[neil100]

I have been getting prices for a Stainless steel cage to go round  my sons 400ltr tank by some local fabricators.

The price is for 430 grade stainless steel in angle iron form, its a touch more expensive then box stainless steel.

I have designed the frame, it will have a sheet of stainless steel for me to attach an isolating switch and the flowjet pump to it. The hose reel will be secured  to the top of the frame, and a the di tank will attach to it by means of a cobra clamp, and a frame will be made  to hold the lesiure battery.

Thats the price I have been quoted, It includes them fitting it in the van. The frame will go round a Flat 400 ltr Baffeled tank.

Do you think thats a fair price?

Brodex have a flat charge of £345 to fit one of their tanks in a van then vat on top of that, So comparing it to brodex I am getting a stainless steel frame thrown in for free.

Nel.

[Extremeclean]

That my friend is a very good deal. 

Providing it is fitted correctly.

Rich.

[MNWC]

Neil100
I used to be a steel fabricator myself

When you look at the hourly rates fabricator/welders are on these days. The company will prob charge you about £35 p/h +VAT + material.
Then fitting it......

I Dont think that price is too bad !!

All The best
Marcus

[freshwater]

For stainless that’s OK.

Make sure you have some diagonal bracing from upper corner to lower corner on at least two adjacent sides, all square fabrications can collapse under stress. This will improve the structurs rigidity and strengthen it dramatically. Also pay particular attention to your fining points, its no good having a super cage if its fastened down through its weakest part or indeed that of your van.


steve@freshwatersystems.co.uk

[neil100]

Thanks for the advice lads.

What are finning points?

Do you mean fixing points? The plates that the bolts go through the van floor.
If there is a welding point near wont the weld be stronger then the metal itself?

Nel

[freshwater]

yes I did mean fixing points.

what I mean was, if you have a good strong frame say 40mm x 40mm dont just drill a hole through it, plate it up a bit to increase the strength. And your van floor also use plates to spread to load, just look at seat belt anchor points and they only have to stop you not a tone of water, which will actually be a few tons of water once its moving towards you.

steve@freshwatersystems.co.uk

[JM123]

haha I knew my engineering degree woud come in handy - I'll design and sign off a frame for the knowckdown price of £1200.

Nah wouldn't charge you that but what I will tell you is this - use high tensile bolts to screw down the frame, also, never square off angles (make sure all angles are less than 90degrees) and use triangulation in all sub structuring.  Triangles, even in the form of a rectangle with a diagonal (thats 2 triangles) is a much stronger shape than squares etc.

But you probably knew that anyway.

[EasyClean]

Thanks for the advice lads.

What are finning points?

Do you mean fixing points? The plates that the bolts go through the van floor.
If there is a welding point near wont the weld be stronger then the metal itself?

Nel

Welding changes the characteristics of the surrounding metal being welded. For securing a tank to the van, bolting with good brackets/plates is the best option using high tensile nuts, bolts, plates,etc. Also, use a primer paint on the holes drilled to prevent rusting occuring later on in time.