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#1
BMTA Guests / potential contacts for confere...
Last post by Alan The Lowly Admin Guy - November 14, 2014, 11:28 AM #2
BMTA Guests / What is the BMTA?
Last post by Alan The Lowly Admin Guy - April 17, 2013, 04:31 PMAbout The British Motor Trade Association
Even the best ninja needs a support staff. That's where the BMTA comes into play.
Whether your business has more than a thousand employees or just one, we provide the networking needed to open new doors–doors that lead to new customers, new sources and new solutions.
The truth is that many of the businesses involved in the British motor trade are small, employing less than 10 people. As a result, these businesses often have trouble finding the time or other resources needed to expand their businesses.
British Motor Trade AssociationThe British Motor Trade Association is that necessary network for success. It was formed to draw together the three aspects of the business–the "Trade Triangle"–to cooperatively promote and improve the British car ownership experience. Improved business would then follow.
This Trade Triangle is composed of three key elements:
• Suppliers: These parts manufacturers and rebuilders–both wholesaler and retail outfits–offer the products that other businesses need to keep our beloved British cars running. In addition to their customers, these parts suppliers also need solid sources as well as help improving and developing products. They also need magazines and events for advertising and promoting their wares.
• Shops: Repair and restoration shops keep the cars running and on the road. Dealers bring new people into the hobby. All of these firms need good sources for parts and expertise as well as media outlets and events for reaching new customers and interacting with current ones.
• Media: Probably the most underused area of the triangle encompasses the media outlets–which includes traditional magazines as well as clubs and event organizers. These groups and businesses provide the venues that bring excitement, education and innovation to this hobby. With support from suppliers in the way of technical information, new product announcements, advertising, sponsorships and other cross-promotions, the media can help springboard good ideas into successful products and services.IMG_8009resized
The British Motor Trade Associate has a simple and clear two-part mission: • To promote the British car as a safe, reliable, and enjoyable vehicle worthy of enjoyment and investment. • To promote business to business collaboration that improves knowledge, quality, expands business, and explores emerging markets.
The British Motor Trade Association is an all-volunteer group led by a board of directors:
•Chairperson David S. Wallens, editorial director, Classic Motorsports and Grassroots Motorsports Magazines
•Jonathan Stein, director of publications, Associate Publisher Hagerty Magazine at Hagerty Insurance
•Kelvin Dodd, global sourcing engineer at Moss Motors, Ltd.
•Glenn Lenhard, owner of Glenn's MG Repair
•Skip Harris, owner, rpMGroup
•Alan Dalman serves as the group's executive director.
#3
BMTA Guests / Re: Greenlee punch set ~ Tool ...
Last post by Carl Heideman - Eclectic Motorworks - July 16, 2009, 08:38 AMBrian,
It looks to me like the tool they sell as a spot weld cutter is the same one as the one from their set. I've used and own every spot weld cutter in the world including the big-bucks Snap-on with the $30 bits and I've found that the Rotobroach is the fastest and the most effective for the money. There are similar knock-offs on the market, notably like the ones Eastwood sells, that don't work at all.
I've found the Rotabroach work best if you drill a 1/8" pilot hole for the guide pin instead of just dimpling with a punch. I always use two drills, one for the 1/8", one for the Rotobroach. I also lube the bits as I'm going to keep the cutting fast and keep the bits sharp. It's fast and does little damage.
As long as we're on the topic of drilling spot welds, I'll mention I rarely do it. The only times I will is when I've got to save the panel. If I don't have to save the panel (like when I'm doing MGB floors), I weaken the spot welds with a cutoff wheel, then chisel the panel off with an angled "panel splitter" air chisel bit. Really fast and no tears like if you don't weaken the welds first.
--Carl
It looks to me like the tool they sell as a spot weld cutter is the same one as the one from their set. I've used and own every spot weld cutter in the world including the big-bucks Snap-on with the $30 bits and I've found that the Rotobroach is the fastest and the most effective for the money. There are similar knock-offs on the market, notably like the ones Eastwood sells, that don't work at all.
