26th February 2010

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.

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.