Ammo Can Center Console

[James Hybicki]

had some stuff from years ago when i worked in a foundry welding shop (well not really worked but was employed there) it was called KAOWOOL and was an asbestos replacement.

http://www.anvilfire.com/sales/k_index.htm

if you know anyone who does welding or blacksmithing or works in a foundry they probably have it around.

it held the heat in and really kept the hot from bleeding through.

Hybicki

[Rickf]

Jim, Problem I see there is that it would fall apart if it got wet wouldn't it? Ah yes, Foundry work, I remember it well! I didn't work there long that is for sure. I was the guy who got the mold out of the casting, Big a**ed air hammer just banging away on the casting until all the sand came out. HOT, DIRTY job. I am guessing they do things a little differently these days.
Rick

[James Hybicki]

I was more thinking of under the mounted box rather than under the body
so water would not be that much of a problem unless you REALLY have a high water problem in your garage.

Foundries, yes........sorry about the pause, had to pour some scotch to forget the 24 years in gray iron foundries. was an industrial engineer for years, core room foreman, and (yes) knock out cleaning foreman for a couple of years also. (didn't have to do the grunt work there though, lucky me). all hot, all dirty, all crappy work.

Hybicki

[Airborne Bob]

Hey guys, I never designed my center console storage compartment to be a cooler! Hell, if you're looking to keep things cool, get the hell away from the heat of the tunnel!

The best beverage cooler compartment I ever saw was a Mermite Can installed just inside the fender well behind the driver's seat. Easy access, nice and cool, and plenty of cold beers on ice in there!

[James Hybicki]

its hell when you have to reach back to get a beer from the cooler on the wheel well in back while you're driving isn't it??

i never used my can between the seats to keep anything cool, but the pizza on the floor between the seats kept it hot on the trip home from the pizza shop. (ours makes those rectangular ones and they fit perfectly.)

Hybicki

[SEABEE62]

The proper ID on the size layout description, is WxHxL. instead of LxWxH. Its an old builders measurment formula. Women Have Legs. They taught this to us in 'A" school. Crazy Seabee...we had to visulize to learn sometimes. One of Life's lessons. [/u]

[Rickf]

The proper ID on the size layout description, is WxHxL. instead of LxWxH. Its an old builders measurment formula. Women Have Legs. They taught this to us in 'A" school. Crazy Seabee...we had to visulize to learn sometimes. One of Life's lessons. [/u]

Please tell me you don't still have your pocket protector from the 60's!


Rick

[SEABEE62]

Good one, but I do still have my pocket slide rule . Besides, the pocket on the front Seabee field shirt was for cigarettes and a carpenter's pencil.

[pinz712]

I just started planning my version using the same can - I want to use the can to store a radio/mp3 player, 24 to 12 volt converter, vehicle papers and the junk you cant leave laying around. Since I'm installing on the Encore body my plan to beat the heat was welding threaded spacers - 1/4" thick - to the floor. This does 2 things - keep the heat down and prevent moisture/rust. With the threaded spacers I wont have to drill through the floor either - trying to dodge the muffler.
I will post pics as the project moves forward.

[Airborne Bob]

Looks good Pinz! You're going to like that "console."

[SEABEE62]

Any locking devise added to this ?

[Airborne Bob]

Any locking devise added to this ?

You could do just about anything you want with these things. You could weld a hasp on one side and piano hinge the other, then thru-bolt it to the floor.

Fil Bonica has a larger one he uses... comes right up to elbow height.

[Airborne Bob]

Any locking devise added to this ?

You could do just about anything you want with these things. You could weld a hasp on one side and piano hinge the other, then thru-bolt it to the floor.

Fil Bonica has a larger one he uses... comes right up to elbow height.

[pinz712]

The pic I posted is of the can just sitting where I want to mount it. In my quest to figure out how to "hinge" the cover without rebuilding the whole can I made a discovery. If you unlock one end of the can - lift the unlocked end up till it starts to bind/bend the the locked end's sheetmetal retainer/guide. I bent this strip with the lid untill the lid was standing striaght up or slightly leaning to the rear - self supported. The plan is to drill a couple holes through the still locked end of the can - bolting the binding handle in the closed postion. The lid will pivot on the bent retainer/guide and still close and seal normally. Add a lock hasp to the other end. I was trying to find a way to use the can with the least amount of physical mods to the can itself. Pics to follow

[Airborne Bob]

Pics to follow

Would love to see them, Pinz.

When it is hinged, will the top fold pretty far back? Reason I ask is, I use mine mostly in the open position... this way I've got my water, toll money and cell phone handy when I'm on the East Coast Convoy. It's a PITA when you're seat-belted in on the highway and you're digging in the front pocket of your jeans for that stuff while shifting and steering.