Tiny welding job needed.

[jonathanA]

Bank Hall dry Dock would be a good option if rhe guys haven't sold up yet. Otherwise there is a fabrication shop opposite Hapton visitor moorings. There used to be a couple of boats there having work done. I would imagine if you pulled up and offered cash they would have it done in a couple of minutes. 

There are several other places between Blackburn and Burnley that have welding capability. There is that slightly strange mooring setup with the floating dry Dock and Altham engineering before you get to Hapton.

 

its good engineering country from t' days of the Mills... 

[Nightwatch]

5 minutes ago, dmr said:

 

I suspect the steel "hoops" are welded to the sides of the weedhatch "box".  The lid then simply sits on top, on a flange, and a bar threads through the hoops and has a cetral threaded "T bolt" that tightens it down.

 

I suspect the need to disconnect the battery is a huge myth, but am not prepared to put my money where my mouth is.

Correct. Just as you describe.

[dmr]

4 minutes ago, Nightwatch said:

Correct. Just as you describe.

 

Ours is exactly the same and as we now spend quite a bit of time on the Rochdale I have got to know it very well.

[blackrose]

48 minutes ago, dmr said:

 

I suspect the need to disconnect the battery is a huge myth, but am not prepared to put my money where my mouth is.

 

I suggested isolating the battery not to protect them from the welding but to prevent anyone starting the engine if the weedhatch cover wasn't in place if it was at the welders. 

 

But it's not that design anyway. 

Edited June 10, 2022 by blackrose

[john.k]

In fact ,you can arc weld with home made rods and a decent size battery......all s needed is a bit of wire from a fence,and two jumper leads.

[MtB]

9 minutes ago, john.k said:

In fact ,you can arc weld with home made rods and a decent size battery......all s needed is a bit of wire from a fence,and two jumper leads.

 

 

Yes that thought was vaguely running through my mind too, when Dave said about disconnecting the battery. I thought yes, using it for arc welding it's probably best to disconnect it from the boat electrics first! 

 

Never thought about using fence wire though, single welding rods are easy enough to come by.

 

[john.k]

i have several mobile welders,including two Lincoln 400 amp diesels.......and I much prefer to use a $140 Chinese  inverter I bought off a tool shop,came with nice heavy leads and a auto helmet........by the way ,I dont use auto helmets ,but stick with my 50 year old Hiderok.........all the cheap auto helmets make your eyes sore with arc flash due to slow reaction time.........a quality fast helmet still costs around $500.

[MtB]

46 minutes ago, john.k said:

all the cheap auto helmets make your eyes sore with arc flash due to slow reaction time.........

 

 

This is something that always worries me with my cheapo ones. I instinctively try to blink my eyes the instant I strike the arc to get around this....

 

 

[Slim]

12 hours ago, dmr said:

Files are good and would be ideal for the broken off hoop. The side of the weedhatch is harder as it will likely have lumps of weld still stuck to it, so thats probably angle grinder stuff. Battery angle grinders are dead good, every boater should have one.  We have been horribly sucked into the "Makita ecosystem", even got a Makita vaccuum cleaner.

Nah, Milwaukee for me. Their battery wet and dry is amazing. Take it home every time the freezer needs de-iceberging.

[Sea Dog]

3 hours ago, MtB said:

 

 

This is something that always worries me with my cheapo ones. I instinctively try to blink my eyes the instant I strike the arc to get around this....

 

 

I still close my eyes when someone welds on the telly! 

[Slim]

3 hours ago, MtB said:

 

 

This is something that always worries me with my cheapo ones. I instinctively try to blink my eyes the instant I strike the arc to get around this....

 

 

I bought a cheapo auto helmet from Aldi/Lidel some time ago and it's brilliant. 😆 For medical reasons I'm particularly aware arc eye so was a little wary. Mind you, I'm still a c##p amateur welder 

[dmr]

42 minutes ago, Slim said:

Nah, Milwaukee for me. Their battery wet and dry is amazing. Take it home every time the freezer needs de-iceberging.

 

It used to be a  choice between Makita or DeWalt for most people but it is getting more complicated. Milwaukie is good at the "heavy end" and there are also new Chinese offers at the cheaper end, plus specialists like FessTool. The batteries do lock you in to one brand so its a big decision, though there are some battery adaptors available, I think you can get Makita batteries into DeWalt tools....or is it the other way about?

Makita do the widest range, DeWalt are probably better for building type trades, with Milwaukie probably even better (but more limited?), and Fess for the woodworkers.

