Winter/Lockdown Projects

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

Aye pansy the pie eater knew her well

"pie eater" - Stereotyping!!!!

[Steve509926]

Moving back to the subject of seats - I intend to brace both benches by attaching a length (850mm) of 40mm sq hardwood to both benches. I'm thinking of using 10mm japanned or zinc bolts/washers & nuts through the bench and through the hardwood. I'm doing this to minamise the backward tilt of the backrests when the seats are sat on.
Question - can anyone see a problem because of reduced movement of the tubes, or am I overthinking this?

[Limecc]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Question - can anyone see a problem because of reduced movement of the tubes, or am I overthinking this?

Possibly but build flexibility in, I foresee damage to what you have made rather than the tubes.

[GuyC]

Are you going to fix the hardwood so it is longitudinal i.e. tieing the benches together?

I'd use stainless nuts and bolts.

You could put the brace on the centreline and then your seats either side.

Any more bracing and you are going to have to start posting in the RIB section.

[Limecc]

Originally Posted by GuyC

I'd use stainless nuts and bolts.

I'd also use at least one stainless hinge

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by GuyC

Are you going to fix the hardwood so it is longitudinal i.e. tieing the benches together?

I'd use stainless nuts and bolts.

You could put the brace on the centreline and then your seats either side.

Any more bracing and you are going to have to start posting in the RIB section.

That's exactly the way I was thinking of doing it (see pic)

Wasn't thinking of using SS bolts as I'll be dismantling them everytime after using, but I suppose it would be better.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Limecc

I'd also use at least one stainless hinge

I'm not thinking of using any hinges. It would defeat the object of bracing the benches together so that the seats don't tilt backwards.

[GuyC]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

That's exactly the way I was thinking of doing it (see pic)

Wasn't thinking of using SS bolts as I'll be dismantling them everytime after using, but I suppose it would be better.

It looks like you've had an argument.

You could use a couple of wing nuts and then you'll probably avoid galling plus it will be easier to undo.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by GuyC

You could use a couple of wing nuts and then you'll probably avoid galling plus it will be easier to undo.

That's why this forum works. It's not just the big things that count it's the little ones as well................... "wing nuts" so blindingly obvious I didn't see it!

[Oldman2]

I was wondering if you could use round tube under the bench seats in sleeves which are fitted to the bench seats. End stops to restrict the tube from sliding tight out of the sleeves either end would allow it to work as a torsion bar but still be somewhat flexible allowing bench seats to be adjustable in mount positions. Maybe a dual purpose for an alloy oar?
Or am I over complicating it to make the job last all winter??

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Oldman2

Or am I over complicating it to make the job last all winter??

Maybe

But I feel it is going to be a long winter! and project 3 will only take a few days, hours really, but I can stretch it out!

[Steve509926]

The 4 stainless steel drop nose pins arrived from China today which means I can now finish the webbing straps on the seats.
I would have liked to have supported a British firm, but at £4.17 for four against £8.50 for 1 from a British company it doesn't make sense.

[Oldman2]

I had the same problem when looking for stainless fittings recently. The only problem with using China supply "stainless" is the quality or should I say quantity of stainless in their steel.
Try the magnet test, good quality high chromium stainless will not hold a magnet, the cheap China stuff I bought is just very short on chromium or high in carbon or maybe both but the magnet will hang on it & I suggest the rust will too, just slower than on plain steel.
Having said all that the UK supplied (assumed made here) price for drop pins on my search was way too high and not value for money.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Oldman2

I had the same problem when looking for stainless fittings recently. The only problem with using China supply "stainless" is the quality or should I say quantity of stainless in their steel.
Try the magnet test, good quality high chromium stainless will not hold a magnet, the cheap China stuff I bought is just very short on chromium or high in carbon or maybe both but the magnet will hang on it & I suggest the rust will too, just slower than on plain steel.
Having said all that the UK supplied (assumed made here) price for drop pins on my search was way too high and not value for money.

As with so much in this world eh?.....
Sadly ...It's often not the initial price ...but the ultimate one
Nice work by the way

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Oldman2

Try the magnet test, good quality high chromium stainless will not hold a magnet, the cheap China stuff I bought is just very short on chromium or high in carbon or maybe both but the magnet will hang on it & I suggest the rust will too, just slower than on plain steel.

Thanks for the magnet idea. I tried the test, it just about attracts it, but it won't pick it up.

[Oldman2]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Thanks for the magnet idea. I tried the test, it just about attracts it, but it won't pick it up.

Seems like you got a good deal then You can always test it further by leaving 1 outside while you complete a few projects and see if it stays bright.

[Steve509926]

Lockdown projects came to a grinding halt late November when I was convinced to decorate a bedroom before Christmas by my better half.
4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, stairs, hall, landing and snug later, I decided (or was that allowed ) to have a break.
So yesterday, as the weather forecast was good, the SD360 was brought out of storage in the workshop and laid out on the patio to inflate using a hand pump - decided a bit of upper body excercise wouldn't go amiss
It took forever, then I noticed the bow tube was going soft. Checked and tightened the valve, re-inflated, and as quickly as it was up, it was down again. Yes a 5mm puncture in the bow tube Oh well at least I now know how to do an effective repair and I did get to glue on the d rings, before it started to bl00dy rain!
Hopefully I'll get to finish off the bowbox and seats before lockdown ends.

[Fenlander]

I regard a patch as an honest badge of use... or lockdown storage mice perhaps!!

[Steve509926]

Fortunately not mice, no nibbles, a straight forward slice through the pvc. Looked like a Stanley knife cut, so it must have been a very sharp flint or Welsh slate that did it, that last trip out from Conwy

[TheAmusedDragon]

Steve tidy work. Do you live in Wales?