Sometimes I think that the whole boating industry is peddling a big dream. Those sun filled days on perfect seas. I have had lots of wonderful days. Just the weather and that pesky salt water that get in the way on some of the others! The “Seawork” exhibition in Southampton (this year 10/11/12 June) always [...]
At Sarum hydraulics, we have been using methacrylate structural adhesives for 30 years both for structural, thread locking and sealing applications with great success. Yes, we also use epoxies, UV curing adhesives and silicones, but methacrylates like Loctite 638 or thread lock 243 are a core process. Although there are other firms in the market [...]
If you need to pressure test, Sarum Hydraulics knows how to do it. We've condensed our knowledge into one easy guide, so you can test equipment easily and safely. Read on to make sure you're pressure testing correctly. 1. First thing is to get people to agree on pressure, fluid and "acceptance criteria". The specification [...]
I don’t think it is the first time that people have faced reality and realized that a massive proportion of their gas could be cut off. Despite a relatively mild winter in much of Europe, relatively high stocks plus the prospect of an alternative supply in the form of shale gas, there is no instant [...]
Over thirty years as a hydraulic designer and manufacturer, what processes have we found to be winners? 1. Thermal deburring. I can understand why some big OEM's insist on it. It is never an excuse not to deburr properly, but thermal deburring gives that extra comfort if used as it is meant. Make sure that [...]
The issue of shelf life You wouldn't buy sausages when the shelf life was just about to expire and expect them to be good three weeks later; so why do we do this with elastomeric seals and sealants? Why would any manufacturer buy materials that are nearly past their sell-by date when for the same [...]
Having been a fan of Mermaid Ford marine diesels for years then moving over to Yanmars on two different boats, I am a great fan. I think they are Japanese engineering at its finest. Whatever the benefits of common rail diesel engines, will a marine diesel stuffed with electronics really be as reliable as mechanical [...]
A Micropac pressure test or filling pump is a mighty useful tool. It inherently has a much greater fluid capability than most units as long as you keep a few pointers in mind. A Micropac is designed for a wide range of fluids. Our pumps cope with a massive range of viscosities because we use [...]
A hydrostatic pressure or proof test is a very blunt tool. Pressurise it up to a factor in excess of working pressure and check there is no leakage or deformation which would indicate design, manufacturing or safety issues. Unfortunately, our experience has been that a blast of high pressure is not the miracle tool if [...]
Having only been closed on average a few times a year since its commissioning in 1982, I read that the latest March closure was the 48th so far in 2014, very close to the recommended annual limit of 50. This certainly tells me something about flood risk. With the recent storm surges on tides in [...]
