Metalwork Project

gnilsiaIRE

Hi guys I am hoping someone here can advise me on this. I am going to attempt a metal project over the next couple of months but not sure where to go and what to ask for. It is for outdoor use so it needs to be protected weatherwise. Does anyone know a supplier in the munster area that would deal with diy customers?

fergal.b

Hi gnilsiaIRE can you tell me a bit more about the project as it will help in telling you metal to use, the best outdoor metal would be something like 316 marine stainless steal "not cheep"as this would never have to be painted and will always be nice and bright but it's very hard to drill and weld, galvanised steel will also stand up to the weather it's not pretty and also hard to weld if you drill it the holes will rust, aluminium can be polished but will go dull if left for a while it easy to work with and can be drilled and bolted no problem again a bit tricky to weld, you also have brass and bronze again not cheep. Steel would be the cheapest easy to work with and weld but it would have to be painted with something like hammerite to protect it.





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gnilsiaIRE

fergal.b wrote: »

Hi gnilsiaIRE can you tell me a bit more about the project as it will help in telling you metal to use, the best outdoor metal would be something like 316 marine stainless steal "not cheep"as this would never have to be painted and will always be nice and bright but it's very hard to drill and weld, galvanised steel will also stand up to the weather it's not pretty and also hard to weld if you drill it the holes will rust, aluminium can be polished but will go dull if left for a while it easy to work with and can be drilled and bolted no problem again a bit tricky to weld, you also have brass and bronze again not cheep. Steel would be the cheapest easy to work with and weld but it would have to be painted with something like hammerite to protect it.





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That's the kind of information I need, I am good at making things so not afraid to try anything but some things are learned after years of working with them and that experience is what I lack. The project is an outdoor equivalent of the Christmas tree heathrow had this year
https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=w728UuvoL4aihgfmkYGoDw&url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DIB7OGz-dp2Q&cd=1&ved=0CCsQuAIwAA&usg=AFQjCNFA8nqzC5dsdtN4vwaCrP8LcA7LBg&sig2=psPvR4d5t1FRgiLnGvCbJw

This YouTube link is a good video of the tree. Thanks again

fergal.b

Are you planning on doing it that size.






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gnilsiaIRE

fergal.b wrote: »

Are you planning on doing it that size.






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No that would be too mental. The missus fell in love with it when we were on hols and I want to treat her to her own. It will hopefully be the size of a normal Christmas tree

fergal.b

You might get away with something like a rotary washing line using the arms as the bottom of the tree and making smaller ones up to the top, if you could find an old folding gazebo the frame work on that would give you lots of light box section to work with. TV aerial pole and fittings would also be worth a look. As for the ribbon I can't tell if it's solid or some type of fine mesh, if it's mesh you can get sheets of it in B&Q that you can cut into strips and rivet it together they also do solid sheets of aluminium that you could do the same or if you wanted one continuous ribbon maybe something like aluminium roof flashing would do.
Just a few ideas to think about




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nekuchi

James Healy Ltd in Cork & Limerick have a range of supplies and deal with business and personal customers.