Yep, due to my cunning design, there will be no aluminium parts that can
be got around. I'm going to lap-join aluminium flat bars to make a
rectangular base and butt-join (with mitres) to make a top of the same
dimensions - except the base will not be flat due to the short sides of
the rectangle being on top of the long sides, to make a small gap. Then
I'm going to join the two with four metre-long aluminium angle
extrusions, thus creating a cuboid. I'll lap-join a few strips of angle
across the long edges at corresponding heights on both sides for resting
platforms on.
Then I'm going to bolt clear plastic sheeting onto it, with one long
side mounted with hinges and a latch for access. The platforms will be
wooden. The bottom will be a removable plastic tray.
Anyway, I've been experimenting with using flux coated "aluminium
repair" rods to join the stuff together - takes a bit of getting used to
the melting points of it and the aluminium; I have a few droppy bits of
aluminium offcut and some corroded messes, followed by a few really nice
shiny fillets! All this done with a GoGas butane/propane mix blowlamp
and some patience. After actual engineer friends told me that joining
aluminium was too hard for an amateur to master and I should just spend
more on easier metals to work with. Hah.
Hmmm, brazing is fun - I've been experimenting with a Microflame torch,
too, and normal silver solder and flux, on 'proper' metals. Built a
little model artillery piece for my girlfriend's father who is a
militaria buff, which I'm about to pickle and paint, as an exercise (so
it also has some lumpy joints...).
My book (Tubal Cain's "Soldering and Brazing") heartily recommend a gas
/ air torch (the kind with an air pump rather than the kind that sucks
air into the gas stream) because you can adjust the flame without
swapping nozzles - but nobody seems to sell these things! Have they gone
out of fashion? Can anyone recommend a UK supplier, either mail order or
in the London region?
Ho ho! My girlfriend would kill me :-)
- posted 18 years ago