Aluminum Kayak Build Part 1 - The Hull

[@alexkram]

I'm an avid kayaker. This is awesome! One thing I don't like about normal kayaks is you can't store them outside in the sun. The UV rays degrade the plastic and it becomes brittle and cracks. Even fiberglass degrades in the sun. Your boat would be impervious to that. I think 12' is the ideal size for a recreational boat. One negative I've experienced with aluminum canoes is the noise of the waves hitting it. Also the paddles hitting the sides are loud. I don't think you will have the paddles issue on a kayak but you might hear the water. Definitely a unique boat to own. I like your channel too, subscribed.

[@BlackKnight-ll8qh]

Cooling bars and an inside purge setup. Overall you did pretty great!!

[@aumproject]

Congratulations, every canoe project is a bravery, and when you achieve the first, you can be sure that you have doubled the initial budget. I made mine with a guenine design in plywood cos I'm a carpenter, and now I know why a boat have a name: each boat has a background, a story, and a conceptor passion behind. Hope you an easy cruise. From France, best regards.

[@canoepoler]

Great build and nice problem solving skills. I am a 40 year Journeyman Metal Fabricator and I only have two thoughts... play around a bit with forming, like for body work. Hammer the edges or the middle to stretch and shape the metal. It is a skill unto itself and takes practice. The big one is please wear safety glasses when drilling. Well done and be safe!

[@michelebasye6084]

Really Cool Brandon!

[@johngillon6969]

thanks for posting. most inspiring video i have seen in a while. i think we could be friends. that wasn't a lot of work you did. it was you finding pleasure in creating a beautiful thing. think i'll get off my but and get back to one of my projects.

[@ryanclark7167]

Really awesome build. Really awesome video! Keep em' coming!

[@scraphead5479]

Awesome project!

[@westweld]

Really awesome man.....thats an extremely difficult first aluminum project haha....ur not a beginner anymore....when I weld thin aluminum ill often use a big chunk of aluminum clamped to the back as a heat sink to pull out some of the heat and help with distortion, seem like you might not have been able to do that in your application but just a thought

[@THEFACILITY]

Yeah unfortunately I wasn't able to do that because of the curves and differing angles everywhere

[@bruderbrot5268]

This is such an amazing project. Also, you explain well, keep the video consise and add the occasional joke. Really fun and inspiring to watch. I just started dreaming about my own metal canoe... Not sure if I missed it, but what is the hull's material thickness.

[@THEFACILITY]

The skin is .040" thick, thanks for watching!

[@rotam8680]

if you ever redo or revisit the idea. when you weld, weld in 4" stitches and do them in different spots. helps with warp

[@vickybrewer2528]

Great video and build. Thanks!

[@brianveitenheimer4492]

I commend your patience.

[@bearmanpig444]

Solid project my dude!

[@AerialLensVideo]

Wow! Totally impressive and well done in my view. As a 40-years-experience welder I would not attempt such an ambitious and even inspiring project myself. I really admire your creativity (as well as the innovation with the various clamping)...AND your patience. Pretty damn impressive. Side note: That is a very cool "face of communism = death" flag hanging there (saw the old 1919 German pamphlet with a similar design).

[@tinkertime4588]

What equipment where you using to weld? Miller Dynasty 210? Welding Helmet 3M speedglass model? Filler metal? I heard you say the metal was 5052. Temper? 0.040" Thick. Weld Amps 40? AC balance 70% ? Torch particulars. Argon flow rate? Thanks. Tig welding 0.040" can be tricky. Looks like you did well!

[@wyz2537]

Making the worlds hottest kayak

[@Chriscanweld]

The water would cool it off as it absorbs heat and would dissipate into the water.

[@wyz2537]

@@Chriscanweld thanks for teaching me about thermodynamics however theres parts of the day where the kayak is not in water

[@EngineersWorkshop]

That's some floppy material until it's welded. What's the finished weight compared to a plastik canoe?

[@THEFACILITY]

I haven't weighed it yet but it seems a bit lighter

[@Levi_Allen]

Yeah unfortunately the sp100 spool gun for Lincoln is pretty trash. I did a 1/8th project with it, and even that was touch and go. Love the build. Thanks for sharing

[@Levi_Allen]

Did you experiment with any pulse settings on this build?

[@THEFACILITY]

My TIG doesn't have any pulse settings, it's a decent machine but pretty basic

[@bandito85fx]

Just think if you had a lightweld laser welder. They make welding aluminum look so easy. LOL

[@joshgrimm889]

Tack every half inch

[@monostripezebras]

Maybe you just need to build a giant press and extrude kayak hulls by the dozends..

[@brianredmond4919]

Im trying to build a ww2 motor submersible canoe replica and have built a strip planked hull but would prefer aluminium. Your experience is very helpful - thanks. Wonder if an english wheel would help ?. Has it been done with backing strips and solid rivets ?. How about that low temperature weld/solder stuff ?.

[@THEFACILITY]

Sounds like a cool project. I imagine doing it with backing strips and rivets would be easier with a sheet metal stretcher and shrinker. Can't comment on any low temp soldering for aluminum as I haven't tried it

[@1nvisible1]

*Italian or American?*

[@brianredmond4919]

@@1nvisible1 ???

[@scraphead5479]

The website you linked in the description doesn´t work anymore. Is there another way to see the plans for this build?

[@THEFACILITY]

I don't have the original files anymore. The email I used to contact the guy who made the design is [e-mail]. Hope it still works for you, otherwise I still have a 3D model he sent me that flat patterns could be pulled from

[@beattrixkiddo2725]

Nice

[@BlackKnight-ll8qh]

Why do you have a hammer and sickle flag

[@Smokeslingerowner]

Need to back gas that metal

[@patrickbethel855]

Rather ungrateful at 16:02. Why not use the public transit on the water?

[@mikexhotmail]

Awesome!