timber covered walkway

it all started about a year ago when Deb and I put in an expression of interest to do a public artwork. we were selected and then completed a design development stage.

one of the areas the council wanted to see some artwork in is this metal structure that covers a 60 meter long walkway.  

we had an idea to cover the walkway in sections with some reclaimed timber that was painted in sections. we did this drawing

and this photoshoped image to present our idea to the council. 

they liked our idea and gave us the commission. and now we are finally making it.

over the past month Deb and I had been busy cutting and painting and figuring out the order for the timbers.

we have also had a company roll these galv tubes for us to the correct curve for the artwork.

we then built a fabrication station in our workshop where we could fabricate the units.

here is deb setting up the second bent tube for install.

next we lay out the timber in the pre-planned pattern.

then using a cardboard template we mark where each hole will go.

here is deb using a punch to mark the hole position on the timber. we each work on one side of the bent tubes completing the same task for each bit of timber.

once the holes are marked we then drill the 4 holes in each timber.

then we head back to the structure and secure a u-bolt around the galv tube and through the timber, making one complete unit. 

then we tighten the bolts and add some loctite to keep the nuts secure. 

we transfer the unit to another professional stand made from a table on wheel and milk crates.

this allows us to line up the next set of timbers on the next unit to make sure everything is in the right place. 

once we are happy with the placement, we take the finished unit away on a trolley. the units weigh between 50 - 70 kg depending on the number of timber on each unit.

and this is the first batch of them complete. it took us roughly 4 days to fabricate all 36 units required for the 60 meter long walkway. they will be moved into a shipping container to be transported to site at the end of the month for install.
more on the project as it happens.