a SMALLER Challenge (2) - let construction commence!
First - the image that started it all...
presented by kind permission of the artist. The barge in the lock is the afore-mentioned 'Unity' and, as can be seen, is a 'wide barge'. She spent her working life plying the 'K&A' between Reading and Bristol carrying carbouys of acid...
So on with construction. As previous blogs and other entries have mentioned, I am a firm believer in Knauff 'Floormate'* - sold as an underfloor insulation sheet about 250mm wide, 2.5m long and 75mm thick. Fortunately my supplier (Hampshire Insulation')* use it for purposes other than that for which it was designed and have a hot-wire cutter capable of cutting it down to (as a minimum) 5mm thick (if you're prepared to pay for the wastage!). The material itself is a 'high density urethane foam', completely stable, able to be easily cut with a craft knife, razor saw or (when 'her in doors' isn't looking) a breadknife! Obviously it does NOT like impact adhesives (except 'Limonene-based' ones) and PVA has an extended drying time if layering. However 'Gorilla Glue'* works a treat!
For this project I used an offcut of a 30mm-thick board (it is only 600x240mm after all!), marked out the upper pound and lock as one unit, cut it out and dropped it by about 4mm, re-attaching it with the afore-said 'Gorrilla Glue' The lower pound was treated slightly differently in that it was cut from another offcut (hence the different colour) at 15mm thickness. When the upper pound/lock was set, the 'lower pound' was marked out and removed, then the new insert glued into place.
The last view shows the end-view with the different water- and land levels clearly displayed. The prototype had a 'fall of over 2m so the differing thicknesses work well.
Also on view is the first length of 'easitrack' - one & a bit more to go!
When set, the board will be set into 6mm ply walls - this will take the 'hangers-on' like the lighting unit and fiddleyard cassettes.
* the usual declaration - my only connection is as a thoroughly satisfied customer!
Regards
Ian
- 5
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