frustrating to say the least...

[Bernadette]

ok so here i go again...looking for a supplier...

im on the hunt for a supplier of gunmetal nuts and washers. the sizes i need are 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" and 3/4".

i was getting them from Rogers and Lough (marine engineers) in brisbane, but as it is with most timber boat products, it seems to be getting more difficult to find a 'regular' supplier. Rogers and Lough have been supplying for probably over 40 years, but now the cost is becoming too prohibitive as i expect the demand for gunmetal nuts and washers has dropped right off. im managing to get the last remaining nuts and washers from them but they will not be manufacturing/handling any more.

so if anyone out there in forum land can offer some advice or contacts, i would be very grateful.

and...my supplier of copper rod (also from Brisbane) now charges a $25 "handling fee" on top of the cost of the copper rod! and they make the customer organise their own freight. used to be that they did it for you and added it to the total cost.

and heck! i still havent heard from Haywards in Devon, England re the supply of Clipper Canvas sail cloth. despite repeated emails they seem to have gone very, very quiet. another forum member kindly phoned them for me and tells me that they were on holidays until the 7th June...???? but nothing still.


bernadette

[PeterSibley]

Hi Bernadette , I cast my own and don't do outside work but my recommendation is to buy a length of aluminium hex bar in the size you need ,take it to your local foundry and have them cast it in LG2 .The aluminium bar is a perfect pattern .300mm or so is comfortabable to work with ,enough for 40 nuts .

I drill it in the lathe then part off nuts or cut them off with a cheap little jig that turns an angle grinder fitted with one of those 1mm cutting discs into a mini drop saw .It works very well .

I get my copper from George Westons ...but I collect so that may not be of use .

[Bernadette]

yes thanks peter. ive already made some of my own nuts/washers etc from round bar, but im after large quantities and the "local" foundry doesnt do the work i need (although having said that, i will re-check with them once again. sometimes its who you talk to that can make all the difference!).
we threw out dad's drop saw a week or so ago. its been in such long service but it stopped working, so it had to go and we are not replacing it. it took a hefty 3mm cut from the rods/bar anyhow, so as you say, using a 4" angle grinder would be the shot. currently i do all my cutting by hand. its good for the arm muscles!!!

[PeterSibley]

Bernadette .....I strongly recommend a cheap hardware store bolt on hinge thingy for your angle grinder plus a 1mm disc .Very fast and very ,very accurate .It beats a hacksaw hollow , especially cutting through 20mm thick nut stock .

[Bernadette]

yes, thanks again pete. i understand the 'hinge thingy' contraption completely and how it would save the effort of hascksawing.
i recently met a car sales man whom i had to shake hands with (loathsome people in my opinion)...the guy commented on my "firm" handshake. he was a flakey namby pamby sort of character so i laid it on for him as a bit of a game! even as a woman, you cant help but get strong hands and arms from building boats. coupled now with the callouses i have developed, my hands and arms are once again getting used to the hard work.

[Larks]

Bern, Peter Kerr at Deagon slipway is able to supply copper rod, I don't know what his prices are like though.

[PeterSibley]

yes, thanks again pete. i understand the 'hinge thingy' contraption completely and how it would save the effort of hascksawing.
i recently met a car sales man whom i had to shake hands with (loathsome people in my opinion)...the guy commented on my "firm" handshake. he was a flakey namby pamby sort of character so i laid it on for him as a bit of a game! even as a woman, you cant help but get strong hands and arms from building boats. coupled now with the callouses i have developed, my hands and arms are once again getting used to the hard work.

Yep ,I couldn't agree more but I've got so much on anything that speeds things up and improves accuracy is welcome .

Did you try George Westons for copper rod ?

[WX]

Just curious, isn't gunmetal a bit on the soft side for nuts? When I cut all my copper bolts I bought Silicon Bronze nuts and washers.

[Bernadette]

I get my copper rod from Austral Wright in Brisbane.
Gunmetal is fine for nuts and washers.

[PeterSibley]

Just curious, isn't gunmetal a bit on the soft side for nuts? When I cut all my copper bolts I bought Silicon Bronze nuts and washers.

Gunmetal nuts and copper bolts are the (old ) industry standard Gary .A 40 foot prawn trawler might have nothing heavier than 1/'2' copper in it and only last 50 years .The Yanks like silicon bronze and if you don't mind the grief of cutting threads in the stuff ,it's certainly strong ...much stronger than generally needed .Gunmetal is a joy to work ,as it copper .

