Janet,firt of all,VERY IMPRESSIVE RAIL! I put together alot of rail here in oregon. And I mean"Put together." Buy componets,weld together,apply finnish, send it out.Your rail looks hand forged,alot of it anyway.Your baaad to the bone!Back to subject.Rains alot here and no matter how careful you are, when you powder coat and put her in the oven, air will expand in the tubes and,waalaa, a pinhole, maybe 2 or 3. You don't see it until a year later.Easy fix, but bad PR. WE have very serious tree huging type folks here so the cost of galvanize more often than not, costs as much as the steel for the job. It does work though. You still have pressure buildup in the tubes, but the hot dip guys are savvy and dip her fast. Some big jobs, folks want tubes knotched for gal inside and out. Using solid stock cures your powder coat problem "if you are a VERY good welder." Bottom line, spell it out for the customer. Hollow tube, powder coat,no call backs, $1000. same, with call back, $2000. Solid stock, powder coat,$2000. Hollow tube, galvanize,powder coat,$2000. I always try to talk them into using aluminum. The best Solution,for the fabracator and the costomer, although now the bill is $4000. SO easy for you. 6061, heat it, throw it in a tub of water, and it turns into putty. DO all your scrolling cold,welds easy,and more componets being offered these days. The added bonus of strapping the finnished product on the back of your Geo to deliver to the job site. A kodak moment. Have fun,Jay.
Rain to rust
Janet,firt of all,VERY IMPRESSIVE RAIL! I put together alot of rail here in oregon. And I mean"Put together." Buy componets,weld together,apply finnish, send it out.Your rail looks hand forged,alot of it anyway.Your baaad to the bone!Back to subject.Rains alot here and no matter how careful you are, when you powder coat and put her in the oven, air will expand in the tubes and,waalaa, a pinhole, maybe 2 or 3. You don't see it until a year later.Easy fix, but bad PR. WE have very serious tree huging type folks here so the cost of galvanize more often than not, costs as much as the steel for the job. It does work though. You still have pressure buildup in the tubes, but the hot dip guys are savvy and dip her fast. Some big jobs, folks want tubes knotched for gal inside and out. Using solid stock cures your powder coat problem "if you are a VERY good welder." Bottom line, spell it out for the customer. Hollow tube, powder coat,no call backs, $1000. same, with call back, $2000. Solid stock, powder coat,$2000. Hollow tube, galvanize,powder coat,$2000. I always try to talk them into using aluminum. The best Solution,for the fabracator and the costomer, although now the bill is $4000. SO easy for you. 6061, heat it, throw it in a tub of water, and it turns into putty. DO all your scrolling cold,welds easy,and more componets being offered these days. The added bonus of strapping the finnished product on the back of your Geo to deliver to the job site. A kodak moment. Have fun,Jay.