NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Dream Choice of Sextant
From: Robert Eno
Date: 2005 Aug 11, 11:52 -0400
From: Robert Eno
Date: 2005 Aug 11, 11:52 -0400
You guys are a bunch of wet blankets!!!!
You're all probably right but damn it, let me have
my fantasy. Besides, I believe that the original thread indicated that
money is no object.
Ok. How about a sextant made from titanium???
Now that is a fantasy worthy of speculation!
Nice to hear from you Bruce. It reminds me that I
have not done a lunar in two years. I'd best get moving on it but first I have
to get my boat engine functioning again.....
cheers,
Robert
----- Original Message -----From: Bruce StarkSent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 4:49 PMSubject: Re: Dream Choice of SextantI believe there's yet another reason stainless steel isn't used for sextant frames. 316 stainless is a poor conductor of heat. For that reason it would probably warp in the sun as parts of the frame warmed and other parts remained cold. You can heat a section of 1/2 inch rod cherry red and make a bend holding the rod in your bare hands only inches from the bend.
Someone has already pointed out that 316 stainless would be a poor choice of material for sextant manufacture because of the difficulty of working it. It "work hardens," so it's not easy to remove small amounts. Try filing it and it soon becomes harder than the file. Interestingly, heating it red hot and plunging it into cold water anneals it. Just the opposite of the effect you'd get with carbon steel.
Bruce