Bernadette , I suggested Westons as they might be more cooperative with freight , they're not as big as Austral Wright .

[Bernadette]

Peter, I got my NAB from George Westons, but went back to Austral Wright for the copper as Ive dealt with them for many years.

[PeterSibley]

OK ,I deal with Weston , just because they're on the South side of the city and easier for me to get to .They also give good deals on short lengths of rod ...offcuts to ,them ,bolts to me .

[Dr.Spoke]

Still no joy from the guys in england.... I'll try again. Who did you get the mail response from before? Nice to use a name....

As far as handshakes go - I was always the bone crusher! Now I proffer my hand palm down like a poofter and refuse to engage in the manly games... Ain't arthritis a b***h!

[Bernadette]

No they havent emailed me back yet.
I initially got an email from a Mrs Jo Long the sales co-ordinator but that was ages ago.

[paladin]

Bernadette....how many of what sizes do you need. I have a couple of teeny boppers coming to help me clean the warehouse.....I have to remove and catalog some firearms.....so I'll check my "spare parts bins". What I have is limited as I've been passing the stuff out to folks that can use it.

[Larks]

Bern, would there be any chance of you posting a bit of an idea what your budget is for the various parts of your build to give an idea of what to expect for the hull, deck, cabin, rig, fitout etc?

[Bernadette]

chuck
thats very kind of you. i will take whatever i can get basically. i am especially keen to get at least 200 3/8" nuts and washers. if you do have any of any size im after i can pay freight of course.

greg
do you want a "forecast" budget?
a lot has changed in the 5 years since i launched DECATUR...some businesses have stopped trading, some dont stock particular items, most charge more than previous years, my personal resources and my ideas have changed since the last yacht and ive also had to go further afield to obtain some supplies or equipment.
for example, i paid 500% more for copper boat nails than what i did at the time for DECATUR and yet, ive also managed to get some really good prices on first grade timber. i bought a PSS at twice the price (locally) than what i could have got it for off the net had i known about it and been a bit more savvy earlier. im using only quality materials and buying new (eg, engine).
so you see, the costing of such a project fluctuates for a number or reasons.
so all up, its difficult to determine costs in advance.
and of top of all that, do you factor in labour or not?
i kept detailed records of the building of PEQUOT and DECATUR and im doing the same for the new yacht. in the end though, it doesnt really mean too much other than the sum spent in getting the boat completed. although it is kindof necessary for insurance reasons.
i would hazard a guess that to have a 30' yacht built professionally in a commercial yard using quality materials throughout would be (roughly) in the order of $500k AUD. and that would depend on materials used, craftsmanship, speed of build, finish quality etc etc.
not sure if that answers your question?
bernadette

PS. i will load up some pictures and updated work progress report in a day or so in the building section here on the forum.

[ssor]

Bernadette, Nuts need only two flats, used propellor shaft is a good source of stock. If you have a lathe then use a parting tool to cut the blanks to length. If the spindle in the headstock will accept the shaft diameter then you can make the blanks quite quickly.

[Bernadette]

ssor
thanks for that but i dont have a metal lathe. :)

[PeterSibley]

Now there's a pity !:D:) Useful things, lathes .

[Bernadette]

yeah i think you are quite correct peter but ive got so much going on with just building the yacht than having to worry about learning to use a lathe. :)

did have a timber lathe once but that went when i got divorced! i wouldnt be using it for anything anyhow. theres a very active woodworking club around here so any pins etc i need turning, i get the members of the club to do for me.

hey do you know where or if i can get silicon bronze nuts and washers. i might give that a go rather than worry about getting any gunmetal nust and washers if i have no luck.

[PeterSibley]

If you want to make up a pattern board or use my suggestion of aluminium hex bar ,I'd suggest ringing Investment Castings P/L in Brisbane and perhaps send them your patterns .They do investment casting but also sand casting in most alloys .Very good , not very cheap .There may be others but Investment are the best I know and I know you like the best .

[willmarsh3]

I made square nuts by cutting flat bar stock into squares, drilling a hole, and tapping it. No need for a lathe.

http://www.willmarsh3.net/el/elver041705.html

Good luck.