Next up is the Mast tube. I know the plans call for 60x2, but my
3.6wall stuff is a snug fit for the mast (2pc carbon sailboard mast).
Fishmouth the end of the tube for fitting on the 60mm beam, measure + set the angles right and you'll do it properly first time time in the chop saw.
I set the saw to around 37 degrees, made the first cut. flip the pipe around and do the same cut but slightly offset, this will give you the mast rake. finish it off with the flap disc and file. Notching tube like this in a chopsaw can take a while to get the hang of - but once you've got it sorted out theres nothing stopping you from starting a roll cage business!!! (not recommend)
Perfect fit

To get the mast angle true while in the vice, I simply tweaked the chassis around until the angle of both axles was equal (7.5 degrees) and tacked the tube on at a right angle, triple checking the guage


Add the solid brace and Weld it all up!! Sit back and potter around the shed with a proud grin. Also a good time now to "show off" your sloppy welds and workmanship to anyone else in the house who doesn't care the slightest



Thats it for today. Next up is the steering head, but cant make the fork until i get some Fallshaws for this darn thing!!!
Oh and by the way, for anyone interested in the weight using such thick walled steel, the frame as pictured is 11kg. I dont know how much a thinner frame would add up to, but I dont think its too bad. Besides, all the weight thats going to be piloting this machine along isnt going to make the slightest difference to the chassis weight.
at the end of the day its all ballast






Until next time :)