "dock" the front corners of the end pieces to match.

Here are some pictures, including one of the final drawings that I made to figure out just how to lay the wood up for this carving. I now have a layer of epoxy on the air ramp part of the center section, but it is going to be a few days before I get to rasp on it. I will be out of touch for the next three or four days, it looks like.

Bambalam

Wow, I am continuously amazed at some of the threads on rennlist and y'all passion for the 928. I have only just bought my first 928 and apart from being amazed at how great the car is I feel privileged to have found this community.
I will be keen as to buy one of these from you when you have finished as mine is broken and half is missing and I missed the only one I have found for sale so far.
Keep up the great work.
Looking forward to starting my own thread.

Jerry Feather

Thanks for your kind remarks. You are very welcome to the tank. I am honored to have your first post in this thread. I hope you will become a full member and be able to participate at a little greater level. I hope you will also start your introduction thread and tell us more about yourself and show us some pictures of your car. What year is it?

Chris Lockhart

Watching/reading with interest. Lookin good Jerry.

Jerry Feather

Thank you Chris. This will be my last post for a while since we are leaving shortly for the Denver area where I will have my lower back surgery tomorrow morning. I should be back here by Friday or Saturday. See you then.

jwyatt8171

Prayers for a safe surgery Jerry.

Mrmerlin

Hey Jerry nice craftsmanship on your project,
good luck with your back surgery,
I hope you heal fast ,
and no complications

Chris Lockhart

Prayers and good thoughts for your surgery.

UpFixenDerPorsche

Wow wow oh wow. :-D

Congratulations.

Has been on my mind for a couple of years too Jerry, so I'll be following your progress keenly.

I eventually settled on a 3-piece CF concept, with the width of centre section equal to the distance between the chassis rails, and a clever release for quick/easy engine bay access. Sadly other "stuff" has intervened.

Pls keep Us all posted won't you?

Upfixen

MjRocket

Gods Speed on your recovery Jerry.

Bambalam

Thankyou, I feel very welcome and thought this was a great spot for my first post as you are doing such great work, couldn't sit back and watch any longer.
My car is a 90 model, it's white and I live by the sea - perfect place for the great white shark.
Had to laugh at your electrical - hammer reference on the first page, I always liked the story of the racecar that retired with an electrical fault - the conrod coming out the side of the block knocked the alternator off.
Keep up the great work.
Simon