Where can i get a stainless rod for a pintle in Gosport?

[Quidi Vidi]

Hi again, I am trying to repair my rudder after some rope got caught between it and the skeg and bent the fittings out of shape. As you can see in the photo, there are 2 fixings above the water line and a 3rd one half way down the underwater part of the rudder (not shown as it wasn't fitted when this photo was taken) A stainless rod of about 9mm and 92cm long fits through all of the fittings and acts as a pivot. This rod is now badly bent and kinked in several places, i have tried to straighten it in a large vice and although the kinks have gone it still looks like a banana! Does anyone know where i could get a replacement in Gosport? I have never had to buy Stainlees steel before and a google search just brings up specialists in Stainless tubing

 

[earlybird]

Try metals4u, but not Gosport
http://www.metals4u.co.uk/products.asp?cat_id=83

 

[Quidi Vidi]

Try metals4u, but not Gosport
http://www.metals4u.co.uk/products.asp?cat_id=83

Thanks earlybird, i may have to go the mail order route if i can't find anywhere local. Unfortunately i have the next 2 days off and was hoping to sort it out tomorrow and go for a sail on Friday whilst its relatively quiet, the Solent gets very busy at the weekends! Do you know if i can drill a hole in 316 Stainless? I need to fit a split pin in the top to stop it falling throug

 

[earlybird]

You can certainly drill a hole, but stainless isn't the easiest. A sharp bit, buy 2 or 3 good high speed steel ones, preferably from a proper engineers' tool merchant, drill in one go, not increments, some oil to lubricate, heavy pressure and as slow as your drill will run.
Centre pop position first. You also need a vice to hold the rod. A bench or pillar drill would be much, much better if you know someone with one.

 

[Quidi Vidi]

You can certainly drill a hole, but stainless isn't the easiest. A sharp bit, buy 2 or 3 good high speed steel ones, preferably from a proper engineers' tool merchant, drill in one go, not increments, some oil to lubricate, heavy pressure and as slow as your drill will run.
Centre pop position first. You also need a vice to hold the rod. A bench or pillar drill would be much, much better if you know someone with one.

I do know someone with a pillar drill, would the 304 Stainless be better or would it corrode as some of it will be permanently in salt water? Sorry to ask so many questions but i know hardly anything about this subject

 

[earlybird]

I do know someone with a pillar drill, would the 304 Stainless be better or would it corrode as some of it will be permanently in salt water? Sorry to ask so many questions but i know hardly anything about this subject

You will get many replies saying 304 is useless under water, but if 'twere me, i wouldn't much care if that was what was more readily available. It'll last for years.
Edit:-There's really not a lot of difference in drillability I would think, although the website does say 316 is slightly tougher. The important thing is to not let the drill rub and work harden the metal.

 

[Quidi Vidi]

Sorry to be a pain and try your patience but i've just had a thought, how would i cut the rod to length? I presume this would have the same problems as drilling it. Also could i not fit 3 short pintles or pins instead that i could possibly scource from a local swindlery? How are other peoples transom hung rudders fitted? I may have to try and refit the old one tomorrow until i scource a replacement

 

[earlybird]

how would i cut the rod to length? I presume this would have the same problems as drilling it. Also could i not fit 3 short pintles or pins instead that i could possibly scource from a local swindlery? How are other peoples transom hung rudders fitted? I may have to try and refit the old one tomorrow until i scource a replacement

A sharp HSS hacksaw blade will readily cut ss, using the same considerations as drilling, except speed is unlikely to be excessive.
Sorry, can't answer your other queries.

 

[wot]

Try these guys:
SOLENT WELDING & FABRICATION LIMITED
UNIT 1 SHOGUN HOUSE
DAVIS WAY
FAREHAM

They're just off Newgate Lane.

 

[VicS]

For drilling a cobalt bit will be best but a good HSS bit will do it . A cobalt drill will live to fight another day but a HSS drill will only be fit for soft wood.
Try to keep drilling at a steady pace or it work-hardens. Lubricate with some thin oil but preferably soluble oil.

As above cut with an ordinary hack saw You'll be surprised how easy that is compared with drilling. It files easily too.

 

[ianat182]

An alternative for supply and perhaps having a pintle to suit (take a good photo with you to describe it exactly) may be Seasure at Warsash ,behind the Clock Tower at the crossroads there. They may deal with you personally but normally through the trade and chandleries ,but they have a catalogue of parts they manufacture,(ask them for one perhaps)and are very helpful, sorry I don't have a contact name now, but I think Ted Brown's son is a director there.
Ted is a member of my club and the former owner of the firm.

Better a visit than a phone call I think!

ianat182

 

[prv]

I bought some 6mm stainless rod from Metal Supermarkets in Southampton recently. Convenient for me, less so for you I suppose. They stock all kinds of things, and will sell any length you want.

I cut it with a hacksaw, and drilled it with an ordinary twist bit in my cheapo Machine Mart bench drill with plenty of cutting oil. Wouldn't have occurred to me that there might be a problem.

Pete

 

[Martin_J]

I had stainless fittings made many years ago at a place somewhere by the station in Fareham but the name of the company now eludes me....

A quick search on the web just now came up with a company called 'Stainless Marine Fabrications' who seem to be based just at the top of Mill Lane behind Titchfield Abbey.

http://www.stainlessmarinefabrications.me.uk/

I have no idea what they are like or even if they still exist... but there is a phone number that might be worth a try (and they're local).