Saturday, January 22, 2011

Trimming Around HF Equipment

Before Trimming
I've put wooden trimming around the HF radio and Pactor modem, something that I did not expect to be able to do until I reached Australia.  Although the job isn't exactly perfect because I don't have ready access to wood working equipment, it is good enough and makes that section of the bulkhead look much better.

I took to Seattle measurements of the pieces that I would need for the job.  At Home Depot near Kingston I found lengths of dressed poplar that would be suitable, and Arnold set me up with his radial arm saw and other equipment which enabled me to make the fine cuts required.  Back here in La Paz I found that some of the pieces required adjustments.  In particular there was a tricky long angled cut to be made on the top piece. One of my friends at the marina workshop made these cuts with exquisite precision.  When the wood was ready I fitted it then removed it again for staining and two coats of varnish, with a third coat after the wood was re fitted.
After Trimming

I plan to replace the stainless steel screws with brass ones at first opportunity.

3 comments:

  1. I must be blind, I can't see any difference in the two photos??
    Correction - is it the part around the black thing, I can see that something has been added there.

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  2. The trim looks good. I saw only bare wood here -- you must have stained and varnished the wood in La Paz.

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  3. Hi Coral, you should be able to spot the difference easily if you enlarge each photo by moving the cursor over it and then twice clicking the left button of the mouse.

    Arnold, you were quite correct. I stained the wood and laid on three coats of varnish here in La Paz. I have amended the blog entry.

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