Window catch

[LouiseW]

Can anyone help please? Our boat is 15 years old. We have lost a few window catches and I am struggling to find replacements.  Can anyone help please? 

[WotEver]

Might these work with some modification? You'd need to grind off the rivet etc. 

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Sash-Window-Fitch-Fastener-Electro-Brass/p/229231?CAWELAID=120135120000001818&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=48753697171&CATCI=aud-305024815433:pla-303911974467&gclid=CjwKEAjws-LKBRDCk9v6_cnBgjISJAADkzXeyxvnWD4YISg3hyU70YvnD_I_peyFNOQlyRoWHRsRAxoChO_w_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[rusty69]

There was a similar one recently. May help(click) :-

 

 

Edited July 2, 2017 by rusty69

[DaveR]

Ah the Caldwells catch. No longer available I am afraid. I have been searching for a replacement myself for many months now but I have had no success. Have tried the catch from Screwfix/Wickes  but the dimensions are not good enough to allow the catch to reach the frame when bolted onto the glass. The windows are now old and I am thinking of replacement units - drastic but I am not aware of an alternative.

[WotEver]

2 minutes ago, DaveR said:

Ah the Caldwells catch. No longer available I am afraid.

Back to the suggestion from the other thread then, to take one to a small engineering shop and see if they could fabricate some. Might be worth having say 50 made and advertise them on eBay. 

[stegra]

36 minutes ago, WotEver said:

Back to the suggestion from the other thread then, to take one to a small engineering shop and see if they could fabricate some. Might be worth having say 50 made and advertise them on eBay. 

If anyone thinks this might be a viable enterprise, lost wax casting could be an option. When you realise just how much work goes into the process it seems to be a ridiculous suggestion. However, about 10 years ago I designed a novel rest-head for use in snooker. I used Devon Metalcrafts and paid around £4 per item at the time, ordering in batches of 50. Not sure what would be an achievable price to sell on at or whether there would be sufficient demand.

Sand casting could be another option as the faces that need to be smooth could easily be flattened on a grinder, leaving a rough finish only in the cup. This should be cheaper for very short runs as the original forms the mould for each casting rather than having a master mould made and casting wax facsimiles.

[LouiseW]

Thanks for all the great & quick suggestions. Another question then, can anyone recommend an engineering company that might be able to make replicas for me please

?  

[WotEver]

I wonder if plastic would be a strong enough material?  If so, they'd be the perfect candidate for 3D printing...

[Nightwatch]

Caldwells will send a couple if you ask nicely.

[rusty69]

4 minutes ago, Nightwatch said:

Caldwells will send a couple if you ask nicely.

DaveR (above) couldn't have asked nicely enough then

[LouiseW]

Thanks,  I will be as nice as I can be! Fingers crossed for Caldwells