...............................................--- Mounting Brackets Part III ---
One more page of brackets....
..............
Here we are making a simple bracket that will wrap around a tube. These are meant to be used more where you can slide it down a tube without having to pry it back open. The ones on the previous page were designed to use normally for a tube that is already in place where you can't slide a bracket on.
..............
The first step is to bend the strap over to a 90 degree angle. Notice the aluminum pieces placed on the vice jaws to help protect the aluminum from them.
..............
Once the 90 degree bend is n place put the piece in the bending jig.
..............
clamp it there and work it around the post as before.
..............
Finish the bend with a piece of 1 inch round stock in the piece and the use of the vise jaws.
..............
Use the mallet to help form the piece to the round stock.
..............
Test it on a piece of tubing to make sure that it will clamp securely.
..............
Next drill a mounting hole in the end and ...
..............
... I squared the ends up flush with each other in the mill, but a hacksaw would also work.
..............
The finished bracket on the left with the corners rounded slightly with a grinding wheel (never grind with out a "good" full face mask with heavy/thick clear shield.
..............
A number of this style brackets were also made. Not all of any of these brackets were used to mount the solar frame. I'll have other uses for the leftovers on both boats.
..............
A view of the different types of brackets I ended up making. I just designed...
..............
.... these as I went along and I'm sure there are many other options when making brackets. I enjoyed this and even though I used the tig welder and the lathe and mill on some of these there are ones you could make without those tools. Also others could be made that just require welding and if you made them to the point where the welding was about the final step you could probably have that done by a friend or a welding shop for not that much. The welding goes very fast.
