Marine Fabricator July/August 2019 - 33

STEEL

ALUMINUM

D

ifferent fabrication projects call for different metals, usually
a choice between steel and aluminum (and sometimes

a combination). Sometimes the right metal is obvious, and
sometimes not.
"As hurricanes and other disasters increase so do the
building requirements," says Edward Skrzynski, owner of Marco
Canvas & Upholstery LLC, in Marco Island, Fla. "Whereas two
years ago we were building with aluminum to 140 mph wind
codes, we now must build to 190 mph codes. Many times, aluminum simply won't have the cross structural integrity to meet
such pressures and you must move to steel."
The issue, he says, is that steel corrodes and is much heavier. "So that means lots of metal prep, epoxy coatings, etc. to
mitigate corrosion and heavy equipment to move materials,"
he says.
"Aluminum is much easier to work with," adds Skrzynski, "but
you have to be a bit more skilled on welds or you burn through,
or don't have enough heat and have a cold weld that looks
pretty but doesn't bond the pieces."
Part of the need for more skill with aluminum is that most
marine aluminum is anodized, says Skrzynski. "Anodize has a
higher melt rate than the aluminum and creates a barrier for
the electric arc to find ground," he explains. "A few tricks of the
trade and you can do it effectively. Most people use a bump
weld process and then fill weld over all for a final stack-of-dimes
look of weld beads."
There is stainless steel as well. Stainless is more malleable
and tungsten inert gas (TIG) welds well, says Skrzynski, but he
adds that while it may appear on yachts and other boats, the
cost and limited sizes of stocked stainless steel limits its use on

much welding and work involved in it, I
have priced myself out of a lot of jobs,"
he explains. "My party tops will hold
up in 100-mile-per-hour winds, but it's
hard to compete with those who are
putting up lightweight stuff."

other shade systems.
Edward Skrzynski, owner of Marco Canvas & Upholstery LLC, says
different projects call for different metals-usually a choice between
steel and aluminum. He says aluminum is easier to work with but
requires more welding skills. Photo: Marco Canvas & Upholstery LLC.

Technology drives capabilities
Technology is one of the drivers that has
helped advance the design and capabilities of metal frameworks.
"There are still folks around who
are doing hand sketches of their awnings," says Steve Moyer, co-owner of
Heartland Awning & Design in Omaha,
Neb. "Since our beginning we've tried
to cater to the design and building professionals using current technology to
illustrate our designs. We started using
CAD years ago to submit information to architects and designers, which
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Marine Fabricator July/August 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Marine Fabricator July/August 2019

Marine Fabricator July/August 2019 - Cover1
Marine Fabricator July/August 2019 - Cover2
Marine Fabricator July/August 2019 - 1
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Marine Fabricator July/August 2019 - Cover3
Marine Fabricator July/August 2019 - Cover4
Marine Fabricator July/August 2019 - Expo Brochure 1
Marine Fabricator July/August 2019 - Blank1
Marine Fabricator July/August 2019 - Expo Brochure 2
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Marine Fabricator July/August 2019 - 63
Marine Fabricator July/August 2019 - Blank2
Marine Fabricator July/August 2019 - MFA Workshops 1
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Marine Fabricator July/August 2019 - MFA Workshops 2
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