Stainless Steel Curtain Rods

[Rich_F]

Hello all,

I want to fit some boat curtains, on stainless steel rods mounted above and below the window.

I think the rods will need to be around 5-10 mm diameter. Any ideas on who might be able to supply suitable rods and fittings?

Thanks in advance,

Rich

 

[Evadne]

I would look in the yellow pages for a stainless steel welder and ask to buy the rod from his stock. There's usually several near any marina or boatyard round our way. Not as cheap as direct from the manufacturer, but unless you've ginormous windows, the quantitity is going to be small anyway. For fittings, if you can't find an off-the-shelf one then you want the next size up, 20mm long or so, drilled transversely and tapped through the ends with s/s set screws to clamp them.

We've put our curtains up on bog-standard net curtain rail, with chromed eyes in the ends attached to brass hooks. They've lasted quite a few years already.

 

[bobgosling]

Same diameter as rod rigging ?

 

[Rich_F]

Thanks - some good ideas there for fabrication if nobody comes up with a supplier.

Rich

 

[jfm]

If 10mm you want tube not rod? Weight? Aluminium?

www.metalsontheweb.co.uk

or maybe it's .com

 

[mainmarine]

B&Q sell alluminium tube in small diameters
Malc
Mainmarine

 

[tcm]

tungsten curtain rods

um, surely something more easy that s/s cd be found? plastic wouldn't rot, for example... why stainless steel?

 

[Rich_F]

Re: tungsten curtain rods

Stainless looks good. What better reason could there be???

Rich

 

[jimboaw]

I was thinking just the same thing a couple of days back. I have solid brass rods and it looks 'orrible! Stainless a chrome plated brass tube? The latter pehaps more available at none yachty places.

 

[tcm]

Re: tungsten curtain rods

tis a good reason that s/s looks good... I was inviting the origposter to explain the exact application, hence establish if mat'l quite such high strength and weight as stainless curtain rods 10mm diameter , and to what he plans to attachem and whether internal or external, 316 or 306 and so on.

All this allowed innit? - it isn't a done deal that people ask any old question and others simply must answer the q at face value or butt out , is it?

 

[alahol2]

Re: tungsten curtain rods

Used chromed water pipe on a previous boat, can use water pipe clips to fit the pipe to the cabin side.

 

[Rich_F]

Re: tungsten curtain rods

Sorry, Matt, didn't mean to offend. All suggestions gratefully received.

The application is internal, with spans of up to 60cm between supports, holding curtains around 22cm deep. So high strength isn't an issue. When the curtains are open (the normal condition) the rails will be the only detail on an otherwise plain surface, so good looks (and corrosion resistance) are important.

I think that the main problem is getting hold of fittings - I may just have to get something fabricated.

Rich

 

[tcm]

Re: tungsten curtain rods

oops you are the orig poster! i wd reckon s/s a bit heavy and v spensive tho probly a better result, slightly.

i am pretty sure *think* there are suitable mounts in DIY shops like homebase - or the bigger band q, chromified plastic is not bad and zilions cheaper/lighter but depends on the boat whether the very last word, or yerknow, fine if shiny. I think i wd get chromified copper (15mm) with pole-type fittings and chuckem/replace after a few years.

as regards s/s in a boat near windows .... The issue on curtains and curtains rails is that these get damp v easy as any moisture in the air condenses on the handiest cold thing so curtin rail (near window) are ded cold, hence moisture, hence rust. Whamem with wd 40 and if you leave the boat unattebnded, but MAINLY overwinter...cut and fit cardboard exactly to fit the window so only the inside of the glass (and not the curtain or anything else) gets cold. This also makes it dark so the curtains last well. Bring curtains home so no mould.

alright, s/s it is....i wd gues 306 will be ok, tho.