Welcome Eddie Paul

[3 Chiefs]

Many of you have heard of Eddie Paul. Some of you may not have heard of him. Eddie has been a member here since 2005 and has made many posts back then. As you can imagine, he is a busy man but he still likes to share his creations. I have talked to Eddie and he is going to post some of his work for us to see again. I originally thought Eddie might be too busy to answer a lot of questions but he has told me that he likes the questions because that is how he will know what we want to see.
Here is a link to his web site. http://www.epindustries.com/
Here is a picture of Eddie Paul and a few of his cars.

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Eddie has been producing and coordinating stunts and special effects for over 100 movies over a span of 30 plus years. He has developed and manufactured almost every underwater camera that was used by the Cousteaus as well as other oceanographic research equipment.

He has successfully invented and markets portable Compressed Air Foam Systems for fighting fires.
There are many things that Eddie Paul does. I have explained to him we are a group of metalshapers and we would be interested in shrinking and stretching sheet metal but he also has great tool building ideas we would find interesting. Some of his creations call for the use of a Plasma Cam so we might see some of that too. Mainly we hope to just make posts about what you want to see. If he can spark your interest in metal shaping then we are all happy. So feel free to ask him some questions and there are many videos on YouTube if you type in his name.

So some time Eddie will chime in here and show us what he is up to.
Please join me in welcoming him back to Metalmeet.

[Eddie Paul]

Well, as 3 Chiefs stated I am going to do my best to start setting some time aside each week, to upload some How-To's and answer as many questions as I can. So ask away, or let me know if there is anything that you want me to talk about.
Thanks
Eddie Paul

[Hotrod1932]

Welcome back Eddie to the family. My grandsons are going to FREAK when they see that truck!! :D

[Eddie Paul]

Out of the three, Lightning, Sally and Mater, the last was my favorite, I guess cuz it was so funny looking.
BTW glad to be back, I just got back from a juge show in Essen Germany 575,000 poeple in ten days and there was some really nice cars there... and a lot of real nice metal work.

BTW I just found this old cover (that was my '65 in the BG all steel body and hand shaped.

[CARS]

Recognize the Mustang flares from one of the books I have.

Welcome back to the clan!

[Eddie Paul]

Thanks, it is good to have some time to do this, you guys do some amazing work. always like coming in and looking around.

[James(Western Canada)]

Hello and welcome Eddie!

BTW: is this Nova your handiwork?

http://image.hotrod.com/f/34381910+w750+st0/hrdp-1977-december-cover.jpg


Cheers!
James

[Eddie Paul]

No, but we did a lot of Novas at the time, mine were normally wilder and had a lot of metal work such as steel flares and such...

[Bill Gibson]

Welcome back Eddie

[Pedalcar]

Hi Eddie ,

great to see you back here.

Ben

[Eddie Paul]

Welcome back Eddie

…and don't forget... "That chaos equals cash!”

[Eddie Paul]

Thanks it is good to be back.

[Dave Maxwell]

I'm currently reading your sheet metal Fab book. Great book

[Eddie Paul]

I hope you like it, The publishers are constantly telling us not to make it too complex and keep it simple, and the fear is always the possibility of making it too simple.
I just finished my last book on Plasma cutting and starting one now on Vacuum forming, but I am really hoping to do more on metalwork, which is my first love. There is something about shaping and forming metal that is exciting, it may just be the fact that, if made correctly, you are making something that will outlast you by many years.
I am also into building knives and gunsmithing (the old stuff, like Flintlocks) and starting to build guns from scratch in my home shop, including the heat treatment of the metals, engraving and spring making, it keeps you on your toes…

[Dave Maxwell]

My dream from years ago was to live in California and work for an effects company. Took a tour of Warner brothers studio and fell in love with the Fab shop portion

[Flummo]

I have the sheet metal book too. Good book, but in my humble opinion I think you may have listened a bit too much to the publishers. :cool: Perhaps an opening for another followup book on more advanced and/or uncommon metalwork - I wouldn't mind chapters about things like springmaking, hydroforming (twostroke exhausts) and other methods possible to use with what common people may already have or at least can afford to get.

Nice to see you here!

