Kendall Cty: 'Hope Floats' | SavageSun4x4 | SavageSun Engineering

Hope Floats - 7

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 19:09:15 -0500

All work being done we go final with paint. We painted it a deep Candy Apple Red, 3 full coats for depth of color and EYE-POPPING appearance. I used 10 full gallons of Beher paint with primer on the float. The hope that the float will not need paint for the next 10 years or so.

With the float finalized and ready, its was time for Prime Time on the parade circuit. So with a great deal of fanfare from our goats who spent much time under the float as Sally and I worked on it we hooked up and headed to the Boerne Labor Day Parade.

Toni Anne Dashiell and Sally Pryor giving adjustments for the flags as we decorate the float for the Labor Day Parade

Lined up and ready to go

Sally and Don Pryor

Toni Anne Dashiell, the Kendall County Republican Chairman gives her approval

I would like to say thanks to all the folks that provided support for this project. I would especially like to thank Toni Anne Dashiell whose guidance and encouragement for Sally and I was a major contribution in bringing this to fruition.

Hope Floats - 6

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:48:39 -0500

All but finished, I have got the cage primered, skinned in CSX exterior plywood, mounts for the GOP elephant, Sally is working on giving ole GOP a 3rd coat of paint and then a coat of clear coat to seal it. It will really pop!

Knowing that on parade day no one will have large enough wrench to bolt down the elephant, I tack welded the washer and nut to one of the supports

Keeping with the NO TOOLS theme, I then welded a hand tighten device on the bolt head. For a TOOL LESS install

This is the side and if you will note up on top are the 2 vertical supports for the elephant, the plywood connecting them is my template for where they need to be welding on top of the cage

Front and side view

Rear view and my helper 'Mopsey' who like to help me out as I work on the float. Its completely skinned and now we can just staple to plywood, any signs or what ever, remove and then staple something different for the next parade. Its my intention to PAINT this and the entire float when 'Ronnie' and her husband finish the sides. I will paint in elephant RED, unless Toni Anne wants a different color.

Hope Floats - 5

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 16:24:38 -0500

Well we are getting down to the finish line so to speak. I have shot the frame with primer and have skinned it with 17/32 nds CDX plywood. which is an outdoor/exterior grade plywood. By skinning the frame we can now add signs, banners etc just with a staple gun, remove them and save them for later. The plywood skin is held on with 5 ⅜'s bolts.

The GOP elephant is held on by a welded support on each leg. This support is welded to the frame and then a ½ bolt is passed thru the leg and the support. This allows the elephant to be removed and stored. One man can install and remove the elephant. As a 'trick' of keeping from losing parts I tack welded the washer and nut to the support, as they are easier to lose than the longer ½ bolt.

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Hope Floats - 4

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:33:39 -0500

Finally a day the wind is not blowing at near tornado speeds, I am sure Tom and ToniAnn can identify as they live on top of a hill like do. So at 0645 this am I started burning steel and what I got accomplished is getting the 8, flag pole holders welded in. If you note the two forward holders for the Texas and US flags are 6 in taller and at a slight angle, thought it would look a bit better like that.

Left to do are mounting the GOP elephant, again more welding. Maybe later today I will give it another shot, till then here are some pics for your viewing pleasure...

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Hope Floats - 3

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 17:17:29 -0500

Cage is coming together or coming apart depending upon your view. Its cleaned up, top cut off and getting prepped for flags and the elephant.

Look at the right hand side in the pic and you will the flag holder in the corner and a banana (flagpole) sticking out of it. The flagpole will stick up 5 feet over the top of the cage. This gives 3 feet for the height of the flag, an additional 2 feet for the drape and 3 feet inside the flag support. Of course this can be adjusted (up/down) based upon best practices in use.

Here you can see the flag holder (not welded in yet) and the flagpole.

Finally you can see the bottom of the flag holder, its .120 wall square steel stock to match the cage. I am using a tape measure as a pointer.

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Hope Floats - 2

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:52:15 -0500

Today working on getting the frame cleaned up and ready for a plywood skin.

Sparks are flying

When I cut off the top frame grid this is where the GOP will be mounted.

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