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.