[Eddie Paul]

It all boils down to numbers (readers) to the publishers, the number of readers that care about spring making and heat treating metals are far outnumbered (sadly) by the kids that want to weld two sheets of metal together and say they just built a car!
I totally agree with you, but if I dove too deeply into any subject it would get sent back to me to be shortened or cut totally out of the book for being too complicated, that is one reason that I start making my own DVDs and selling them, the problem there was that I did not have a large enough audience to afford to keep making them and not selling them, as each one cost me about $10,000 to produce. So it was a conundrum on doing what I wanted to do and still recouping my investment (not even thinking about making a profit) I have a strong sense that America is losing its ability to build things anymore, as I see kids come in my shop for a job and all they can do is work on computers. They have never had or used a hammer, and when they do, they first want eye and ear protection as well as a Hazmat crew standing by… (BTW this is me venting and a bit of an exaggeration, but not that far from the truth)
We need to teach this new generation how to work, and how to build items that cannot be bought online, or even build something just for fun, or for the education of make something with your hands and the feeling you get when someone looks at it and says … “Cool where did you get that?” And you get to respond with… “Thanks, I made it!”

[Tin Head]

I have a strong sense that America is losing its ability to build things anymore, as I see kids come in my shop for a job and all they can do is work on computers. They have never had or used a hammer, and when they do, they first want eye and ear protection as well as a Hazmat crew standing by… (BTW this is me venting and a bit of an exaggeration, but not that far from the truth)
Lot of truth to that statement. I've noticed the younger guys I meet generally have stronger skills in computers over everything else. And they don't really understand why I place a higher emphasis on hand skills and problem solving. That is until they need my skills for some project.
We need to teach this new generation how to work, and how to build items that cannot be bought online, or even build something just for fun, or for the education of make something with your hands and the feeling you get when someone looks at it and says … “Cool where did you get that?” And you get to respond with… “Thanks, I made it!”
I talk to a lot of folks that just don't get the "build something just for fun" aspect of things. Seems they need to see some financial gain to all things. And you're exactly right, saying "I built it" is awesome to be able to do.

[Eddie Paul]

Lot of truth to that statement. I've noticed the younger guys I meet generally have stronger skills in computers over everything else. And they don't really understand why I place a higher emphasis on hand skills and problem solving. That is until they need my skills for some project.

I talk to a lot of folks that just don't get the "build something just for fun" aspect of things. Seems they need to see some financial gain to all things. And you're exactly right, saying "I built it" is awesome to be able to do.

Sometimes I think "they" do not understand that statement... "I built it" but we do, as well as other builders, and that is all that counts. I always love the people that drive a single nail and then claim to be a carpenter or turn on a faucet and then think they are a plumber, etc. a lot of unseen hours go into a project that are never seen and when an expert does something it may look simple but it often ain’t, and that is the difference between the skilled and the unskilled, it is the unseen countless hours that have to be invested to learn a basic skill, and people now a day’s seem to want instant gratification, not an earned skill.
We are the small few, but “they” need us, more then they know…. He, he, he…

[oilpull]

Sometimes I think "they" do not understand that statement... "I built it" but we do

We are the small few, but “they” need us, more then they know…. He, he, he…

Welcome Eddie
"Amen" to the first statment. I can remember years ago I was at a car show with a 36 IH I built into a roadster P/U. I had someone actually walk up and ask why I ruined a good antique truck. Little did they know only 15% of it was original parts (the rest home made). They couldn't comprehend the "I BUILT IT" factor.

As far as, "they" need us.... I found out the agricultural cummunity is were I get most of my customers. Being in a little pop-corn fart sized town you dont get much business doing customs. But the farmers in the area quickly realized the savings by coming to my shop for specialty items. Had a worn out auger trough on a JD STS combine come in last week, the farmer said JD wants $950 for the part that I made out of heavier ga. sheet for around $375. "THEY NEED US"?;)

[Eddie Paul]

Agree, you are not the go to guy for everything! And that is a good feeling, I know, we make most of our parts just because it is faster and cheaper and I know it will work when it is done. If not, we can modify it real fast and make it work, and still at less cost than what we would need to pay for one.
I have just gotten to the point with our tools that I can build any tool I do not already have, and that is a good feeling, I assume you are at that same point.
One of the best tools that I have now is the Plasma cutter as it has saved me more time than I ever could have imagined we also have the CNC table so I can go from drawing to part within minutes.
Ya gotta love tools!!!!

[oilpull]

Wish I had space for more tooling (plas table or laser). But around my neck of the woods there are 5 shops within 10 miles and each has its own specialty. When I need some parts burned I contact shop A and they do them very reasonable, when shop A needs metal shaped they call me and I do it very reasonable. It all goes hand in hand around here and keeps the local economy purring along.

[CARS]

Wish I had space for more tooling (plas table or laser). But around my neck of the woods there are 5 shops within 10 miles and each has its own specialty. When I need some parts burned I contact shop A and they do them very reasonable, when shop A needs metal shaped they call me and I do it very reasonable. It all goes hand in hand around here and keeps the local economy purring along.


