I bought a miniature ELI and then a 10' one to match
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:45 am
Last Windmiller's Trade Fair, my wife and I made an unscheduled, first-time stop in Nebraska City, which then strongly reminded me of my Grandpa's blacksmith shop, which then inspired steadier work on my Power Mill, and which then also got me looking closer at ELI machines. When Justin E. forwarded the ad from the Denver Craigslist, I had already had a good number of long looks at Tim Cook's handiwork and I had started looking around my "inventory" wondering what I could sell in order to buy an ELI from him. Well, it all worked out and that's a photo of Justin standing in my yard with my newly acquired TIM COOK-made ELI!
While I was getting a tour through Tim's workshop in Longmont, CO, I asked if he knew of a full-sized machine for sale and as luck would have it, he ended up selling me the machine he used for measuring. So, how's that for a "Circle of Life" situation? I now own a 1/3 model purchased from the very talented maker, AND I've stood in the factory, surrounded by the original tools, and in the very spot my 10' ELI was born! How about that?
So, from my picture, could you all help me figure out what's the casting that is sitting on the main tube? Clearly the casting slides up beneath the "cover" and there are cast "dents" that hold the ball-bearings. Is this used to mount the machine on a wooden tower? If so, how is that done? Is it an actual ELI part or possibly another company's part? Should there be some kind of tightening strap? Does it use a storm-stay? All the tower photos that I've seen are the typical 4 sided casting with a donut shaped ball bearing cover on top of it so this is unfamiliar.
I believe the only part I'll be looking for is the half-moon shaped "bumper" that mounts onto the main frame when the tail is furled.
Thanks for the help, Burt
While I was getting a tour through Tim's workshop in Longmont, CO, I asked if he knew of a full-sized machine for sale and as luck would have it, he ended up selling me the machine he used for measuring. So, how's that for a "Circle of Life" situation? I now own a 1/3 model purchased from the very talented maker, AND I've stood in the factory, surrounded by the original tools, and in the very spot my 10' ELI was born! How about that?
So, from my picture, could you all help me figure out what's the casting that is sitting on the main tube? Clearly the casting slides up beneath the "cover" and there are cast "dents" that hold the ball-bearings. Is this used to mount the machine on a wooden tower? If so, how is that done? Is it an actual ELI part or possibly another company's part? Should there be some kind of tightening strap? Does it use a storm-stay? All the tower photos that I've seen are the typical 4 sided casting with a donut shaped ball bearing cover on top of it so this is unfamiliar.
I believe the only part I'll be looking for is the half-moon shaped "bumper" that mounts onto the main frame when the tail is furled.
Thanks for the help, Burt