Today, we tackled the heavy duty legs (number 1, 4 and 7), each measuring 160mm by 80mm by 5.4metres tall and with a wall thickness is 8mm!! (Each weighs about 150 kg or 24 stones)
We managed to man handled them onto our large trolley and trundle it into our workshop, with half the length still sticking out the doors.
First-3-legs-on-trolley
We labelled each one with their number and then sliced off 10mm of number 4 leg to compensate for the concrete being slightly higher at that point. Next, we welded the 10mm thick bottom plates on the ends as shown in the picture below
Base-plates-welded-to-first-3-legs
Then we had to push the trolley out and make a 3 point turn to get the other ends into the workshop and weld the 10mm thick plates on the other end of the legs.
Top-plates-welded-to-first-3-legs
Next came the fiddly job of placing steel tabs sticking out half way up the legs to hold cross struts (between leg 1 and 2 plus leg 7 and 6) and a lintel (between leg 1 and leg 7). Leg 4 had also more steel tabs welded on all 4 faces of its leg (for tie down steel strips upon the 1st floor boards to anchor this leg).
Restraint-brackets-to-welded-first-3-legs
Finally, we painted the 3 legs with the rust proof primer under our painting tent outside in the dark. That those 3 leg done, now we have just the remaining 4 lighter duty legs to do and we will be all finished!