My new gourd racks

[Brad Biddle]

Thanks Rodger. I'm not using any UHMW glide buttons. I built that central post/hub about 1/8" larger in diameter (both directions) than the poles. With no corrosion to worry about, it should raise and lower easily, without any bounce or vibration. I have 36 Troyer vertical gourds to hang on the racks and 24 Supergourds that I added Troyer tunnels to, to hang on these 2 racks. The Troyers will be hung with wire going through the neck from side to side and the SG's will be hung on a 3/8" stainless rod. They are too front heavy to hang with a wire from side to side. I still have to build those brackets.

Posting photos is easy if you'll use postimage.com If you want to try it, I'll try to help walk you through.

[Rodger Drye]

Sure Brad, I’d love to give it a try. I’m using my I-Pad Air instead of our LapTop. Does that make a difference.?
Rodger

[Brad Biddle]

It shouldn't, I upload and post them from my iPhone all the time. You'll just have to go to that website and register for an account. Then upload a photo. Uploading is pretty straight forward. If you have any issues, let me know. Once you have a photo uploaded, click on the photo. Once it reloads, you'll see a "Share" icon on the upper left corner above the photo. Click that, then scroll down to Hotlink for Forums, and click the blue and white clipboard icon on the right end of that line. That copies the link. Come back here, right click on your reply, and paste the link into the text box. It's that simple. Straight up copy and paste.

[Rodger Drye]

Hey Brad,

I’m still trying... I think my I-Pad needs to be charged. I may have to wait over night..

Rodger

[TerryW]

People who might like to build their own aluminum gourd rack should check out this website: https://www.blosmore.com/products/solut ... 6653871148

I haven't tried it, but it's a way to construct things from aluminum without having to use a heliarc or TIG welder. Only a propane torch and their welding rod required, and probably a bit of practice. Their claim is that joints are stronger than the parent metal or even mild steel. Probably the rods are pretty expensive, I don't really know.

Your comment, Brad?

[Brad Biddle]

Terry I’ve seen those but have never tried them. I am a natural skeptic. Having said that, I don’t think they could possibly work as claimed but they could

[TerryW]

It's claimed to be low temp weld, so maybe? Need someone to run an experiment, huh?

[Brad Biddle]

It's claimed to be low temp weld, so maybe? Need someone to run an experiment, huh?

Sounds like it! Aluminum is a weird beast. It doesn't react the same as steel when welding. It's very hard to get good penetration with the weld. Have to do a lot of bevelling on joints to get good penetration.

[TerryW]

This is actually braising I think, and the ads show a man beating the devil out of a piece that is welded to a piece of aluminium tubing and holding fast. They readily state that it only affects the two pieces to a shallow depth. Smile, might not want to put myself under the darn thing though, probably shouldn't try it.

[Brad Biddle]

Yep, that would have to be a type of brazing. Brazing is strong when done right. It might work just fine, then again it might fall on your head.

[Rodger Drye]

TerryW,

Looks a lot like Brazing. Thanks for sharing this info. No more welding than I do now I’ll just let that Miller-Matic and my Buzz Box take care of everything I need. I have 2 great neighbors that already have Aluminum setups so no more Aluminum fabrication that I need done I’ll just refer to them to get any Aluminum Welding done.
Trying to cut down on my working time around here instead of add to it. Besides like I’ve said before I’ve pretty much decided NOT to add any more Martin Poles. I’ve got more than enough to keep me busy.!

Rodger