Re: Mast Clamping
Sounds like a great method to get around the absence
of clamps. Reuel Parker also describes a similar
method in the "Sharpie Book". Mr. Parker advocates
heavy weight fishing line and gloves, both items
available at retail stores world wide.
Phil Lea, Russellville, Arkansas
Original message from Tim in Houston:
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nylon kite string. It took forever to pull in and wind
up the string. We found a piece of 3/4" fir plywood
two feet ling and one foot wide. We mounted large
thread spools on opposite corners of the board to
allow us to quickly wind down the kite - 4 feet per
complete revolution. Worked great! When we pulled the
kite
down, we noticed that the string was awfully TIGHT on
the plywood. The next morning, the plywood had broken
in half!!! The collective strain of wrapping the nylon
string under the load of the kite broke the plywood.
Several years later, I read in one of the magazines
that "stretchy" nylon string made a good strong clamp
when wrapped under a loan. To do a mast, It would
almost appear that it would take two people. One to
hold the mast in place and the other to wrap the
string while stretching it. The selection of the
string and the process may take some trial and error,
but I am
sure that it will work. Wish I remembered where I read
the article, since that person had already done the
basic research - "the mind is a terrible thing to
waste" - think I've wasted most of mine!
Tim - Houston area
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of clamps. Reuel Parker also describes a similar
method in the "Sharpie Book". Mr. Parker advocates
heavy weight fishing line and gloves, both items
available at retail stores world wide.
Phil Lea, Russellville, Arkansas
Original message from Tim in Houston:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
nylon kite string. It took forever to pull in and wind
up the string. We found a piece of 3/4" fir plywood
two feet ling and one foot wide. We mounted large
thread spools on opposite corners of the board to
allow us to quickly wind down the kite - 4 feet per
complete revolution. Worked great! When we pulled the
kite
down, we noticed that the string was awfully TIGHT on
the plywood. The next morning, the plywood had broken
in half!!! The collective strain of wrapping the nylon
string under the load of the kite broke the plywood.
Several years later, I read in one of the magazines
that "stretchy" nylon string made a good strong clamp
when wrapped under a loan. To do a mast, It would
almost appear that it would take two people. One to
hold the mast in place and the other to wrap the
string while stretching it. The selection of the
string and the process may take some trial and error,
but I am
sure that it will work. Wish I remembered where I read
the article, since that person had already done the
basic research - "the mind is a terrible thing to
waste" - think I've wasted most of mine!
Tim - Houston area
__________________________________________________
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Get Yahoo! Mail � Free email you can access from anywhere!
http://mail.yahoo.com/
I have used nylon twine to wrap small hollow birdsmouth masts and
spars with success. The twine that I use is the same stuff that I
use for crab lines. It's pretty stretchy and clamps the spar staves
together very well. I was able to wrap the spars by myself by taking
a few windings around the spar at a time. I have used very heavy
gloves to do this to preventl losing all circulation in my fingers.
In a recent WoodenBoat issue (maybe not that recent - I too am slowly
losing my mind for these details), radiator hose clamps were
suggested for mast clamps. I have found that spiral wrapping the
spars with nylon twine applies uniform pressure along the length of
the mast and is cheaper.
Andy Farquhar
spars with success. The twine that I use is the same stuff that I
use for crab lines. It's pretty stretchy and clamps the spar staves
together very well. I was able to wrap the spars by myself by taking
a few windings around the spar at a time. I have used very heavy
gloves to do this to preventl losing all circulation in my fingers.
In a recent WoodenBoat issue (maybe not that recent - I too am slowly
losing my mind for these details), radiator hose clamps were
suggested for mast clamps. I have found that spiral wrapping the
spars with nylon twine applies uniform pressure along the length of
the mast and is cheaper.
Andy Farquhar
List,
A short story. My dad builds kites. When I was 10 or 11, he built on that
would easily lift 2,000' of 1/16 inch (or so) nylon kite string. It took
forever to pull in and wind up the string. We found a piece of 3/4" fir
plywood two feet ling and one foot wide. We mounted large thread spools on
opposite corners of the board to allow us to quickly wind down the kite - 4
feet per complete revolution. Worked great! When we pulled the kite down,
we noticed that the string was awfully TIGHT on the plywood. The next
morning, the plywood had broken in half!!! The collective strain of
wrapping the nylon string under the load of the kite broke the plywood.
Several years later, I read in one of the magazines that "stretchy" nylon
string made a good strong clamp when wrapped under a loan. To do a mast, It
would almost appear that it would take two people. One to hold the mast in
place and the other to wrap the string while stretching it. The selection
of the string and the process may take some trial and error, but I am sure
that it will work. Wish I remembered where I read the article, since that
person had already done the basic research - "the mind is a terrible thing
to waste" - think I've wasted most of mine!
Tim - Houston area
A short story. My dad builds kites. When I was 10 or 11, he built on that
would easily lift 2,000' of 1/16 inch (or so) nylon kite string. It took
forever to pull in and wind up the string. We found a piece of 3/4" fir
plywood two feet ling and one foot wide. We mounted large thread spools on
opposite corners of the board to allow us to quickly wind down the kite - 4
feet per complete revolution. Worked great! When we pulled the kite down,
we noticed that the string was awfully TIGHT on the plywood. The next
morning, the plywood had broken in half!!! The collective strain of
wrapping the nylon string under the load of the kite broke the plywood.
Several years later, I read in one of the magazines that "stretchy" nylon
string made a good strong clamp when wrapped under a loan. To do a mast, It
would almost appear that it would take two people. One to hold the mast in
place and the other to wrap the string while stretching it. The selection
of the string and the process may take some trial and error, but I am sure
that it will work. Wish I remembered where I read the article, since that
person had already done the basic research - "the mind is a terrible thing
to waste" - think I've wasted most of mine!
Tim - Houston area