challenger
Stainless
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2003
- Location
- Hampstead, NC-S.E. Coast
I am trying to improve the performance of the clay tennis court in my neighborhood. Myself and another guy are about the only people that maintain the courts and they do not get much play. There is no $ to get the courts "renovated" which involves removing the clay and putting all new clay down. The courts are 12-13 years old and the "Har-Tru" clay (which I am fairly sure is mainly Bentonite clay) get so compact that it performs like a membrane and does not allow the sub-surface watering system to work properly nor does it allow rain to soak down through into the base material. I have been racking my brain over the last couple of years and trying methods to make the clay permeable with no success. I recently decided to use a commercial type edger and make 1/2-3/4" slots from front to rear on the courts and then come back with a new top dressing of clay. I was able to get one of the 2 courts done but had to make my own blades from flat bar and they wore out way too fast. I used 6" X 2" X 1/8" flat bar and used a couple of variations of bent/slit ends to get the wide kerf but I'd like to not have to use up 6 blades on the second court. I was wondering if I could use some carbide inserts I have laying around (I am a hobbyist and use HS steel cutters) and braze or solder them to a steel blade. I don't have any experience in doing this. I did some research and found a lot of confusing information about exactly how carbide is attached to tool bits. Is it soldering or brazing & whatever it is can someone tell me what I need to do it. I read that the inserts would be OK if the coating is taken off which is easy to do with a diamond "wet stone'. I made another blade that I TIG welded 2 more pieces of 1/8" X 3/8" X 1" to each end figuring I would use it like it is and this would give me a 5/8" kerf but now I am wondering if I can use this thickened face for the carbide inserts to mount to. The additional pieces of steel are welded to each end of the blade in a vertical manner so the leading edge has a good 1-1-1/4" worth of wear available..
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping I can use the TIG welder to provide the heat for whatever operation that is appropriate for affixing carbide to steel. I know that a torch is generally used for heating but my torch kit is acting up and the TIG unit is fine and more available.
Thanks
Howard
Hampstead, NC
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping I can use the TIG welder to provide the heat for whatever operation that is appropriate for affixing carbide to steel. I know that a torch is generally used for heating but my torch kit is acting up and the TIG unit is fine and more available.
Thanks
Howard
Hampstead, NC