I've found the Rotabroach work best if you drill a 1/8" pilot hole for the guide pin instead of just dimpling with a punch. I always use two drills, one for the 1/8", one for the Rotobroach. I also lube the bits as I'm going to keep the cutting fast and keep the bits sharp. It's fast and does little damage.
As long as we're on the topic of drilling spot welds, I'll mention I rarely do it. The only times I will is when I've got to save the panel. If I don't have to save the panel (like when I'm doing MGB floors), I weaken the spot welds with a cutoff wheel, then chisel the panel off with an angled "panel splitter" air chisel bit. Really fast and no tears like if you don't weaken the welds first.
--Carl
#4
BMTA Guests / Re: Greenlee punch set ~ Tool ...
Last post by Jim Allen - Southside British Cars - July 13, 2009, 05:02 PMThere is no "reasonable" substitute for any Greenlee tool set! I've used them for years and always get a clean, ready to use hole, right where you want it. And because they are designed for the professional (electrical) contractor, for punching holes in commercial switching panels they last forever and replacement parts are easy to get from large electrical jobbers and wholesalers. I haven't looked at their catalog in some time but they have a broad selection of punch tool types and other products, which have cross-over applications.
Jim A.
Jim A.
#5
BMTA Guests / Re: Greenlee punch set ~ Tool ...
Last post by Brian Mc Cullough - BMC British Automobile - July 11, 2009, 11:19 PMCarl,
I will have to try the Rotobroach set out for the smaller holes. I did have one size of the 'spot weld drills' but they were horrible for actually drilling spot welds out. If they are one in the same then i will try them for punching holes. I suspect they are different from the units we currently have in the tool collection.
-Brian.
I will have to try the Rotobroach set out for the smaller holes. I did have one size of the 'spot weld drills' but they were horrible for actually drilling spot welds out. If they are one in the same then i will try them for punching holes. I suspect they are different from the units we currently have in the tool collection.
-Brian.
#6
BMTA Guests / Re: Greenlee punch set ~ Tool ...
Last post by Carl Heideman - Eclectic Motorworks - July 10, 2009, 08:47 AMI've had a Greenlee set for years and agree with everything Brian has said.
I've also got a Rotobroach set and it's very useful for putting smaller holes in sheetmetal. Rotobroaches are sort of like low-end end mills that you can run in a drill. The company has been sold several times and the most common manufacturer name I've seen is Blair, but the tools are usually called Rotobroaches. In the past few years, they've also been marketed in smaller sets as spot-weld drills (we use the 5/16" size for spot weld drilling). My set goes from 1/4" to 3/4" in 1/16" increments--costs about $80 and replacement bits are about $5.
--Carl
I've also got a Rotobroach set and it's very useful for putting smaller holes in sheetmetal. Rotobroaches are sort of like low-end end mills that you can run in a drill. The company has been sold several times and the most common manufacturer name I've seen is Blair, but the tools are usually called Rotobroaches. In the past few years, they've also been marketed in smaller sets as spot-weld drills (we use the 5/16" size for spot weld drilling). My set goes from 1/4" to 3/4" in 1/16" increments--costs about $80 and replacement bits are about $5.
--Carl
#7
BMTA Guests / Greenlee punch set ~ Tool / ti...
Last post by Brian Mc Cullough - BMC British Automobile - July 10, 2009, 01:45 AMFollowing others on the "tip of the week".
Put down the disposable hole saw manufactured for a one or at best two times through sheet metal. We purchased a set of Greenlee 7238SB Slug Buster knockout punch set with 6 different hole sizes.
These are useful for two types of shops:
1- original. If your replacing a panel that does not come with a hole that should be there, you can get it very close and grind the last out with less time than using that silly one time hole gnawing thing that was manufactured for wood.
2- modified. We use these to pull wiring through places that were never there but should have been. When rewiring for fuel injection or something radical, we cut holes with these in 15% of the time it took before. The mess is 10% of what it was and the holes are Spot On!!!
