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As promised on another thread somewhere, here are some pictures of my keel grinding on our Beneteau 50.
Warning this is very picture heavy. Don't use the "Quote" button, use "Post Quick Reply".
Here is a long sequence of pictures. I'll let them do most of the talking. Note that there was a lot of grinding -- from start to finish that day, about 2 hours worth, with a 4.5 inch Makita grinder. (Hint - use older/worn grinding wheels that have a smaller diameter for grinding out hard to reach areas.) I begin the pictures after I've removed the paint and previous barrier coat, and after a night with exposed metal. (After several hours of grinding the day before, I had to leave quickly to get 2 stitches in my knuckle.)
Throughout the day, I used a wire brush on a reversible drill to clear everything away and show me where there was still rust spots. Then I went after the rust with the grinder. I repeated that many times. In one place the night before, I found a "fault" which was 1/8 or 1/4 inch below the surface. I felt I needed to grind to smooth. The fault would certainly make a path for future rust to follow.
Somehow, I felt like a dentist. Now there's a scary thought.
Since these pictures, (this past Sunday) I did a full day of grinding under the keel, aft of the wooden block. That's with about 6 inches of clearance. I was tucked right up with my (very protected) face next to the keel, so I could see what I was doing. Driving home that night I counted my blessings that I didn't get seriously hurt. I only got a nick through my new leather gloves, and something under both contact lenses. THAT GRINDER TRULY SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME. I'm really not looking forward to about 5 more days of grinding, most of them under the keel. That's what I think I have left.
By the way, there are 2 rusty spots where the keel meets the hull (fore and aft). I have no idea how to do those.
Anyway, enjoy the pictures. Any feedback welcome.
This is very picture heavy. Don't use the "Quote" button, use "Post Quick Reply".
Warning this is very picture heavy. Don't use the "Quote" button, use "Post Quick Reply".
Here is a long sequence of pictures. I'll let them do most of the talking. Note that there was a lot of grinding -- from start to finish that day, about 2 hours worth, with a 4.5 inch Makita grinder. (Hint - use older/worn grinding wheels that have a smaller diameter for grinding out hard to reach areas.) I begin the pictures after I've removed the paint and previous barrier coat, and after a night with exposed metal. (After several hours of grinding the day before, I had to leave quickly to get 2 stitches in my knuckle.)
Throughout the day, I used a wire brush on a reversible drill to clear everything away and show me where there was still rust spots. Then I went after the rust with the grinder. I repeated that many times. In one place the night before, I found a "fault" which was 1/8 or 1/4 inch below the surface. I felt I needed to grind to smooth. The fault would certainly make a path for future rust to follow.
Somehow, I felt like a dentist. Now there's a scary thought.
Since these pictures, (this past Sunday) I did a full day of grinding under the keel, aft of the wooden block. That's with about 6 inches of clearance. I was tucked right up with my (very protected) face next to the keel, so I could see what I was doing. Driving home that night I counted my blessings that I didn't get seriously hurt. I only got a nick through my new leather gloves, and something under both contact lenses. THAT GRINDER TRULY SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME. I'm really not looking forward to about 5 more days of grinding, most of them under the keel. That's what I think I have left.
By the way, there are 2 rusty spots where the keel meets the hull (fore and aft). I have no idea how to do those.
Anyway, enjoy the pictures. Any feedback welcome.
This is very picture heavy. Don't use the "Quote" button, use "Post Quick Reply".