| ===================== Sectional Dividers – D.I.Y. ===================== § To make your own steel sectional dividers to fit an existing sectional beam or a remodeled beam, buy 1/8" acetylene welding rod in 36" lengths. The rod is steel with a nice copper coating and a 36" piece will make 5 dividers. The rod cost is about .39 each in California. - Bend the rod into the U shape on a jig. The jig can be a board with a bolt or lag screw driven in near one end and wood blocks or 2 large nails to guide the operation. Be sure the bending will take place on the shank of the bolt, not the threads. - If you want about a 3/4" divider, use a 3/8" bolt, if you want a wider divider, use a bigger bolt. Attach a wood block or a large nail 2" below the bolt in a straight line to keep the leg in place and a limit stop block or stop nail below that, to make the leg 3" long. - Practice a few times to get the feel of bending the rod ( wear eye protection ), you may want to wear gloves or use pliers ( pliers might scratch the rod and a scratch through the copper could allow rust ). - Cut the dividers loose with borrowed bolt cutter pliers or heavy wire cutters ( wear eye protection ). If your beam already has 1/8" holes, measure the inside width of two holes to get the size of bolt you'll be using; subtract 1/16" to allow for the bend. Hand bending is not as precise as a machine, so the divider inside measurement will be about 1/16" wider than the bolt diameter. The dividers will be about 8 cents each, not counting your labor. (Note: The above 1/8" by 36" rods will also make good lingos, bend the rod in half and you have a 2 oz. lingo or make two 1 oz. lingos.) Lingo: The weight that holds a comberboard heddle (maile) down. Bill Koepp § |
 |
 |
| (Practice a few times to get the feel of bending the rod - wear eye protection ) |
