Building own Plate alloy

[Owen]

Hi Stuart

Is there any info availlable on welding alloy. ie gas types and flow rates etc. I have welded plenty of steel but never alloy and would need some guidance if I did take on the project. Does anyone know where I could find that sort of info.
keep the updates coming.

Thanks

Ian

Ian,
You need pure argon. Flow rates of about 15-18 litres per minute.
I did years of ally work, so if you want some advice, just give me a yell.
These days I just sell the gear.
Advice only --- No amount of money would get me back on the tools

cheers,
Owen

[stuart]

The bow is welded up and the top is about to go on.

Stu

[DALEPRICE]

looks unreal stu !!!
looks like a real good lookin hull.
cheers dale

[Blackened]

G'day
thats one hell of a nice rig coming togeather now.

Any ideas on a paint scheme and a name?

Dave

[suzygs1000]

Hi guys,

Wasn't much like this forum around 5 years ago when I built my first. It is a Curran 6.1 (WA designer). Pic attached. Only trailer building experience with welder. Went well.

Don't be afraid to try. This Curran hull cost me about $8k painted (no fittings).

Learnt a hell of a lot from this, and am now nearly finished second boat - a PlateAlloy 5.8 Centre console. Shorter but wider and heavier.

Only place you will get much distortion is on side plates, and they are usually large areas of flat unsupported plate. 4mm topsides distort less than 3mm. The duck tail at the back also distorts readily. Boat is for sale to fund new 140hp Suzy for new hull.

Approx build time for new boat about 4 months of 30 hour weeks. (I am retired)

Pic of new boat in following thread.

Suzygs1000 (Ingham)

[suzygs1000]

HI again,

Re welding gear - I built the first boat with an el cheapo Unimig 240 amp single phase.
I now have a 250 Cigweld with remote hanging from the roof and running on a rail.
This has made the job much easier, as it is bloody hell welding down in the hull when your 4 metre lead has to run from the welder up over the side and then down. Massive wire feed problems.
These were both kit boats ie the parts were already cut and just hanging in the sheets. The biggest problem is shipping. Pretty dear to ship 9 metre al sheets from Perth. This kit came from Plate Alloy Melbourne. I believe some firms will sell the cad files, and you can get someone like Onesteel in Cairns to provide the plates and router cut the sheets.

Suzygs1000

[suzygs1000]

Hi,
Sorry about the size of that preceding pic. Here's a smaller one.

Dave Morgan.

[stuart]

Gunnels are on.

Stu

[stuart]

Another

[stuart]

another

[F1SH_BOY]

looks great!

[young_mind]

Wow getting there good work

[stuart]

The gunnel capping is on.

[murf]

comming along nice. You will be proud of the finished product.
how long is the line up to get a fish out in her??
all the best with her
Murf

[indy]

Looking real good, geez you dont muck around nice work.