Aluminum T-Bar Hatch Trim

[Hat52MY]

We have replaced some carpet with Amtico flooring. The Carpet was hiding some hatches that now need to be trimmed. We have the aluminum T-BAR to trim out the hatches. My question, does anyone have any tips/tricks to make the radius bends preventing the inner part of the T-Bar from wrinkling? Any insights, tips, and/or tricks would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[JuiceClark]

Same thing is happening here. I'll be looking forward to any helpful tips! I'm also curious if anyone did it in a better looking or fancier way than the plain aluminum.

I'm also happy to find all these new access points to blow air conditioned air down into the ER when I'm working in it.

 

[dottieshusband]

Mine were cut and mitered.

 

[Hat52MY]

Surly someone has some good insights and trick on how best to tackle this project….

 

[JuiceClark]

Surly someone has some good insights and trick on how best to tackle this project….

I even looked on Google Images for "hatch trim" to try to get some better looking ideas. It's really going to be awful to spend the time putting in a lovely teak and holly floor, with 10 coats on it, and have metal Taco T-molding around the hatches.

I found Lonseal makes a brown, plastic molding. Had you considered that instead of the metal? But it doesn't appear different than what you'd find at Lowe's or HD. https://ameriteakstore.com/products/t-trim-in-6-ft-lengths-to-finish-edges-where-needed

The problem with the 'plywood edge T molding' you can buy at Home Depot or anywhere is it would look crummy with rounded corners...unless maybe you can heat it up and bend it around the corner. You have to have a hard 90 degree corner on the hatch and miter cut it nicely. Several of my hatches have rounded corners and I'll have to figure something out that looks decent.

 

[dsharp]

TACO marine may have the dies to bend the T Molding. There’s no do it yourself way to put a radius in the mounding that I’m aware of. It’s pretty damn hard after it’s been extruded

 

[Hat52MY]

@JUICECLARK: For me, half the boat already has flooring with the t-bar hatches. The t-bar is extremely durable and has survived the test of time. I agree, the wood trim would be better aesthetically, but I’m not sure it would be as durable and I want to avoid redoing existing hatches.

@DSHARP: Researching local metal shops that would be able to make quick work of the radius bends. Thank you for the idea!

 

[Jammin']

The only way I can think of is with shrinker/stretchers, but they leave tool marks on the surface and there's only so much shrinking and stretching that can be done, depending on the malleability of the metal, so a tight radius can be a problem. It's also very fiddly.

https://youtu.be/YjGBZhGwxwg

 

[JuiceClark]

@JUICECLARK: For me, half the boat already has flooring with the t-bar hatches. The t-bar is extremely durable and has survived the test of time. I agree, the wood trim would be better aesthetically, but I’m not sure it would be as durable and I want to avoid redoing existing hatches.

@DSHARP: Researching local metal shops that would be able to make quick work of the radius bends. Thank you for the idea!

Yeah, wood would get smashed. I was hoping those rubbery plastic ones would be alright if it matched the color pretty closely.

I used to own one of those things that bends stainless railing pipe. That would do the job. I guess I'll go to the machine shop, too. There's one close which makes balcony railing n such. If it doesn't look right, I can always spray paint the metal and put a couple coats of clear on it.