Same here. Comfrey has a population of just over 300 and their are 2 body shops in town. I do the rusty junk and custom jobs and Kevin does the insurance work.

I hate insurance companies and he hates rust. Win/Win!!!

If I had more space for large equipment I would get into farm fab like the hopper you described. That stuff is fun once you get the layout done.

[Eddie Paul]

Sounds like a great system...

[Flummo]

It all boils down to numbers (readers) to the publishers, the number of readers that care about spring making and heat treating metals are far outnumbered (sadly) by the kids that want to weld two sheets of metal together and say they just built a car!
I totally agree with you, but if I dove too deeply into any subject it would get sent back to me to be shortened or cut totally out of the book for being too complicated... I have a strong sense that America is losing its ability to build things anymore, as I see kids come in my shop for a job and all they can do is work on computers. They have never had or used a hammer, and when they do, they first want eye and ear protection as well as a Hazmat crew standing by… (BTW this is me venting and a bit of an exaggeration, but not that far from the truth)
We need to teach this new generation how to work, and how to build items that cannot be bought online, or even build something just for fun, or for the education of make something with your hands and the feeling you get when someone looks at it and says … “Cool where did you get that?” And you get to respond with… “Thanks, I made it!”
Oh, well, I guess the numbers should be a pretty important thing for anyone running a buisness, no point in printing books (or doing anything else) if they wouldn't make a profit. :cool:

It is very nice to be able to make/repair things yourself, most of the time I prefer to spend my money on tools, material etc. to fix things than to pay someone else to do it. Even if it ends up taking three times as long and cost twice as much I've learned something in the process... and may be able to make it better so there will never be a problem again.
The "I'll just get a new one" mentality many people have today when something breaks is enough to make anyone (oh, well) wonder where the world is going, most of the time all that's needed is a simple repair/modification, and you end up with something working better than it did new. Most things you buy cheap needs some modification anyway, since it probably comes from China... :rolleyes:

[Eddie Paul]

I like the designing and building of a car (or whatever) more than the driving of it and cannot wait to start the next project, Sounds odd but I think you can relate. Just to look at something that I made feels good.
We are about to start another project for Discovery’s Shark Week, and that is the build of a swimming salmon (to be eaten by a Great White Shark, if all goes well for us, and bad for the Salmon), should be a fun build and I was thinking about documenting it here on this site if anyone is interested?

[jlrussell4]

I'd like to see that.

[Eddie Paul]

We have built dozens of swimming sharks, flopping seals, slithering snakes, paddling turtles, bad ass barracudas and silly scuba divers but this will be my first Salmon. Should be fun and hopefully simple.

[Pedalcar]

Would be great if you show us.

Ben

[anders nørgaard]

I'd like to see that.

Me too as does my 11 year old son Rasmus :) He knows just about everything about sharks and loves catching salmon and trout and pike and.... :D :D :D ;)

[Tin Head]

I like the designing and building of a car (or whatever) more than the driving of it and cannot wait to start the next project, Sounds odd but I think you can relate. Just to look at something that I made feels good.
Stole the words right out of my mouth. I've mostly always like the build better than using whatever it was I built. But some are dual pleasure and after I finish them I find myself wondering why I didn't built it earlier. Lots of times my tools and machines nearly always fall into that category. I still have every tool I've ever built, but not too many of my cars or bikes.
We are about to start another project for Discovery’s Shark Week, and that is the build of a swimming salmon (to be eaten by a Great White Shark, if all goes well for us, and bad for the Salmon), should be a fun build and I was thinking about documenting it here on this site if anyone is interested?
Yep, please do document it. It's building things and learning from others that get me out of bed everyday.

[3 Chiefs]

I hope Eddie documents the salmon build here too. Today he posted a video on YouTube. This video shows Eddie's history and just info about Eddie himself. I found it interesting. We all talk on-line here to each other but unless we meet at Metalmeet in Oblong or some other function we don't ever know each others personality. In this video Eddie talks about his accomplishments and how he approaches his projects. Check it out if you get a chance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuozJdjNOvA&feature=youtu.be

[Eddie Paul]

I got the verbal to build the fish, now I just need the details of what exactly they want as far as size type (assuming there are different types of Salmons, I have no idea, never fished!).
Then I need to find out what they want to do with it or have it do. They never tell you anything and you have to drag most of it out of them bit by bit.
Maybe this is because they have no idea and make it up as they go along, or they are much to busy to tell me, or they assume I know what I am doing and will just take the ball (fish) and run with it.
In any event, I will try to post it all including the good bad and ugly. And as many photos as I can.

