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rusty I-beams
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:39 pm
by brianmwaters
so i found this rusty I-beam in my backyard yesterday... it's narrower than regular a I-beam (the top/bottom surface is maybe 4 in. wide), and probably 20 ft. long. i was thinking of cutting it in half and doubling it up (so it'd be about 8 inches wide) for a one-ski-at-a-time press.
My question is, how would you go about cutting a huge piece of steel like that? Bringing it to someone is out of the option because it's so huge, and i have this feeling that a hacksaw wouldn't really do the job...
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:38 pm
by threeninethree
What is the thickness?
Your best bet is to have someone with a Oxy/Acetylene torch cut it where it sits.
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:54 pm
by alloyguitar
agreed.
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 6:18 am
by doughboyshredder
Rent a hand held gas powered target saw from Home De Pot or any rental place. Throw a metal cutting fibrous blade on there. (may need a couple of blades). Put on your gloves and your eye protection and go to town. It should cut pretty quick and easy without leaving you a bunch of slaggy crap that you have to spend hours grinding away at.
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:37 am
by G-man
... Or you could forget the big ol' rusty I beams and go with some lighter material, much like Mongo did:
http://www.skibuilders.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=834
A properly designed press frame made from 2 x2 or 2 x 3 tubing is light and rigid. It won't defect under pressure like an I-beam press will. Here's some old pics of my press:
This is a pic of the press with the upper mold cranked up in the high position. Here, I can lay-up the ski in the press, then add the bladder and lower the upper mold into place, pin it and pressurize.
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Here's the press with the upper mold in the low position and with the upright members in place. Grade 8 pins quickly slip into holes to hold the upright members. Under pressure, there is no deflection at all. With the molds removed from the press, two guys (or my wife by herself
) can easily pic up and carry the press.
I keep seeing so many I-beam presses being built and they are so heavy, difficult, and restrictive, I thought I'd give a bump for some of the lighter versions. Let's not forget Plywood's press frame that's made from some of his mother's leftover fabric.
G-man