The Left Handed Build

[TheCenturion]

Piggin: next time the Mrs tries to annoy you, grab your pump, turn it on, pull one of the tubes out of your wcooling system, and then spray her with water!

Might break your pump though...

 

[piggin]

I have just stumbled across this thread, almost by accident, and than just had to sit back and read all 8 pages of it!

It has to be one of the most interesting and entertaining 'stories' I have found for a long time, and I will make sure I 'bookmark' it now, so as to receive regular updates, as I have a feeling it will be one of those projects which will never be 100% completed, but will, like Topsy, just continue to grow and grow!

Hopefully both Mr and Mrs P. are now restored to full health again, and are not annoying each other too much!

I only wish I had the money, time and patience (and skills) to undertake such a project, but I know I never will... still, I do enjoy my own modest (by this standard anyway!) builds though.

Keep up the good work... and the regular updates!

Thanks Montala, nice to know that you have enjoyed my 'story'. I always intended to make this as lighthearted as possible and not take myself too seriously when carrying out this build log.
I agree, I don't think that this build will ever be 100% finished as it has developed through numerous stages since the initial concept was envisaged.
As for money I am quickly running out and for patience Mrs P has now come to the end of her tether. The shelf is still in one piece (almost) but does have a layer of barbed wire placed strategically around it.
As for health Mrs P is on the mend but is still on crutches and my pinched nerve is worse than ever and I am going to have to have an MRI scan.

Great stuff! As for Mrs P's revenge may I suggest installing a second power supply wired direct to the chassis? Although it may not be deadly it should warn her off going back for a second attempt!

Piggin: next time the Mrs tries to annoy you, grab your pump, turn it on, pull one of the tubes out of your wcooling system, and then spray her with water!

Might break your pump though...

Gundog/Centurion. Don't think I can get away with wiring out the chassis with a second PSU as the likelihood is that Mrs P will get away unscathed and I will kill a £250 unit!!!
Or I am likely to run the system dry or soak everything with stray coolant.
Mrs P has been very helpful recently by cutting up sections of heat shrink into standardised lengths (She has done a cracking job) when I have been doing my braiding.

 

[TheCenturion]

Good to know that she's been helpful mate. I can't wait for your project to reach fruition

 

[JohnTedd]

Mrs P has been very helpful recently by cutting up sections of heat shrink into standardised lengths (She has done a cracking job) when I have been doing my braiding.

I offered my wife the chance to help with braiding only today, but she sounded less than enthusiastic. You are lucky with Mrs P!

 

[King Damager]

Mrs P has been very helpful recently by cutting up sections of heat shrink into standardised lengths (She has done a cracking job) when I have been doing my braiding.

Hope you feel better!

However on a similar note, my gf absolutely loves cleaning my fans of dust... so very very useful xD

kd

 

[piggin]

Good to know that she's been helpful mate. I can't wait for your project to reach fruition

Yes Mrs P is very helpful and we all want to see this project come to fruition.

I offered my wife the chance to help with braiding only today, but she sounded less than enthusiastic. You are lucky with Mrs P!

can't say Mrs P was that enthusiastic when she agreed to help out.
Don't think she realised I wanted her to cut up 4 metres of braid into 20mm sections.
Had to get around this problem by paying her the minimum wage lol. She thought that she would get double pay as most of the work was carried out at the weekend!

Hope you feel better!

However on a similar note, my gf absolutely loves cleaning my fans of dust... so very very useful xD

kd

Thanks kd, I do hope I will feel better soon as this shoulder situation is really getting me down.
As for getting Mrs P to clean the fans it sounds like a good idea but I will have to remove some barbed wire first

 

[piggin]

I have been playing around with the 'ribbon' braid again

I do think this stuff does look very sexy.

 

[JohnTedd]

Wow that looks great! How long did that one lead take to braid?

 

[piggin]

Wow that looks great! How long did that one lead take to braid?