[oilpull]

or they assume I know what I am doing and will just take the ball (fish) and run with it.

Better hold on tight (fish are slippery):rolleyes:

[Eddie Paul]

Better hold on tight (fish are slippery):rolleyes:

Then I should start by making a "fishholderdowner" so I can work on it. what ever that is...

[anders nørgaard]

Eddie,

Here's a Salmon poster... easier to hold :D

http://eu.art.com/products/p10285722-sa-i850209/posters.htm

[Eddie Paul]

Eddie,

Here's a Salmon poster... easier to hold :D

http://eu.art.com/products/p10285722-sa-i850209/posters.htm

Thanks boy there is a lot of them, which one is the robot fish? (lol) guess mine will be added to the chart soon.

[captainkirk]

It seems that the middle one in the category "Char" is the one most recognized by people.

I'm no fish expert but I think that's the type you see the most when they are spawning and the bear has one in his mouth.

Might be the one I picked as most of the others sort of just look like most any other fish........well not to other fish but you know what I mean.

Kirk

[Eddie Paul]

This will be shot in Alaska which should help narrow the selection down a bit. I just got an email from the producer and told that it will not start for a couple of weeks, so plenty of time to pick a fish! God there are some ugly salmon out there, the ones with the red sweaters on are even creepy looking! And what is with the mouth? What did they do to deserve that?

[anders nørgaard]

This will be shot in Alaska which should help narrow the selection down a bit. I just got an email from the producer and told that it will not start for a couple of weeks, so plenty of time to pick a fish! God there are some ugly salmon out there, the ones with the red sweaters on are even creepy looking! And what is with the mouth? What did they do to deserve that?

That does narrow it down quite a bit. "Only" 5 species in Alaska
http://www.fishex.com/seafood/salmon/alaska-salmon.html

The red sweater and the hump back is "breeding dress". The hook on the mouth is a "male bragging device" :D :D ;)

[Eddie Paul]

Well thanks! this helps a lot. now I know more about fish than I did this morning. checking on automatic self-reversing air cylinders now with Bimba and Mead.
BTW any idea how large these things (Salmon) get? lengthwise.

[oilpull]

Full grown they are around 24" and average size is around 18"-20".

Now Ya Know :D
Have fun!

[Eddie Paul]

I was kinda hoping they were a bit bigger, because I have a lot of stuff to cram inside it. Oh well, I will just have to use smaller stuff.

[oilpull]

You're gonna have to change your thought process to thinking inside the box now, not outside of the box.:rolleyes: Kinda scary stepping in a different direction isn't it.:!: Hold on and go for the ride! Clipper/Bimba makes some really small cylinders and they are not expensive. I used a bunch of them on a project last year that were a .500 stroke spring return with a .125 bore. Cute little buggers.

Liked the video a few posts back!!!

[Eddie Paul]

Well without obstacles the job would get boring, I can’t remember a single job that went without a glitch of some sort or other. Like I used to say… “If it doesn’t work it just isn’t finished… yet!” besides it is also true that you learn more from mistakes than success, or maybe you just remember the mistakes more. In any event, this will be a fun project, I just have to figure out how to upload the photos to this site.

[oilpull]

Uploading photo's is easy. Just think of it like the coffee maker in your vid. Its only a botton away:D If you set your pics to 96 pixels in your editing software and change the size to around 8-10" wide they will load fast. Go to Manage attachments just a few lines down from the box you type in. Click it, and follow the directions. "Now where did I put my coffee cup????":confused:

[Eddie Paul]

Thanks that sounds simple but relating it to a coffee maker…. Not a good idea, you saw how I get along with coffee makers. Not so much.

[Eddie Paul]

much easier than making coffee!!!!

[Dawai]

Cool fish story.. wish I was close enough to get involved. I've played with robotics most my life.

Steering? muscle-wires, or servo? tiny? how small?
Flexinol 150LT Muscle Wire

These unique nickel-titanium alloy Muscle Wires® actually shorten in length when electrically powered, and can lift thousands of times their own weight.

How it works? Pressing the switch lets power flow from the batteries through the Muscle Wire®, heating it and causing it to contract, raise the lever and lift the weight. When power is removed, the Muscle Wire® cools and relaxes, and the weight helps it return to its starting position.


