Using a Shop Smith Mark V on a Chris Craft Roamer refit

[roamer46]

I've used reinforced fiber metal cutting blades to cut steel on a miter saw. I suppose the same blade could be used on the SS. There are also toothed metal cutting blades ($$$), but I've never used one. The biggest challenge may be the relatively low power of the SS. You'll need to take it super slow.

[BuckeyeDennis]

Yup, I'm using a carbide blade to cut the aluminum. That's one of the nice things about this material--any old carbide tool can cut or shape it. The SS isn't the most powerful saw, but I just slow the feed speed down and it works just fine.

Just a hypothetical here. If your angle iron was steel, is there a blade and technique that could be used on the SS to make the cut? I need to cut some angle iron and I was getting ready to break out my crappy old hack saw.

I've always used an abrasive cutoff wheel like this, on my old beater table-top saw, to cut angle iron. But while searching for that just now, I found that HD sells a carbide toothed saw blade that can cut angle iron.

[tomsalwasser]

I've always used an abrasive cutoff wheel like this, on my old beater table-top saw, to cut angle iron. But while searching for that just now, I found that HD sells a carbide toothed saw blade that can cut angle iron.

Thanks Dennis!

[roamer46]

So, I got the spacers for the vibration isolators pretty much worked out, but then I discovered another problem that's been staring me in the face forever: the rear-most bolts in the rear vibration isolators land pretty much right on top of one of the transverse frames. I must be freakin' blind. Either that, or terminally distracted. Anyway, my Shopsmith came in handy once again in getting the project done. Gotta love that 12" sanding disk.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Cummins Engine Install — Spacers II

Cheers,
Q

[roamer46]

The DriveSavers showed up and solved the problem I had with vibration isolator bolt clearance. I also got the vibration isolator spacers done and installed, just requiring primer and paint.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Cummins Engine Install – DriveSavers & Spacers

Cheers,
Q

[roamer46]

I got the engine installed in its final resting place over the weekend. Shaft alignment...check. Clearance to frames and stringers...check. Everything sanded and epoxy coated...check. But then I had a minor hang up with some of the hardware that came with the prop shaft vibration isolator/rubber donut. It's not a huge deal, but it did stop me just a bit short of being completely done with this step of the project.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Cummins Engine Install — Coating the Stringers & Final Fit

Cheers
Q

[roamer46]

With one engine in, I shifted gears and took advantage of some relatively cool weather we've had to get some repairs started on the hard top. Back in May 2014, when the tent was burglarized, the thieves took off with a bunch of original Chris Craft parts that were on the aft deck and behind the tent. Included in that were the extruded aluminum drip rail that went around the hard top. After spending a lot of time looking at options, I decided the best approach was to break open the new paint and fiberglass over the joint that the drip rail would normally cover. It's itchy work, but it's looking like it will work out OK.
1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: The Aft Deck Hard Top (again)

Cheers,
Q

[roamer46]

More progress...I do love fillets.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Fillets On The Hard Top

Cheers,
Q

[roamer46]

Before I can prime and paint the hard top, I need to square away the windshield frame mess. We made good progress on that front recently. We had to break open the paint and do more fiberglass work, but it looks like we finally got 100% contact along the top and bottom mating surfaces.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: The Helm Station Windshield Frame

Cheers,
Q

[roamer46]

After the epoxy cured, we got busy with carbide saws and shaped the FRP to the hardtop. Gotta love fiberglass work. Note to self: no matter how itchy the FRP dust can be, DO NOT use the missus' loofa sponge to scrub it out of your pores. The resulting reaction from the better half is not good.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: The Helm Station Windshield III

Cheers,
Q