Joining stainless tube

Kelpie

Kelpie

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I've bought a pushpit to fit my boat, only problem is it's a bit wide. I'll need to cut out about six inches of the (25mm stainless) tubing, and then rejoin it.
Weld?
Sleeve and rivet?

And, cut/join it once in the middle, or cut it at either side? More work but stops the join from being in the middle of a span, so presumably ends up a bit stronger.
 
Welding would need the services of a pro. for good appearance, with re-polishing afterwards, and probably still visible.
An internal SS sleeve, (solid bar?) could be quite inconspicuous, and strong IMHO, so long as the tubing in the mid position was fairly straight allowing a reasonable length of sleeve.
 
Get a pro to weld it and polish it.
I am a trained engineer and I can and do TIG weld stainless tube, but i am an amateur and am totally in awe of the skills of some of the guys who do nothing else but weld stainless tube for a living.
Invisible mending doesnt describe it adequately.
Find the right company and the cost should be fairly small and the strength wont be compromised. Hint: look for food industry servicing engineers especially dairy and beverage. Because they don't have "marine" in their names they work for realistic prices.

Best if you also get them to cut the tube on your marks. There is a special machine that cuts stainless tube perfectly square for butt welding and the company you choose should have one. If they dont have such a machine they are probably not the people you are looking for....
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...wTjVPTPJoSC8gWT9oF4&tbm=isch&ved=0CGEQMyg5MDk
 
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I do a bit of TIG welding and always use an internal tube for support and location when welding 25 mm tubing. MIG is rather easier but neither is something to be done as a first project. I would take it to a professional, cost should be low.
 
you dont need a special tool to cut it square, a normal plumbers pipe cutter would easily do 25mm stainless, if you plan on doing a few cuts get a few pipe cutter blades, its stainless steel after all not tungsten.
for joining i would personnally cut out a section with a pipe cutter, preferably on a straight section, debur the inside with a burr or just a round file; then measure the id of the tube and just get a short bit of stainless bar, for something like this anybody with any tig skills could weld it up.
if you want it visible but pretty they just tig it flush and get a polishing flap disc for a grinder, if you want it invisible they weld it proud and buff it down with a polishing disc, its an hours work for any welder max.
 
If there is no one at Uig, then you could probably get it done at Kishorn but you would probably have to do the polishing yourself. Best results if done by Tig. Sleeving is a crofters way out - functional, but not the neatest
 
But I am a crofter!
I like the idea of mounting a nav light to hide the join. But I'll see what options I have locally for welding.
 
For a DIY job, you can get sleeves that fit over the tube and secured with grub screws. Several companies supply them, can't think ofa name at the moment, if I remember I'll add it.
 
afterpegassus said:
If there is no one at Uig, then you could probably get it done at Kishorn but you would probably have to do the polishing yourself. Best results if done by Tig. Sleeving is a crofters way out - functional, but not the neatest
Click to expand...

Ewen or one of his men at Kishorn would do it and chances are any bits you needed are lying about in the yard.
 
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