Purple Sage's mods show a slug gate made from a flat AL bar and AL 1/2" rod. This allows the mail sail to be lower on the boom when dropped. I think I can braise the rod to the flat bar, but don't know if that will be strong enough. Any comments on braising vs going to a welding shop to have this done; or recommendations to do this or not.
Mac26 D: can I braise Aluminum in making slug gate like in mods on Purple Sage?
- Thread starter nickl1218
- Start date
There are also a variety of slug gate inserts available.
I use one of these
you can also screw two pieces of aluminum
like this
I use one of these
you can also screw two pieces of aluminum
like this
I just closed up the slot with a 2 pound hammer and a 2X4 and then opened another on below the boom. Once bent on I never take main off just flake it and cover it until I am ready to trailer home.
I did the same as timebandit and used a slug gate insert as shown by rgranger. Aluminum is quite easy to shape with fairly light hammer blows and if you overdo it, quite easy to open up the slot. It will not take brazing at all to the best of my knowledge.....
There is an aluminum soldering rod (melts below brazing temp), that could be used to fabricate custom aluminum parts such as this. There are several sources including Harbor freight. In this video a guy, with the welding expertise of a pet rock, is able to solder two pop cans together with a propane torch.
You can home fabricate with aluminum on the cheap using this method. I would not use it for structural components, however.
You can home fabricate with aluminum on the cheap using this method. I would not use it for structural components, however.