- -Bob,
Thanks for your interest. You ask good questions.
- -
- For the type of material: I used
1-1/2 square tubing (.094 wall steel) for the radius. The straight
tubes are 1-1/2 X 3 rectangular tubing with the same wall
thickness.
- -
- The curved tubes were acquired from big
spools that fiber optic cable comes on. In our part of the
country, fiber optics was been put in and the spools were free for
the taking. The arches, once cut out of the spool were not uniform
to each other and had to be tweaked in a press. The pattern I used
was an arc drawn on a sheet of plywood using a center point and a
string, in effect I had a giant compass.
- -
- The bending process could be performed
with a hydraulic press bending the arc a little at a time making
sure that it matches the pattern.
- -
- There are special bending machines
available. Companies that specialize in custom hand railing would
have this capacity.
- -
- I welded everything with a MIG welder.
The arches were welded in the shop then installed. Once the arches
were in place the connecting tubes were welded in
place.
- -
- For the Paint! I can tell you
what I used, I don't know if this was a good choice, only time
will tell. I used a Elastomeric roof coat found in any home
improvement center right on top of the metal. I chose this because
it is supposed to be like a rubber coating. It comes in
white.
- -
- If I did the paint over again, I would
try an oil based primer first. Just because the oxidizing metal
(rust) would bleed through the first coat. From what I understand
metal will reach a neutralizing point and will rust no
further.
- -
- See
Our galvanized steel and mill finish aluminum painting
recommendations.
- -
- So far I am happy with the
result.
- -
- If I did it again, and money was no
object I would consider using a non ferrous material such as
aluminum. Or something that will not rust. For cost purposes steel
was a good choice for me. $468.00 was my steel bill, that included
what I needed for our porch. You have to shop for steel prices, my
first quote was $800.
- -
- I did a lot of planning for this
project. Thanks to your web site you saved me at least $2.50 per
square foot. And I did shop around!
- -
- Thanks, Arlo Englund
- -
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