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General / Re: Skirt welding
« Last post by Nick Flint on Nov 07, 2024, 9:26 am »
Gee that looks superb Dave. Love the colour choice, tho heat absorption won't be a problem for you. You'll be bomb proof!
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General / Re: Skirt welding
« Last post by Eric Yeoman on Nov 05, 2024, 10:30 pm »
Very neat.  8)
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General / Re: Skirt welding
« Last post by Dave Munday on Nov 05, 2024, 7:49 pm »
A little more welding this morning,  straight bits going OK, tabs will have to wait until weekend when Donna can give me a helping hand  :-\
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General / Re: Skirt welding
« Last post by Eric Yeoman on Nov 05, 2024, 11:01 am »
PM me a mailing address & I'll ship a couple of reasonably sized samples.  8)
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General / Re: Skirt welding
« Last post by John Robertson on Nov 05, 2024, 10:20 am »
Sewing will be stronger than gluing or welding simply because it's joining the reinforcing mesh together - which is stronger than the coating bond the other methods ultimately rely on (which is why you bond a wide'ish strip to increase strength).  Sewed joints will, ultimately, fail at the thread - it being the weakest link - welded.glued joints fail at the coating-to-reinforcing mesh interface . However, sewing will leave surface thread exposed which will wear off rapidly at the contact line (you could make a composite skirt, using sewed joints everywhere except the contact area which would be welded.
PVC roofing sheet training:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXDHNjqsoRc
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General / Re: Skirt welding
« Last post by John Robertson on Nov 05, 2024, 9:50 am »
What are the issues (some pics of peeled joints might help)?  Provided the gun is working OK (check air temp if you've got a meter - should be 250-500C) you should be able to easily melt PVC to the burning/smoking stage (gives off white smoke which isn't good to breath!).  Make sure you leave any welded joints to fully cool before peel testing.

I've only come across one vinyl that wouldn't weld (a scrap section of unknown origin I tried during testing).  Might be worth checking with your supplier that the material is actually hot-air weldable?


Last point is that some vinyls have a lacquer coating on one (or both) sides.  The gun needs to be hot enough to melt/evaporate the lacquer or you get a poor strength joint.


https://youtu.be/PZYB0xKq1Vg
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General / Re: Skirt welding
« Last post by Nick Flint on Nov 05, 2024, 9:49 am »
It's my understanding that the sewing line becomes the tear off line (like a stamp) ensuring when it fails- it does so in a nice straight line! Any sewed lines will also be prone, (the first) to wear.?
Im SOLD on welded skirts, (BUT so used to glueing).
Achieving the WELDS most easily is worth working out IMHO!
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General / Re: Skirt welding
« Last post by Eric Yeoman on Nov 05, 2024, 12:23 am »
I'm not having any luck with my 1600W welder. My fabric is black vynil, 24 oz. Is this too heavy? Another note: what about HH-66, or similar cement, & then getting it sewed, with rot resistant cotton/twine, ??, by a tarp repairer? There are several in my area.
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General / Re: Skirt welding
« Last post by Nick Flint on Nov 04, 2024, 9:49 am »
Thanks John, Ian, Dave and Steve.
During my two weld school sessions of 5 mins per time, the effort I (personally) needed to put in seemed considerable and it's only when strength depletes does one realise how much "strength" AND joint health / comfort is taken for granted. Years ago I swam 100 lengths and felt better getting OUT. This would not happen nowadays. What is possible for "still strong people" looks sadly impossible as age raises its ugly head. I can get around MOST aspects of ageing (using levers, brains, tools, patience,) but its not always possible, without throwing "A Good Think" at it. This isn't a moan about aging, - Its a rally cry to NOT aging guys.
This nearly always elicits a solution. Ive not yet given up on remaking a new skirt, as it's so important for relaxed cruising. Going out for "a drag across fragile worn cardboard" isn't MY idea of contentment.
The spot welder looks very interesting. Is THIS worth a try? and THEN rent/ loan it out to members?
I accept Johns feelings over the big roller.
Perhaps a system could be designed to hold the work whilst being welded G clamps etc? Im just trying to find ways to carry on cruising. My skirt is currently hiding underneath the hull coldly snuggled up against my concrete flooring. Luckily, it cannot be lifted up for its service inspections yet.
When I run out of reasons to procrastinate- I shall decide on where I go from here.

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General / Re: Skirt welding
« Last post by Steve Holland on Nov 03, 2024, 9:28 pm »
I agree, the actual weld time is short, most of that is waiting for the heat gun to get to temperature.
Far more time is spent making the panels correctly before welding.
The tabbed curves are tricky, even those aren't too bad with 'John's glove' technique and a follow up roll with the silicone roller.
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