Original use: Conduit.
Problem? Conduit sizes are kind of like NPT. It measures the inner hole, NOT the hole size cut. That said, some of the standard size rubber grommets can be found to fill. For instance- MGB firewall wiring plugs or best- MGB gearbox fill plugs (in body behind radio council) are teh perfect fit for one of the larger sizes and allow you to pull a large plug through a hole such as a computer harness plug which we do often. "It even looks professional"
Actual hole cut sizes according to my measurements:
0.885"
1.117"
1.360"
1.70"
1.95"
2.41"
One of my guys kept twisting my arm until we purchased one off evilbay. Instead of $350 new, a used set was less than $120 shipped. Best money I have spent this year on a tool! Worth the $350 but I'm cheap. Already used on 1 project 5 times. Hmm. Didn't use 3 size hole saws up. Didn't leave those horrible metal shavings. As they say- No brainer.
The other guys have used the set for a number of projects around the shop as well. If you have to rebuild or fabricate anything in your shop, you need these.
Worried about warpage? I have no or little warpage. I worry more about warpage and run out on hole saws!
If you want a demonstration of what a Greenlee does, check this video out and fast forward it to 3.30:
(from 3.30 to 6.00 for them to drill/punch)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX3YbhRrOvM
-Brian.
Put down the disposable hole saw manufactured for a one or at best two times through sheet metal. We purchased a set of Greenlee 7238SB Slug Buster knockout punch set with 6 different hole sizes.
These are useful for two types of shops:
1- original. If your replacing a panel that does not come with a hole that should be there, you can get it very close and grind the last out with less time than using that silly one time hole gnawing thing that was manufactured for wood.
2- modified. We use these to pull wiring through places that were never there but should have been. When rewiring for fuel injection or something radical, we cut holes with these in 15% of the time it took before. The mess is 10% of what it was and the holes are Spot On!!!
Original use: Conduit.
Problem? Conduit sizes are kind of like NPT. It measures the inner hole, NOT the hole size cut. That said, some of the standard size rubber grommets can be found to fill. For instance- MGB firewall wiring plugs or best- MGB gearbox fill plugs (in body behind radio council) are teh perfect fit for one of the larger sizes and allow you to pull a large plug through a hole such as a computer harness plug which we do often. "It even looks professional"
Actual hole cut sizes according to my measurements:
0.885"
1.117"
1.360"
1.70"
1.95"
2.41"
One of my guys kept twisting my arm until we purchased one off evilbay. Instead of $350 new, a used set was less than $120 shipped. Best money I have spent this year on a tool! Worth the $350 but I'm cheap. Already used on 1 project 5 times. Hmm. Didn't use 3 size hole saws up. Didn't leave those horrible metal shavings. As they say- No brainer.
The other guys have used the set for a number of projects around the shop as well. If you have to rebuild or fabricate anything in your shop, you need these.
Worried about warpage? I have no or little warpage. I worry more about warpage and run out on hole saws!
If you want a demonstration of what a Greenlee does, check this video out and fast forward it to 3.30:
(from 3.30 to 6.00 for them to drill/punch)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX3YbhRrOvM
-Brian.
#8
BMTA Guests / Re: BMTA newsletter wins award...
Last post by Erika Madawick - Autosport, Inc. - July 01, 2009, 11:13 AMAll right you silly boys! I have my own login now. (Thanks Alan) Quit picking on the old man. That's MY job! HA!
Carry on.........
Erika
[/b][/color]
Carry on.........
Erika
[/b][/color] #9
BMTA Guests / Re: BMTA newsletter wins award...
Last post by Tucker Madawick - Autosport, Inc. - June 30, 2009, 02:21 PMDid somebody call me?
Old man with mustache.
Old man with mustache.
#10
BMTA Guests / Re: BMTA newsletter wins award...
Last post by Skip Harris - rpMGroup - June 22, 2009, 09:01 PMSheesh, no respect for their elders...