[Slim]

12 minutes ago, dmr said:

 

It used to be a  choice between Makita or DeWalt for most people but it is getting more complicated. Milwaukie is good at the "heavy end" and there are also new Chinese offers at the cheaper end, plus specialists like FessTool. The batteries do lock you in to one brand so its a big decision, though there are some battery adaptors available, I think you can get Makita batteries into DeWalt tools....or is it the other way about?

Makita do the widest range, DeWalt are probably better for building type trades, with Milwaukie probably even better (but more limited?), and Fess for the woodworkers.

Actully I was really surprised at the range of Milwaukie products available but not cheap.

[MtB]

1 hour ago, Slim said:

Milwaukee for me. Their battery wet and dry is amazing.

 

 

Same here. The fact it is the size and shape of a toolbox so can be sat on or stood on makes it just nice to have around, not a PITA like all other battery wet vacs. So good I have two of them! 

 

 

[john.k]

I have a bunch of scrotes from the local high school hang out in my yard.......anyhoo,i see them with an orange gun,hding it in a bag and in the long grass.......i go down to inspect and its a Hilti fastener gun......with a builders name carved into it........check out on ebay ,and the gun is $3,500 US......I ring the number carved into it........he s working at the high school......doesnt even know its missing......He says it had a magazine full of explosive fasteners ......well,not any more ,its empty now.......So ,you left an explosive tool unattended at a high school full of thieves?.......He says he'll give a $100 for return ,no questions asked..........or answered.

[Sea Dog]

57 minutes ago, john.k said:

I have a bunch of scrotes from the local high school hang out in my yard.......anyhoo,i see them with an orange gun,hding it in a bag and in the long grass.......i go down to inspect and its a Hilti fastener gun......with a builders name carved into it........check out on ebay ,and the gun is $3,500 US......I ring the number carved into it........he s working at the high school......doesnt even know its missing......He says it had a magazine full of explosive fasteners ......well,not any more ,its empty now.......So ,you left an explosive tool unattended at a high school full of thieves?.......He says he'll give a $100 for return ,no questions asked..........or answered.

You probably ought to advise him they'll nick anything that's not nailed down, although I suppose there's little point now as he can't do anything about it, can he! 

[john.k]

Yeah,he got his gun back......biggest loss would be if the Education dept found out......he 'd be off the school contractors list......very lucrative work ,with guaranteed payment.;

[Jon57]

2 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

You probably ought to advise him they'll nick anything that's not nailed down, although I suppose there's little point now as he can't do anything about it, can he! 

He would do but somebody stole his nail gun.😱

[cuthound]

17 hours ago, dmr said:

We have been horribly sucked into the "Makita ecosystem", even got a Makita vaccuum cleaner.

 

Blimey, I didn't realise battery powered vacuum cleaners were that powerful... 🤣😂

[Sea Dog]

3 hours ago, Jon57 said:

He would do but somebody stole his nail gun.😱

My point exactly 

[Nightwatch]

Just to finalise the thread as far as I’m concerned. Arrived at Lower Park Marina this morning. Within ten minutes Wayne was looking at the job, within an hour the job was completed. Got some diesel, weed hatch sealing and two ice creams. We were on our way. Can’t recommend Lower Park enough. 

Edited June 14, 2022 by Nightwatch

[Sea Dog]

On 10/06/2022 at 19:31, Nightwatch said:

We were with another boat and we have wedged it with a 30mm length of hard wood. Not even a seep of water.

Great to see that you had a happy ending.

 

Now, in view of the effective first aid shoring referred to above, you need to get yourself a poster entitled "Damage control saved HMS Nightwatch" to display in your main drag.  

[Nightwatch]

4 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Great to see that you had a happy ending.

 

Now, in view of the effective first aid shoring referred to above, you need to get yourself a poster entitled "Damage control saved HMS Nightwatch" to display in your main drag.  

We used a tape measure not a ‘Gunter baton’ as well. Is that what they were called. The chap on the other boat was ex-Guz dockyard shipwright. 

[Sea Dog]

5 minutes ago, Nightwatch said:

We used a tape measure not a ‘Gunter baton’ as well. Is that what they were called. The chap on the other boat was ex-Guz dockyard shipwright. 

Old skills, eh? I wonder how many would have thought about it? Besides @mrsmelly obvs...

[Guest]

33 minutes ago, Nightwatch said:

Just to finalise the thread as far as I’m concerned. Arrived at Lower Park Marina this morning. Within ten minutes Wayne was looking at the job, within an hour the job was completed. Got some diesel, weed hatch sealing and two ice creams. We were on our way. Can’t recommend Lower Park enough. 

 

Youll enjoy the next few miles, especially if the weather is nice.