removing wires

[Charlie Jones]

Spent a long afternoon today removing the wires from the hull of a Core Sound 20. Heating them up, then pulling. As I was working along, I got to thinking- "there HAS to be a better way"

And then it hit me--

JUMPIT!!!!

I have a portable battery that is supposed to be used to jump start vehicles. We carry it as back up aboard the boat. Got two chunks of heavy electrical wire, clamped one in each handle. Touched one to one end of the cut wire, the other side to the other end and BANG- instant red hot wire - all the way. Grab it with pliers and out she comes. Just need to TOUCH it with the hot lead. I did a half a chine in less than 10 minutes

Sure do wish I'd had that idea about 4 boats ago

[Frank Hagan]

What a great idea. I'm filing this away in case I win the lottery and can get back to boatbuilding as a hobby.

[Greg Luckett]

I bet the sparks flew too.

[Charlie Jones]

Greg- at first they did, then I learned how to do it- it goes SO quickly you wouldn't believe- Just Touch the second wire to the other end- a quick little spark and a red hot wire.

[Tom Lathrop]

Charlie,

Great minds work in the same directions. Sam Devlin describes this in his book. Does work great too.

[Charlie Jones]

LOL- and I have that book- must have read it a long time ago and just rotated the idea back into short term memory

[PAR]

Yes, the signs of aging, first the classified section of the news paper gets beyond arms reach to focus, then the hearing (though this could be selective, ask the wife), but when the short term memory goes, you've just got to come to terms with getting . . . 'er I forgot my point . . .

[Noklin]

In his book, Sam suggest using the carbon rod from a dry cell to help reduce the current flow and give better control.

[Charlie Jones]

ROFL @ PAR

At 66, I'm already wearing trifocals.

After years in the woodshop, we've already decided I've lost hearing in some frequencys. Unfortunately part of those are really truly in the range of Laura's voice so sometimes I have trouble understanding what she is saying, so I have to have her repeat it.

And what was that third thing?

[John Burritt]

Another approach is to "spot weld" between the wire ties with thickened epoxy, keeping the "welds" below the thickness of the final fillet. Once these are set, the ties can be removed, and the seams filleted and taped. Haven't had a problem with this method, even in high stress areas. If these areas are a concern, you can always leave the wire ties there and remove them with the "hot wire" method.

[Charlie Jones]

Takes too much time to do that. Also takes two days- I can't spend two days just running fillets and taping when I can do it all at once, then yank the wires.

Particularly now that I know how to get them out QUICK.

But it is an effective method and I have used it in certain circumstances, usually when that outside surface was to be finished bright.

[Greg Luckett]

Dang Charlie, you sound just like a pro.

This is not a complaint, but a compliment. I love learning the shortcuts and methods to speed up the process. Time is money.

Thanks,

Greg.

[rlchenry]

BRILLIANT!!

[Travis Votaw]

I tried to get him to do this a long time ago - :twisted: - JUST KIDDING, CHARLIE

That is a great idea!

[Hirilonde]

No idea when my next boat is, but I'm gunna try that next time. When I think of all the blood I shed carefully untwisting the wires to get a good lead to hit with the torch when I could have just cut them and zapped em...... Great idea Charlie! Sometimes things are so simple we overlook them in favor of what has always been done.