Making copper bolts

[formerlyknownasprince]

This is a few of the 28 new half-inch copper bolts we have made to use on the intermediate strut and shaft logs on Grantala. The longer ones are just under a foot long.

The tool to make them was designed and made by Stephen, who runs a small engineering firm (Segeng) near us. Much, much better than the ones we made by hand for the main struts last time we were slipped.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid101/p6a4a969b0ba8eaba9a9529ca6aab44d7/f9d62018.jpg

The boat is copper fastened, but someone, sometime, decided to replace the bolts with stainless. Some of these had extensive crevise corrosion, but the main problem we had was chemical corrosion of the planks and ribs, which we have replaced.

We will fit the rest of these new bolts tomorrow.

Ian

[Allen Foote]

When long bolts are needed, I buy silicon bronze rod and cut to length, cut threads just longenough to put a locking nut on, nicking the end with a chisel to set the nut, and thread the other end.

Those look good. Does thier head snugly fit the stutt bolt hole? If not, then wrap some cotton caulk under the peen when you put them in.

[formerlyknownasprince]

Silicon bronze rod - I wish! We couldn't come up with a source here in Sydney.

We even had to machine our washers for these copper bolts from bronze stock. Fortunately, I have enough old brass nuts left to fit all the rods (may be one or two short, but will almost certainly unearth a few if I scrounge around).

The heads of the three bolts we have fitted so far were a perfect fit. We are using a single wrap of caulking cotton on the heads along with a goop of butyl mastic on the bolt.

Ian

[JimJ]

Ian

I used to work at the Toowoomba Foundry where we made bronze (gunmtal) rod connectors for windmill pump rods in various sizes. The connectors were cast and were about 3 inches long, drilled and threaded like a long nut.

We also made brass and steel ones from hex bar stock.

Maybe the contact on the web site below would know if these are still available. If so you may be able to get two nuts from one connector..

http://www.tycoflowcontrol.com.au/pumping/welcome_to_pumping_and_irrigation/southern_cross_home

Jim

[Allen Foote]

Sounds like a total business oppertunity awaiting you....

Import silicon bronze rod, flatbar, ect. buy a few machines that cut wood screws from raw stock....and market throughout Australia. Seems like so much S.B. is comming from Korea anyway.

[Bernadette]

Ian, all our bolts have been made by ourselves but we purchased gunmetal nuts and washers from Rogers and Lough, Marine Engineers in Brisbane. We sourced Nickel Aluminium bronze for the backbone setup (because copper bolts would elongate too much) from Brisbane (Austral Wright). They have outlets in Sydney and Melbourne too I think.

[formerlyknownasprince]

I'm pretty sure that Steve tried Austral, but I'll chase it up later - we are frantically trying to get the boat back in the water.

Banged in 24 of the 28 bolts today.

Ian

[Allen Foote]

Nice summer project.

I guess that being able to buy the propper supplys right off the shelf...is one thing I take for granted and just don't think about. Genrally, scratch making a tool or "bolt" is to do a custom design or save economically.

[Bruce Hooke]

Originally posted by igatenby:
...Fortunately, I have enough old brass nuts left to fit all the rods (may be one or two short, but will almost certainly unearth a few if I scrounge around)...Surely you know that brass has no place as a fastener in the marine environment?! It will loose it's zinc and fall apart in short order. If you've got some bronze flat stock around it shouldn't be hard at all to cut, drill and tap some square nuts.

[Phil Young]

Just what I was going to say, hope she's not in the water yet after the long weekend, DON'T USE BRASS!!!

[ihrig]

I know a famous boatbuilder who made copper washers from drilling the big old ausie kangaroo pennies.

Most recent U.S. pennies are copper plated zink. Nick one and leave in HCL acid over night and you will be left with the copper shell.

[formerlyknownasprince]

DON'T USE BRASS!!! I've run these over the linisher (fibre belt) and they are all fine. They aren't in the water and their condition is easily monitored. These nuts are about 10" above the keel.

Ian