Yesterday I had cut two chunks of 1 X 2 rectangular tube to length, then went back inside. Later I came back out and sprayed bluing on the edges then went in the house to read and get warm again. Came back several hours later and the bluing had somewhat dried so I set my combination square to what I thought was a quarter of an inch then used it to make a pair of cut lines from each side of the 1" side of the tube; I removed about a quarter of an inch but have not measured the scrap either. I did the same to the other side of the tube then repeated the process on the other mount.
Today I clamped one of the tubes in the vice then started cutting down the lines from each side of the tube then repeated it on the other side (I hope that makes sense but you can see from the pix what I am talking about). Both tubes have now been cut but I did make a helpful mistake in measuring. As hard as I tried the cuts were pretty straight, not perfect, but pretty straight but the flanges now are still too wide to give me the 1/2" tubes I want.
Tomorrow I will remark the flanges then grind down to the marks. This is an easier way for me to control things (I don't have a mill bit to allow me to machine them). I need to get the edges flat, no bulges, and remove about an 1/8th of an inch. I will then make closeout pieces for the open ends which will give more strength to the spacers, then I can drill the holes for mounting onto the pan. My fanny is big and heavy so the additional strength will be needed
.
)
