Got the glass clamps fitted this week, a friend had told me that one could get a tap with a drill integral and a hexagonal shank so that the hole could be drilled and tapped in one operation. So we drilled 3mm pilot holes than started the drill and tap operation. Unfortunately one of the two combination taps broke on the second hole, they are so hard they are also very brittle. So we drill the holes with a 6.2mm twist drill and just use the cimbination drill and tap to tap the holes. That works really well and we don't break the other tap. (we had a few normal taps as backup just in case). As the holes are tapped we follow round and bolt the clamps down with some Duralac paste to stop any electrolytic corrosion between the zinc and the stainless clamps. The weather was revolting again, freezing rain, so it was a very dedicated crew that got the clamps on. I was very relieved as the glass people were booked for the following Monday to measure for the glass panels.
Monday, 13 September 2010
23rd February 2010
The working party start to instal the handrail. The good news is that the length of the rail is the same as the length of the veranda! The tricky bit is to get the nuts inside the upright box section and onto the bolts without too many nuts disappearing down inside the box section. A good application of grease on the socket meant that only one disappears. This I rate as a big sucess as its pretty cold and it doesn't take long for my hands to go numb. I wonder if we can get the glass clamps installed before the glass people come to measure. I think it'll be good if we can get the clamps bolted down as its just one less variable.
19th February 2010
The first half of the Galvanised rail for the edge of the veranda was delivered on the 5th Feb, today the second half of the rail arrived from the galvanisers and is carried round to the club and stacked on the veranda ready for installation. I'm starting to get a bit anxious about time as the season is to start in Mid march ; the handrail is to be bolted down before the glass people will measure for the glass as they are worried that the railing may distort when bolted down. (I doubt it, I've seen how massive the railing is). The glass will take over a week to be made as it has to be sent to London to be toughened.
Thursday, 18 February 2010
16th February 2010
Terrible day, rain is heavy and more or less non stop. The working party carry on working regardless and by the end of the session there are only a handful of boards to be screwed down on the river side of the club.
Pat Morgan uses his chain saw to cut the handrail support for the downriver end of the veranda to length. We slide the beam into place using timber tongs borrowed from Paul Masters, maybe the rain was good as the old deck was pretty slippy and the new beam could be slid into place without using my specially prepared low friction nylon pads (plastic kitchen chopping boards to you).
Then, beyond the call of Duty, Pat stays on in the wet to cut another piece of hardwood to form support pads for the handrail support to fit between the two joists that form cantilevered beams that run out in front of the patio doors. If you stand at the top of the launching ramp and look at the club you'll see where they fit.
Pat Morgan uses his chain saw to cut the handrail support for the downriver end of the veranda to length. We slide the beam into place using timber tongs borrowed from Paul Masters, maybe the rain was good as the old deck was pretty slippy and the new beam could be slid into place without using my specially prepared low friction nylon pads (plastic kitchen chopping boards to you).
Then, beyond the call of Duty, Pat stays on in the wet to cut another piece of hardwood to form support pads for the handrail support to fit between the two joists that form cantilevered beams that run out in front of the patio doors. If you stand at the top of the launching ramp and look at the club you'll see where they fit.
5th February 2010
Handrail arrives and the decking gang is diverted to unload the lorry. Each 3metre section needs 4 people to carry it from the lorry to the clubhouse. Not only that but I picked up the next 2000 deck screws yesterday so the drought is over.
Start thinking about how I'm going to position 5metres os handrail support beam in front of the patio doors without it rolling into the river.
Start thinking about how I'm going to position 5metres os handrail support beam in front of the patio doors without it rolling into the river.
2nd February 2010
The first half of the handrail went to be galvanised today, it stretches from the oar store down to the gap for the access ramp. It is due back on Friday.
We are almost out of deck screws, the supplier sent 2000 the wrong size. Spent a couple of days while they were pursuaded that it was their mistake and they need to change them at no charge. Now they are late delivering.
We are almost out of deck screws, the supplier sent 2000 the wrong size. Spent a couple of days while they were pursuaded that it was their mistake and they need to change them at no charge. Now they are late delivering.
26th January 2010
Great progress being made on the decking. Discover that we've missed a joist to support the Crows nest support posts so another joist ordered and fitted quickly before the deck boards can be screwed down. A bit of a problem getting one end shoved under the wall of the oar store but a bit of judicious action with a panel saw and hammer and it was pursuaded to fit. I need to order another 2000 deck screws as we are running low on the 2000 I ordered initially.
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