Awning poles

[smirf]

The only variation from original will be the supporting tubes inside the roof. Originally there was just a short length of tube inside to support the frame poles when pulled out, which meant when pushing the frame back in, they could catch on anything in the Carawagon roof pockets My design will use full length plastic pipe inside.

just thought id mention that my 1965 carawagons awning poles have full lenght tubes inside. they appear to be original as does the rest of the landie.

[RMS]

Final call for these.

If you want a set making, with full fitting kit, please let me know within the next couple of weeks.

I'll be ordering the tubing after all the orders come in.

Cheers,
Robin.

[RMS]

Just for info guys, I finally got the last of the orders/deposits in a couple of weeks ago so ordered the steelwork.

I've made a start - all of the arch sections are now cut and curved, and the stubs welded on for the centre pole.

Next job is to cut the long pole sections and weld the stubs on for the arch section to fit to.
I find magnetic clamps very useful for this job - keeps everything square

There are just the fiddly bits then - end plates, socket for centre pole, internal brackets etc. but I'm hoping to get everything away for galvanizing in about 2-3 weeks.

In the end I got orders for 20 frames, including 5 SWB ones, so as you can imagine, it's not just a one weekend job

I hope no-one is too desperate for their frame, but hopefully everything will come together in a few weeks.

Cheers,
Robin.

[dudley]

Hi Robin,

Thanks for the update,as long as i have them
for the winter,to shelter from the rain.(we all
know we wont have rain until oct!!!!!!!)

Regards

Phillip

[RMS]

All steelwork cut, shaped & welded - on its way to the galvanisers today

[RMS]

Slight delay with the galvanising

I chose this firm after hearing good reviews on the quality of the galv.
When I spoke to the (very friendly) manager a couple of weeks ago, I asked about the quality, including slag as I'd heard of others having problems.
He replied that they do take care (well, he would, wouldn't he ) but also that they were just having a new bath and furnace installed and that if I got my stuff to them this week it would be one of the first jobs into the new bath, so should be absolutely clean - no slag!

So, I duly set to work last week, and this week, cutting, welding, grinding and lathing into the dark nights so I could get the stuff there today.

On arrival I was told that there had been a delay, and that although the bath was in the furnace wasn't ready and the zinc hadn't arrived!
As it takes 4-5 days to get the bath up to temperature, it looks like it's going to be at least another week before they are ready to dip.

So, sorry guys & gal, it's going to be another couple of weeks before the frames are ready to be sent/collected/fitted.

Robin.

[RMS]

Finally sorted the galvanising out!

The first dip, just over a week ago, was poor

No slag, but bare patches where the steel obviously hadn't been cleaned in acid for long enough.

The production manager was taken aback when I pointed the first couple out, then he had a good look himself and condemned the lot!
His excuse, on behalf of the lads who actually do the work, is that they had such a backlog with the new bath and furnace delays that the first jobs were rushed through.
No excuses - he admitted they had failed and that their QA had let them down, so I left the whole lot with them for another few days and they pickled them again (this removes all the galv as well as cleaning the bare steel) and started afresh.

I'm much happier with the results, but as with any industrial (as opposed to decorative) galving process there are always drips etc. which the finishers have to grind off. That means there are some grinding marks on the tubes, though they have only removed the excess zinc and the galvanised surface is still there, and they will weather in

So, this weekend I'm finishing the bits and pieces I couldn't do until the finished frames were back - internal supports etc. so the first ones should be ready to send out, be collected, or fitted early next week, I hope

It's been a long process, but if I do another batch later I'll know what to expect, and should be able to have a much quicker turnaround.

By the way, I did make a couple of extra sets if anyone else is interested

Cheers,
Robin.

[RMS]

Yet another setback!

So much for promises, eh?

I left the frames in one of my project vehicles (with rotten Carawagon roof timber so just a tad damp inside!) while I sorted out the bits and pieces; rivets, screws, inside supports etc. which has taken a couple of weeks.
I went out today to start sorting them into sets, ready to package them up, and noticed that in quite a few places where they had ground off the excess galv drips were patches of rust

Despite all the talk at the beginning, and the production manager's assurances that they wanted to get it right, I'm really, really disappointed and thinking of asking for the money back so I can take them somewhere else!

It's not an inconsiderable amount (£195 for the 20 frames), and it's a 50 mile round trip every time I go - 4 times now - so you can imagine how I'm feeling.

So, my apologies yet again for those of you who are waiting for the frames, but I'd rather make sure they were perfect rather than having you call me in 6 months time to complain they are rusting

I'll let you know how things progress.

Cheers,
Robin.

[atwig]

What happened to these in the end?

[RMS]

All sorts of problems with galvanizing etc., but I'm hoping to get them completed very soon

Cheers,
Robin.