1981 Springbok 18' Restoration/Renovation

[SlipperyOar]

Looks great. I’m mounting a new FF and it’s going to be right in front of me when I’m driving.

Thank you, I look forward to the day where I’m mounting my electronics and the fabrication and building portion is done.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

I am envious. Aluminum doesn't make you itch.

I’ll take those struggles any day over the itch of fibreglass.

Cowards!

 

[bakerjw]

Cowards!

Said as I can't work on my boat because the weather has been too cool for resin work. I love working with glass.

 

[SlipperyOar]

Just finished the major part of my consoles. Drove solid rivets into the sheets and angle aluminum frame, and welded all of the seams together. Only have a few more little things to do with making them all appear smooth and then all that’s left is to mark out the console dashboards.

 

[SlipperyOar]

Excuse my welds, I had reached out on this aluminum tig group asking some questions and already told they were dogsh*t lol. I’m leaving the welds around the edges to keep the material there for strength. I started plug welding all the solid rivets and then made the surface flush to remove the appearance of having rivets. Hoping it looks like a fully welded console without rivets showing.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Dude, those look great. You want bad welds? Here's what I did to my rocker panel, one of my first times welding, and I forgot to turn on the gas for most of it.

 

[SlipperyOar]

Dude, those look great. You want bad welds? Here's what I did to my rocker panel, one of my first times welding, and I forgot to turn on the gas for most of it.
View attachment 415031

View attachment 415032

i've been there, thought i had dirty tungsten or wrong settings only to realize my argon bottle was empty... all part of the learning experience lol

 

[eggs712]

Those welds will hold just fine from what I see. Most aluminum welds crack from the crater being underfilled and/or work hardening from repeated stress.

 

[SlipperyOar]

Those welds will hold just fine from what I see. Most aluminum welds crack from the crater being underfilled and/or work hardening from repeated stress.

thanks, definitely no underfilling going on with my unsteady hands. Been trying to figure out a more consistent filler rod feed technique but it doesnt always work lol