DIY tower idea, what material?

Dip_Krew · Posted: Feb 20, 2006 2:24 pm Post subject: DIY tower idea, what material?

hey there guys, i cant keep looking at all these expensive towers, and being a machinist/ fabricator the ideas of building one run through my mind.

ive got a few questions,

1. steel tubing is cheapest, if i make it out of 1 3/4 .120 wall tubing can i get away with powdercoating i can get 40' for 110 bucks stainless is about 340 for a 20' stick and the powercoating is 200 bucks

2. what are you guys using to mount the tower to the boat, i seen a swivel design of some sort, where can i get these?

heres my idea..

QNev · Posted: Feb 20, 2006 6:23 pm Post subject:

Look around on the DIY section for Hiem joints. Here's a link: http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=44370

Dip_Krew · Posted: Feb 20, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject:

thanks, ill try the local dirt track racing place (aka bicknell racing)

Billet man · Newbie Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 42

Try this site. http://stores.ebay.com/pyramidmanufacturing

Dip_Krew · Posted: Feb 21, 2006 5:11 am Post subject:

those look pretty nice but 150 US is a little pricey for those,

Billet man · Newbie Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 42

$150.00 is nothing compared to what you would have to pay a machine shop to make them and that is if they will even think about making them. They normally make parts in the hundreds not one's and two's.

Dip_Krew · Posted: Feb 21, 2006 3:23 pm Post subject:

i realise that it would cost a machine ship double that, however being a machinist and working at a machine shop i have the golden pass to make them myself Very Happy

that post you provided with the link gave me the means to draw up my own system, derived from that

should run me about 20 buks in metal when im all done

Billet man · Newbie Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 42

Sorry your talking to the wrong person about manufacturing. just so you know if you dont already. First there is program time then there setup time then there is run time. and that is not including the time to make the tooling. Now if your time is woth nothing to you then your right you can make them cheaper. All i know is that my time is woth about $45.00 an hour and i now that you could not possibly make these in less than eight hours. By the way there are no free passes either you pay for the time on the machines or your boss does.

Dip_Krew · Posted: Feb 22, 2006 5:27 am Post subject: