Homemade brass hardware. (pic's).

[bobkaschak]

Here are a couple of items I made for my 12' daysailer. There is also a link to a few more photos of other brass hardware I made, and of the new rudder. I am behind in getting her in the water, but I am still hoping for a semi-warm October day to take her out at least once before I have to convert her to an "ice-boat" ha ha.
Wish me luck.
Bob

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4291804847

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid32/pff1b9e3f06c7ab7affe984606af10ecb/fd43cf86.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid32/pcb37544d262baff86200555d76e9ddec/fd43cf5e.jpg

[Figment]

That looks like it was a lot of fun!

nice piece of work.

[John of Phoenix]

WOW!! Holy cow, WOW. Are you going to share the casting secrets with us? Hope, hope1

[Donn]

Nice work, Bob. It doesn't look like casting was necessary...all bending and machining. You've given me an idea for a stay for my new hatch..thanks!

[Jamie Hascall]

Those look great! You can do lots with bending, drilling, and tapping. Silver brazing can make an even greater variety of constructed fittings possible and is workable using hand held torches fueled with MAPP gas or even propane (takes longer and can't braze as large stock). Brass cuts with a band saw or hack saw and sands nicely with belt or disk sanders. Bronze will also work in much the same way. Small amounts of metals can be purchased through Online Metals.com www.onlinemetals.com. (http://www.onlinemetals.com.) They're not the cheapest source but they've got a great selection and good service.

Have fun,
Jamie

[gert]

Very nice work. This level of metal work is a lot of fun. Wear a painters hood and mask when polishing though; that's brutaly dirty work, oh and oven mits.
ps how do ya keep it shiny?

[bobkaschak]

The breasthook is 1/2" maganese bronze, and the other stuff is 1/4" brass. I got it all as rod stock, and "bend to fit,..paint to match" (sorry, an old military term), anyhow, I bent it, and buffed out the nicks and dings with a Norton gray scotch brite type wheel. I believe the wheel is also impregnated with a grit, similar to Cratex. As far as keeping the shine, time will tell, as this stuff was "hot" off the buffer (red rouge).
Bob K.
PS: yes it was a lot of fun.