Aluminum Mast Tapering

[Brian Duff]

hey riggas

so i have never cut a mast taper on an aluminum mast before, nor has my welder. the day always comes to expand horizons....

In order to learn the process (and to get a faster spar for my little wooden penguin) I have bought a DM-1 section and my welder and I are going to learn the process. I have spoken with a couple riggers I worked with in the past, and have been instructed to simply cut a straight sided wedge out of the front side of the mast, squeeze it shut, clamp something that will stay straight to the back edge and weld the thing up.

Anyone here have any advice?

while I am eager to learn the process , i would rather not trash a $200 extrusion through some stupid mistake.

thanks fellaz