Welding Tips and Tricks

Hi all,

New to the forum, really enjoy it and all the great info within. I have been doing some metal art and small fabrication for a few years now mostly with TIG and MIG. I own a marine canvas and upholstery business and want to branch out into some marine aluminum fabrication starting out with some smaller projects like leaning posts and small t tops. I don't see ever doing anything like big fly bridge tops as my main focus is on canvas and upholstery. I learned my trade through apprenticeships many years ago. Are there any good reference books out there for tube bending and marine metal fabrication or is it a lot of trial by fire ( no pun intended) like I have had in the beginning with canvas work. Thanks in advance.

Best regards,
Geoff C
www.gscmarine.com

Hi, Geoff, and welcome!

Boy, are you in luck! One of our members, TamJeff, is a master (and as a 30+ year welder, I don't use that word lightly) at marine aluminum. He regularly builds very elaborate fly-bridges, fishing stations, and anything else marine and/or aluminum, usually in anodized tubing, using unorthodox methods.

He's forgotten more about bending aluminum than I'm likely to ever know.

He's not the only one with marine experience or aluminum experience, but is the one most likely to aim you to the right starting point.

Steve S

Welcome to "the hood"!

ditto what Steve said!

Also, there's a guy in your neck of the woods that may be of some help to you.
His name is Keith. He's in West Dennis and has some online videos too.
http://turnwrightmachineworks.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOdrxZJPx6s

rake wrote:Welcome to "the hood"!

ditto what Steve said!

Also, there's a guy in your neck of the woods that may be of some help to you.
His name is Keith. He's in West Dennis and has some online videos too.
http://turnwrightmachineworks.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOdrxZJPx6s

Thanks, I have done some work for Keith in the past, doing tops. He does nice work.

Welcome to the forum Geoff.