Solid Aluminium

[Gadget-UK]

Was given a section of solid aluminium bar this past week and made these

Learned a few things along the way but enjoyed the experience.
Have a section of solid copper and brass to try next 🫣

 

[alan morrison]

Good job. How did you finish them?

 

[TVS]

Very nice well done made a few of them in me time you will find the copper is the hardest to turn on a wood lathe

 

[Gadget-UK]

Good job. How did you finish them?

Lots of Wet & Dry down to 1000 Grit then Aircraft Grade Aluminium Paste then a final topping off with Autosol...
Lovely Shine and very few scratches to be seen

 

[Gadget-UK]

Very nice well done made a few of them in me time you will find the copper is the hardest to turn on a wood lathe

Had a play with some copper yesterday Woody, your right it is BUT got to have a try

 

[CraftyNick]

I normally give polished metal a coat of lacquer to keep the shine. Lovely looking pens.

 

[flexi]

Love the idea and the execution, really nice job, well done

 

[Paul-H]

Nice pens but just wait for your fingers to turn black, they do need a coat of lacquer to keep the shine and protect your fingers

 

[Gadget-UK]

Nice pens but just wait for your fingers to turn black, they do need a coat of lacquer to keep the shine and protect your fingers

Yes, they need something to seal them, these are just for me and I normally have dirty hands anyway so it wont notice LOL

 

[howsitwork?]

Apparently MILK is an excellent lubricant when turning Copper. No I have not tried it but an extremely experience model engineer I know has and another verified it recently to me.

How you cope with smell as it goes off afterwards was then hotly discussed. The general view bupeing it was no worse than “white suds “ coolant that has been left a few weeks , Again I dont know as I use coolant diluted with paraffin in my mill

 

[Curly]

Wood that be whole milk, 2% or skim?

Given that tallow, lard and other fats were commonly use for machining back in the day, whole milk with its cream in it would have been used too.

Gadget-UK do you remember what alloy the aluminium was?

Pete

 

[Gadget-UK]

Wood that be whole milk, 2% or skim?

Given that tallow, lard and other fats were commonly use for machining back in the day, whole milk with its cream in it would have been used too.

Gadget-UK do you remember what alloy the aluminium was?

Pete

No Idea Peter. Just a bar of Aluminium to me I am afraid.
No details with it

 

[howsitwork?]

Wood that be whole milk, 2% or skim?

Given that tallow, lard and other fats were commonly use for machining back in the day, whole milk with its cream in it would have been used too.

Gadget-UK do you remember what alloy the aluminium was?

Pete

Full fat I believe , or that’s what they used in the coffee afterwards they assured me.

probably best fir their health there were no scones around or they’d have tried cream ( or that’s what wives would be told anyway

 

[Phil Dart]

Ooh , I like those Colin, especially the chrome one.
I've never used metal for a kit pen body. All the advice about the need for lacquer - would not microcrystaline wax do the job? (asking for a friend)

 

[Bill Mooney]

They look spot on Colin. I’ve made a few and they look good with a gold kit. If you heat your copper then quench it in water it should soften it so it will work easier.

 

[Gadget-UK]

Ooh , I like those Colin, especially the chrome one.
I've never used metal for a kit pen body. All the advice about the need for lacquer - would not microcrystaline wax do the job? (asking for a friend)

Never thought of that Phil - I will give it a try

 

[Gadget-UK]

They look spot on Colin. I’ve made a few and they look good with a gold kit. If you heat your copper then quench it in water it should soften it so it will work easier.
View attachment 51122

They are a pair of stunners Bill
I do have two more sections of the Aluminium Bar left so I think Gold will be the next choice

Thank You