World's BEST saddlebag mounts

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I ride a motorcycle and needed some extra luggage space for my trip. I got these fiberglass jobs from Japan called Tsukayu Strong Bags. They look great and fit the bike like factory. Problem is that they are made like crap. Flimsy and wiggly.There are only four mounting points on the brackets they provide and after a couple months the fiberglass was cracking in every direction starting from the mounting holes.I used 1/4 in scrap aluminum plate and sandwiched the bags by placing one plate inside the bag and one outside the bag. Bolted it up and WOW!! Those bags don't move. Problem solved. Ok. No welding was performed. But I did use the plasma cutter. Does that qualify?Cardboard Template:Proper Tool:Cut aluminumInside  of bagOutside of bagLast edited by Joker11; 04-08-2008 at 12:10 PM.Reason: Label PicturesLincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Now you can tell your wife that even though the plasma cutter costs a grand, it's paying for itself because now you don't need new bags!!!!!!Good thinking man!
Reply:I will have to sell a ton of these before the plasma pays for itself.... Shhhhhh My wife doesn't know anything.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Ok. No welding was performed. But I did use the plasma cutter. Does that qualify?
Reply:Aluminum rubs off?  WTF are you talking about?DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:sandy is probably talking about the black aluminum oxide that eventually tarnishes everything. Actually, I am waiting to get my trunk so I can make the trunk mount/luggage rack. Then all of it will get chromed. Not that I am a chrome junkie, but polishing aluminum is a boring task. And as you say....it rubs off on everything. I don't want my clothes getting all blacked up.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:And it doesn't stay polished.
Reply:Just a thought....have you ever seen that clear adhesive vinyl that is used on dirtbike number plates? It's thick! Slap some of that shtuff on those plates, cut to size and fuggit about it....It is fairly inexpensive and will protect the contents from aluminum smears.Yeah, yeah, I know you are a weldor too. But, are you a good one?
Reply:there's a product called sharkskin (or something like that) to put on aluminum after you polish it.  I think it's kinda like a clearcoatDewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools