| After cutting
40 slots last weekend, we must be getting better at it. I
did the cutting, while Gena set up the templates for the
next cuts. Today we cut 60. That means 3 more stringers
on both sides. While the shape of the boat continues to
evolve, all those stringers are now getting in the way as
one can only enter from the front or back. We decided to
run some 2x6's down the middle next to the center line so
moving the welder and the plasma cutter back and forth
would be easier. ( Believe me, it's no fun trying to pull
a 250 pound welder through roots and soft ground on those
little castors! ) |
| I
have been able to cut the slots fast enough to minimize
heat in the bar. From these cuts there was virtually no
distortion in the frames. In the photo, the slots shown
haven't had any grinding, but needed to be as most were
still a bit narrow for the 1/4" stringers. |
|
 |
| Pulling the
stringers around the frame wasn't as hard as we thought
it would be, but cutting the angle to meet the stem at
the bow was tricky. We developed a method to accomplish
this. The stringer needed to run up to the stem inset by
1/4". As the stringer was too long to begin with, it
of course couldn't sit in the position it would be welded
at. Also, after being cut, the position would change as
it was pulled in tight to the stem. By making a mark on
the stringer perpendicular to the position it should end
up at, then marking a line from that, parallel to the
stem but inward by a few more degrees, a tight fit in the
right position up the stem is almost guaranteed. This
saved a lot of grief as slight movement up or down the
stem |
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