Converting to and Fabricating Bronze Chainplates/Tangs

[blahman]

All,

I spoke with Pete out at PTF today and he assisted me in understanding the alloys. Basically, the cast alloys with high corrosion resistance are fine choices for chainplates, so aluminum bronze, aluminum nickle bronze; things in the C95XXX range. The trouble with these bronzes is that they are very hard, inelastic, strong metals, so working with them is trouble. Fabricating using silicon or manganese (wrought) bronze is much easier for its elasticity and bendability; it can be cold worked.


Most of PTFs castings are C955 or C954, aluminum nickle bronze or aluminum bronze. If they are going to be working a piece, they cast it of silicon bronze to enable easier working.


So the 3/8" aluminum bronze stock will work great, the trouble will be bending it. It can't just be put in a hydraulic press as it'll crack or shear; it has to be heated. I didn't ask him about the procedure for heating and working with the metal as that's his trade! I'm going to dig on the internet to see what I can learn and then decide whether or not I'll by the stock and make the chainplates.


Chainplates from PTF would be $180/ea, plus $100 for bending, plus $150 or drilling. Boomkin and bowsprit whisker tangs would be $90/ea. So I'm going to check into working the metal myself and doing it for $300 total as my pockets just can't support that now and I don't want to keep sailing on cracked chainplates!

Anyone have knowledge of working with the cast alloys?

Thank you all for your time!
Aaron N.