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

 

[SlipperyOar]

Dashboards cut, looking for some insight/advice if anyone has any answers here. At first I planned to install screws from behind the wood and using specifically sized ones to not come all the way through, essentially hiding the fasteners. I used 1/2” marine ply for the wood, I didn’t know if some adhesive around the edges with adequate fasteners would do the trick or if I’m better off using blind rivets to hold them in. Yes the rivets would show from the front but it also would hold them on much more securely.

The passenger side has the same shape except I’ll be using a piano hinge to create an opening glovebox essentially to create a storage space.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Assuming the wood will be wrapped before fastening in place, out of those options I would use screws from the back.

Another option, machine screws with finish washers from the front, nuts and washers in the back. Stronger connection and they wont come loose as the wood swells/shrinks or eventually rots.

 

[eggs712]

Tee nuts are another option for a hidden fastener.