When you don't have a workbench

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When you don't have a workbench

December 05, 2023, 04:47:33 pm

While digging through old photos, I ran across this one. I was up in the mountains and needed to drill some holes in aluminum bar stock, but I didn't have a good way to securely hold the workpiece. Then I thought of my Panavise, with its vacuum base. I stuck it to the side of my rig, and voila!

(Photo credit: Jan Forseth, imagesofthewild.com

Re: When you don't have a workbench

Reply #1 – December 05, 2023, 09:35:31 pm

"Then I thought of my Panavise,..."

Neat trick, Andy! I always thought I'd like to have one of those... too late now!

Re: When you don't have a workbench

Reply #2 – December 06, 2023, 12:35:45 am

Woah, could have used one of those last year!

Re: When you don't have a workbench

Reply #3 – December 07, 2023, 11:57:05 am

Ah, yes! As I recall, we were making brackets for our fans, so that they could be oriented in different directions.

Re: When you don't have a workbench

Reply #4 – December 07, 2023, 05:42:34 pm

That's right! This page shows the bracket design, using Alumiweld brazing rod and a MAPP gas torch to join the pieces of bar and angle stock. As you can see, I had nothing but rocky ground to work on--no welder's bench, no clamps, no nuttin'. The brackets turned out great. Love that Alumiweld!

(Now, why the heck doesn't Fan-Tastic offer a bracket like this for the Endless Breeze fan?)

Re: When you don't have a workbench

Reply #5 – December 07, 2023, 07:06:17 pm

Quote from: Andy Baird - December 07, 2023, 05:42:34 pm

Now, why the heck doesn't Fan-Tastic offer a bracket like this for the Endless Breeze fan?

Maybe they never thought about ceiling mounts, it does seem like a natural.
Bunk Fans | Flickr

Larry

Re: When you don't have a workbench

Reply #6 – December 08, 2023, 12:08:40 pm

Larry's bracket design is elegantly simple and requires no brazing. Its only drawback is that it allows tilting, but not swiveling. But in many applications it would be an easy solution.

I don't know why Fan-Tastic hasn't thought to offer a hanging bracket accessory. To me it seems obvious: in any RV I can think of there's a limited choice of places to set down a fan, but plenty of real estate on the underside of overhead cabinets and ceilings. Hanging the fan from above frees up much-needed counter or table space.

Lazy Daze was aware of this when they installed a 12 V fan underneath one of the rear overhead cabinets in my 1985 Twin/King. Unfortunately, fans at the time were crude and noisy (I replaced it with a quieter one), but at least they had the right idea. I don't know when they stopped installing fans this way, but it's a pity.

Boat owners have long had a choice of tilting/swiveling fans that can be mounted under cabinets or on ceilings. In my recent rigs I've installed Sirocco II fans at the foot of the bed and opposite the dinette table. They're quiet, use about a quarter as much power as the Endless Breeze (0.1/0.2/0.4 amps at L/M/H settings, vs. 0.5 A for an Endless Breeze on low), are easy to install... and you don't have to make your own brackets. They don't move as much air as an Endless Breeze, but I've found them more than adequate.

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Re: When you don't have a workbench

Reply #7 – December 08, 2023, 01:36:15 pm

"Boat owners have long had a choice of tilting/swiveling fans..."

There was also a day when they could be found in automobiles!

Re: When you don't have a workbench

Reply #8 – December 08, 2023, 08:40:19 pm

Quote

Hanging the fan from above frees up much-needed counter or table space.

I've used a couple different products for ceiling mounted fans in the bedroom. On this rig, I bought a couple of RoadPros. They are inexpensive. The exact same fan is sold by many companies with varying prices. I paid about 30 bucks apiece for these (photo #1). They are loud but do the job. RoadPro (RoadPro)

In another rig, I bought Hella fans. (photo #2) They are more expensive and also much quieter. Hella (Hella Fan)

The Sirocco fan that Andy referenced looks like a really good unit.
jor

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Re: When you don't have a workbench

Reply #9 – December 08, 2023, 09:05:38 pm

The RoadPro 12 V fan looks a lot like the ones Lazy Daze used to install, or that you used to see on the dashboards of city buses. Sounds kinda like a Cessna 172 getting ready to take off, right? ;-)

The Hella Turbo is a decent fan--I've used a couple over the years--but I prefer the Sirocco II. It's quieter and moves more air. Costs significantly more than the Hella, though.

It all depends upon your budget and how much you're willing to pay for the "best" fan. I do a lot of boondocking, and travel without a generator, hence no air conditioning. In hot weather I want the best fans I can get. But that's just me.

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Re: When you don't have a workbench

Reply #10 – December 08, 2023, 10:10:46 pm

I installed a pair of Sirocco II in my TK this year, could not be happier with them.

Re: When you don't have a workbench

Reply #11 – December 10, 2023, 06:10:43 pm

LB and I have used this fan for a few years. Koonie Very quiet on low settings and runs for hours. She will run it all night with no issues. Charges up in very little time also.

glen

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Re: When you don't have a workbench

Reply #12 – December 12, 2023, 09:31:52 pm

That looks like a nice fan, Glen. Corded or cordless, with 8" blades so it should move a fair amount of air... I'm tempted to buy one, but my fan collection is too large already. ;-)

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