No wonder stainless fabrication is so expensive!

[PCUK]

I've just finished making these as part of the new targa mast on my current vessel. They each took over six hours to complete as they are more complex than they look. Much of the time was taken with finishing the welds and overall polishing and although I am an amateur it was still a lot of time taken to complete. I wonder if a fabricator would even bother with these as they would be astronomically priced to be worth doing.

 

[SC35]

That's impressive.
My abilities would stretch to "bolting them to the boat".

 

[KevinV]

I've just finished making these as part of the new targa mast on my current vessel. They each took over six hours to complete as they are more complex than they look. Much of the time was taken with finishing the welds and overall polishing and although I am an amateur it was still a lot of time taken to complete. I wonder if a fabricator would even bother with these as they would be astronomically priced to be worth doing.View attachment 157966

Really nice work - it's a pig of a material to work with, but immensely satisfying when it's (finally) done!

 

[Deleted member 478]

Is that blood at 4 o'clock to the threaded thing?

 

[Alicatt]

Very nice work indeed.
Working in a fabrication plant for a short while summer 1980 they had a whole different type of machines for working on stainless steel and the tools for the lathes were different than the ones we used on brass or aluminium, also the lubrication and cooling oils used with the different materials was very different.

The Aluminium wore out the tools rapidly, I was always having to replace and reface the tools for the turning I was doing

 

[PCUK]

SC35. We all had to start somewhere.

KevinV. You're absolutely right. It's the satisfaction that drives me on.

Stingo. Could be. But in this case it's probably red Hammerite.

Alicatt. Sadly, I'm not up on engineering work, just angle grinder and welder!

p.s. Where's the emojis gone?

 

[Clancy Moped]

I bet the polishing took the most time.

 

[Deleted member 478]

...

p.s. Where's the emojis gone?

Tap the three vertical dots and they will appear

 

[PCUK]

I bet the polishing took the most time.

Yes, tedious work, but there again, very pleasing to see the shine appearing.


Stingo. Aha, Thank You! woohoo!!!

 

[PCUK]

Next step in the mast fabrication. I've got the two hoops made and temporarily fitted. You can see one of the fittings from the first post on the lower hoop where the hoop will bolt onto the fitting making the hoop foldable. At the moment the design looks like a push chair handlebar but the lower hoop also double as a hand rail when climbing out of the cockpit and the whole lot will fold down by pivoting where the end of the lower rail passes into the wheelhouse side.