Source, www.robotstore.com

[Eddie Paul]

I have used nickel-titanium alloy Muscle Wires many times in the past, cool stuff. But for this I am going with total air power. Compressed air from a small “bailout bottle” at 3000 psi stepped down to 150 psi with the first stage of a scuba regulator then into a small Pneumatic auto-reversing cylinder (push and pull) this will then be connected to one arm of a bell crank that also has two small cables (from the end of each arm) running back to each side of the tail. This is a very simple system that I have used many times before, and is simple and easy to fix in the field if it ever breaks. I try not to use electricity around water, not for fear of electrocution as it would be low voltage, but for fear of shorts in the circuits, it would all have to be sealed in water proof boxes or tubes, whereas air does not, if air leaks a bit who cares.
the attached photos should explaine it better than I can, besides I need to get another coffee.

[Eddie Paul]

Or, on the bigger side...

[Dawai]

Very cool.. I grind my own beans, nothing better in the morning. not too much here tho I'm too excitable

How about a "shark call"? a Thumper.. sounds like a fish in distress or. Some scuba respirators used to rattle calling them in too close. I don't dive.

There are huge catfish around hydro electric plants, if you filmed them in natural Habitat, You could write your own television ticket.

[oilpull]

COOL fish! Me thinks I'm gonna have to build some swamp critter to put in the farm pond and scare the pants off my 6yo when fishing. I like your approach using segmentation and I've got left over cylinders to use. I wonder if old inner tubes from tractor tires would work for a membrane for the skin???:eek:

You got the pic thing figure out----- now the coffee machine next!

[Eddie Paul]

Great idea! I have presented a few shows on diverse methods of shark repellents for years and still no interest from Discovery, but I keep trying, it is and area that has not had a lot of research (even though they say it has).
If you have ideas don’t let anything stop you, the only difference between me and almost everyone on this site is I do not listen to people who say it cannot be done.
If I don’t know how to do something I go out and learn or get a book on the subject and assume that I can do it, like a Navy Seal once said “we are not all that strong but we NEVER quit”. So just do it and if it doesn’t look all that good it will look better the next time around.
I always start a project with the attitude that anything the studios want can be built and is easy, I just have to figure out how to do it, that’s all.

[Eddie Paul]

Very cool.. I grind my own beans, nothing better in the morning. not too much here tho I'm too excitable

How about a "shark call"? a Thumper.. sounds like a fish in distress or. Some scuba respirators used to rattle calling them in too close. I don't dive.

There are huge catfish around hydro electric plants, if you filmed them in natural Habitat, You could write your own television ticket.

I once wanted to do as show on the Catfish at Lake Mead in Las Vegas near the Dam, they get to some six feet or so. That would be a great story MONSTER LAKE CATS

[oilpull]

At one of the lakes nearby they have Big Bob working for them in the parades. I think he's a little stiff though. They even had him at the tractor show, dont know why????? Something fishy going on!

[Eddie Paul]

At one of the lakes nearby they have Big Bob working for them in the parades. I think he's a little stiff though. They even had him at the tractor show, dont know why????? Something fishy going on!

Now I could make that thing swim!!!! Plenty of room even for a supercharged 350 Chevy!!!!

[Eddie Paul]

However, there was this one shark that I built years ago that .... well you can see for yourself...

[Dawai]

Okay, you're just going to be a lot of fun...

[Eddie Paul]

Isn't that why we work the long hours? To burn ourselves, cut ourselves and smash all of our fingers? Just to have fun?

[Dawai]

Heck.. I just do it for the girls, I've never been a real handsome guy, so.. like Red Green said, if they can't find you handsome, perhaps they can find you handy?
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=455&pictureid=7167 (actually a buddy's wife, she is a looker tho)



I'd personally like to see "how" you create those "toys".. Tube roller, fiberglass over foam carving, etc..

Vacuum forming? well I got this buddy with a 18x12 foot powder coat oven.. and a gast vacuum blower.. I wish ya was closer.

He's like me tho, he's a metal guy.. I ain't figured out how to weld and plasma cut that plastic yet tho. Thou I did buy one of them HF plastic welders.

[rockable]

Isn't that why we work the long hours? To burn ourselves, cut ourselves and smash all of our fingers? Just to have fun?

Absolutely! Who cares if our friends and co-workers don't get it. :D

[Eddie Paul]

Still waiting on the start of the fish project, but keeping busy; building English wheels and Planishing hammers for customers; shooting How-To videos as well as starting another book, and bidding all sorts of weird projects for the studios. Somehow we went from “real slow” to “real busy” in about two weeks. Hopefully this could indicate a turnaround in our business in the most unfriendly state in the country for manufactures. California! Environmental hell! Where we cannot even kill a bug in our shop without the possibility of facing 30 years of hard labor… (lol) (late night rant)