Joining stainless steel tubing - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  Joining stainless steel tubing

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Joining stainless steel tubing

flippa posted 05-05-2012 11:04 AM ET (US)
I was talking with a friend about having a camper enclosure fabricated for my boat. He told me that he had two complete camper systems for an older boat he once owned. When he sold the boat, he still had an older one in his basement.
I went and checked it out and found it to be in excellent condition. It is complete; has all the stainless steel frames, hardware, and top, side & rear canvas. The canvas is in great shape & the color even matches my existing canvas set. He gave it to me as he had no use for it.
Since the price of the canvas enclosure was right (free) I plan on attempting to modify it to fit my boat. It appears that the height will match the existing canvas, and the side curtains should fit with very little modifications. The only problem is that the boat that this came off had a wider beam than my Revenge; I would have to reduce the width of the stainless steel frames and the top & rear canvas by approximately 15 inches.
I have already spoken with a local canvas shop about reducing the width of the top, and they would be able to do it for short money. They will even modify the zippers on the top & side curtains to allow it to mate up to my exisitng system However they do not work with stainless steel and had no advice on modification.
Is is possible to cut a section out of the frames in order to reduce the width & then join them back together again? I have seen this done with railings, but was unsure if this would work with a top frame. Will I loose too much strength in the frames if there is a joint in the center of the top? Where would I obtain parts or information?
Binkster posted 05-05-2012 12:45 PM ET (US)
Find another piece of stainless pipe that will fit inside your existing one fairly snugly. Then cut yours at the middle of the top, and section 7 1/2" off each piece. Cut a 12" section of the smaller pipe insert it half way in and rivet it back together and your top will be 15 inches narrower. You can easily do that yourself. Finding the right size pipe will be the challenge.
rich
Plotman posted 05-05-2012 01:59 PM ET (US)
Find someone who can tig weld stainless. You should be able to find someone to weld them up for $10 a frame.
Find a local metal fab shop, or ask at your local Harley dealer.
contender posted 05-05-2012 02:15 PM ET (US)
Both Bink and Plot are correct, either cut out the section that needs to be removed, and reweld it, or insert a sleve inside the tube and rivet it or weld it

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Joining stainless steel tubing
flippa	posted 05-05-2012 11:04 AM ET (US) I was talking with a friend about having a camper enclosure fabricated for my boat. He told me that he had two complete camper systems for an older boat he once owned. When he sold the boat, he still had an older one in his basement. I went and checked it out and found it to be in excellent condition. It is complete; has all the stainless steel frames, hardware, and top, side & rear canvas. The canvas is in great shape & the color even matches my existing canvas set. He gave it to me as he had no use for it. Since the price of the canvas enclosure was right (free) I plan on attempting to modify it to fit my boat. It appears that the height will match the existing canvas, and the side curtains should fit with very little modifications. The only problem is that the boat that this came off had a wider beam than my Revenge; I would have to reduce the width of the stainless steel frames and the top & rear canvas by approximately 15 inches. I have already spoken with a local canvas shop about reducing the width of the top, and they would be able to do it for short money. They will even modify the zippers on the top & side curtains to allow it to mate up to my exisitng system However they do not work with stainless steel and had no advice on modification. Is is possible to cut a section out of the frames in order to reduce the width & then join them back together again? I have seen this done with railings, but was unsure if this would work with a top frame. Will I loose too much strength in the frames if there is a joint in the center of the top? Where would I obtain parts or information?
Binkster	posted 05-05-2012 12:45 PM ET (US) Find another piece of stainless pipe that will fit inside your existing one fairly snugly. Then cut yours at the middle of the top, and section 7 1/2" off each piece. Cut a 12" section of the smaller pipe insert it half way in and rivet it back together and your top will be 15 inches narrower. You can easily do that yourself. Finding the right size pipe will be the challenge. rich
Plotman	posted 05-05-2012 01:59 PM ET (US) Find someone who can tig weld stainless. You should be able to find someone to weld them up for $10 a frame. Find a local metal fab shop, or ask at your local Harley dealer.
contender	posted 05-05-2012 02:15 PM ET (US) Both Bink and Plot are correct, either cut out the section that needs to be removed, and reweld it, or insert a sleve inside the tube and rivet it or weld it