Bronze shackles

[redbopeep]

We've got a mix of bronze and galvanized shackles. I'd like to replace the galvanized with bronze if possible. Most are just slightly larger than anything I'm finding online. I spoke with Pete at Port Townsend Foundry who says they have quite a few patterns for larger bronze shackles. But, I wonder if there's not a source out there that I'm missing?

2.5" and larger lengths, 1/2" and larger pins,

[Kaa]

Try talking to Classic Marine (http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/) -- they seem to have a handle on a large variety of bronze hardware.

Kaa

[kc8pql]

Toplicht has them.
http://www.toplicht.de/product/l11193

http://www.toplicht.de/thumbs/tbn_1610006.JPG

[redbopeep]

Toplicht has them.
http://www.toplicht.de/product/l11193

http://www.toplicht.de/thumbs/tbn_1610006.JPG

Do you speak German? I wish I did! There's a lot of stuff that I find by accident on their site but can't find anything on purpose. Unfortunately, that page you linked to has too small of shackles. The LARGEST one they've go there is 11 mm pin (at 25.4 mm/in that's .43") and I need something more like 13 mm. Also length (their dimension H) is a bit too short on the largest one on that page.

That's the thing, almost big enough but no cigar everywhere I look!

I'm beginning to think we're either going to pay lots for ones cast at Port Townsend or just use galvanized (like the larger ones at Classic Marine) to replace the ones that are galvanized and in bad shape.

Thanks for your help.

[kc8pql]

Do you speak German?

Not enough that a German would understand, learned by an uninterested high school kid 40 plus years ago. ;) They do have a lot of good stuff though. I order their paper catalog every year. It's in German too but it has an English index that makes it a lot easier to find what you're looking for. English emails and phone calls are no problem for them either.

[Jay Greer]

J.M. Reinek & Son make superb Herreshoff Style shackles that have a fatter section in the area of most wear.
http://www.bronzeblocks.com/
Jay

[redbopeep]

J.M. Reinek & Son make superb Herreshoff Style shackles that have a fatter section in the area of most wear.
http://www.bronzeblocks.com/
Jay

Their largest one has the 7/16" pin. I could use that barely for the ones that want a 1/2" pin. I don't really understand what people do who have need larger things.

Some of the ones we have are a bit rough cast, I wonder if I should just go down to the local Foundry with patterns for what I need...I have a friend who's in materials testing at University of South Carolina, maybe I could cast a few bow shackles in aluminum bronze, get him to do a few tests for strength...and if it works out, I'll have patterns for the future. Those ones that are the on the small end of the right size are like $54+ shipping each...might be worth my time to do this.

[Jay Greer]

Well Pete,
That is basically what we have always done. Pete Langley at the Port Townsend foundry bought all of my patterns when I closed my shop in S. CA. Pete has darned near every pattern one could imagine or not, for that matter, that would suffice the needs of a traditional wooden boat builder. J.M. Reinek is in current production of shackles as I mentioned. While the price is high, due to current material costs and those of specialised foundry work, the quality of both dealers is right on.
Jay