I don't know to be honest.
This cable is build from 'scratch' i.e it started life as just plugs, pins, cable, braid & heat shrink. (not pre manufactured)

I have found it easier to do this sort of work as a production line.

1. cut the cables
2. strip the ends
3. fit the pins
4. fit the single piece heat shrink
5. joint two cables together & thread through the braid. etc, etc

I found, I cut all the cables, then stripped the ends. Then called it a night.
The following night, I fitted pins etc.

Also had some help from Mrs P with cutting the heat shrink to length.

So, basically the answer is, I don't know.

 

[JohnTedd]

This cable is build from 'scratch' i.e it started life as just plugs, pins, cable, braid & heat shrink. (not pre manufactured)...

Do you have all the necessary tools (crimping tools etc) to do this?

While I can really see the benefits in terms of end result, I've always been put off by the amount of outlay up-front.

[I can just hear the Missus now - hands on hips - "What are you buying now?" or "What's that for?"]

 

[piggin]

Lol,your missus isn't related to mine is she?
I have heard very similar statements spoken to me in a soft welsh accent numerous times (more nag/sarcastic than spoken).
As for necessary tools a proper ATX Crimp tool will set you back in the region of £250. I used a very small pair of pliers from the pound shop and then held the pin in place with a small blob of solder.
For the hear shrink I used Mrs Piggin's hairdryer to get the desired result.
As for a large outlay on tools and equipment no not really.

 

[hyperst]

That cable looks great, which cable is it as I see six braids to what looks like ATX 24 pin, if so how have you done it please.

 

[piggin]

There is only 12 cables in the photo shown. (there are two cables per section of braid)
I thought it looked so good, I had to take a photo.
The 24 pin atx extension, now has all its cables in place.

 

[JohnTedd]

Lol,your missus isn't related to mine is she?

At the risk of stereotyping half the planet, I am pretty sure that these are universal reactions by wives... They just don't understand

As for necessary tools a proper ATX Crimp tool will set you back in the region of £250. I used a very small pair of pliers from the pound shop and then held the pin in place with a small blob of solder.

Ouch! £250. I certainly won't be splashing out on one of those crimping tools any time soon.

That's a lot of soldering to do.... Do you do that before or after the braiding?

For the hear shrink I used Mrs Piggin's hairdryer to get the desired result.

Me too. Well not Mrs P's hairdryer, but you get the idea.

 

[piggin]

At the risk of stereotyping half the planet, I am pretty sure that these are universal reactions by wives... They just don't understand

I agree, it is an inbuilt reaction to such matters. Just like I don't understand shoes & handbags.

Ouch! £250. I certainly won't be splashing out on one of those crimping tools any time soon.

I agree, £250 was way to much to pay.

That's a lot of soldering to do.... Do you do that before or after the braiding?

I crimped the pins onto the wire & then soldered each end.
I then placed heat shrink over each cable, put two cables down one piece of braid & attached the plug.
Finally, another piece of heat shrink was put over the braid to seal the ends.

Me too. Well not Mrs P's hairdryer, but you get the idea.

I have tried a paint stripper heat gun for the shrink. It works very well but can melt the braid if not careful.
I also have to remember to put it away before MrsP washes her hair.
Wigs are very expensive

 

[JohnTedd]

It all sounds very time consuming. If you have a willing photographer perhaps you could record the whole crimping and soldering process for the forum?

 

[piggin]

If people want it, I will do a mini 'how to' braid guide

 

[JohnTedd]

I would be very interested (you may have seen my attempts in my project log) particularly in how to braid and make up cables from scratch without splashing out on loads of tools.

 

[King Damager]

A 'mini' how to braid guide would be nice

Looks like the build is coming along nicely

And yeah I think it is a universal thing you know... My girlfriend's favourite few are 'that costs HOW MUCH?'
and
'Yes, but do you really need it?'

kd

 

[JohnTedd]

'Yes, but do you really need it?'

kd

That strikes a chord!