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Visual History
The Building of Aslan
Updated 12/09/00
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A
Visual History
The Building of Aslan |
Updated 12/09/00 |
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The plans call for a home-made universal joint for the gooseneck (the swiveling part that connects the boom to the mast.) Two eyebolts through the mast capture a short section of 1" pipe between them, with a third eyebolt providing the vertical axis for the pipe to swing from port to starboard (it is threaded through nuts captured in the eye of the two eyebolts through the mast.) But I couldn't find stainless eyebolts long enough to go through Aslan's round mast which could still capture nuts to hold the vertical eyebolt. My solution was to use stainless "T" nuts both on the mast and on a 1x hardwood support inside the mast. 1/4" x 3" eyebolts could then be used. This photo shows the hardwood support inside the mast. |
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Here's a photo of the assembly without the pipe section captured between the upper and lower eyebolt. T nuts are hammered into the mast first, then a stainless nut and flat stainless washer (visible next to the mast) is put on each eyebolt, threaded up near the eye. Then each eyebolt is threaded into the T nut on the mast, and into a T nut on the hardwood support inside the mast. The vertical eyebolt here is a 3/8" eyebolt. Because I couldn't find an eyebolt with long enough threads, I drilled out the threads on the nut captured in the top eyebolt so the vertical eyebolt would be held in position. The eyebolt then threads through the nut captured in the bottom eyebolt, and a jam nut is added. |
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Here's a side view of the completed assembly. I used a 1 1/2" copper coupling, which has an outside diameter closer to the diameter of my boom, rather than the smaller 1" pipe. I used nylon washers between the copper coupling and the eyebolts on top and bottom to provide a wearing surface and smooth action. And a stainless washer is captured under the eye. |
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Here I've turned the copper coupling to face the camera so you can see the vertical eyebolt and the bolt running horizontally through the end of the coupling. The boom will have straps bolted to it which will attach to the horizontal bolt to allow the boom to move up and down. |
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Here's the gooseneck with the 3/4 x 6" galvanized straps (painted black) attaching the boom. I couldn't find stainless straps that looked strong enough, so I used 1/8" galvanized, etched it with vinegar, and dipped it in Rustolem black satin finish enamel. I painted the bolt heads black when I touched up the paint. |
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