Pattern Making
Other than choosing us to do your windows, this is probably the
most important thing you will do in the ordering of windows for
your craft. Time and effort should be taken during this exercise
as the windows will only fit as good as the patterns supplied to
us.
Use a stiff paper or cardboard (if overseas) or 3mm ply / MDF if
local. Make sure the edges of the patterns are straight and true.
Cut the patterns so that they fit the hole with clearance allowed
to all sides. The pattern should have 1.5 to 2mm clearance to all
sides if the boat is ally, wood or fiberglass. If you are working
with steel, allow 2 or even 3mm to all sides, to avoid contact between
the ally frame the the steel. The part of the aluminium window that
goes into the boat is what we call our 'Box Size' or sometimes in
the trade its refered to as the spigot size of the window. This
is the size that patterns should be made to.
You allow the clearance and mark all patterns with, "this is your
exact Box Size" clearances have been allowed. The patterns should
also have as much information as possible, ie: whether the markings
are on the inside or outside, Port or Starboard location, glass
type, window type (fixed, slider etc etc). The more the better is
the ticket and please don't forget to put your name on them, you'd
be surprised how many patterns that turn up with no markings and
people say, "but I only spoke to you the the other day???" Hey,
we talk to many people all day long and sometimes we forget who
said what, mark the patterns clearly and all will go smoothly.
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