I bought some 1/8th inch plates from my local Iron Werks.
The super nice guy at the store cut the Al plates with a plasma,
One side is smooth and the opposing side is bit sharp. What can I use to smooth out the edges? I need round the ends too.
(https://i.imgur.com/BbXywcT.jpg)
The fastest way would be to use a Hand Held Electric Grinder .
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/d5QAAOSwFRpfsrD4/s-l400.jpg)
Slow but steady use a file .
Forever but really nice use a carbide infused sandpaper . and they make blocks you can buy
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcSbxt5oOU5wOA4OpSwch4x2OFxSmOE2VE38yXz9NZsB7SeRPbE)
Make your own and
Take a short piece of 2/4 and staple the sand paper to it and go to town .
Flat file for real bad shaping ,palm or belt sander to finish in your case.
Block sand if you don`t have a sander .
Push comes to Shove you can get a grinding bit /wheel to fit your drill motor and go to town .
While you're at it punch out a couple of Reel Spools Like Oldmanjoe does with his Drill for your Dam Reels...lol
Anuuder thang is to take it back to the place you got it plasma cut and they SHOULD oblige you if they are worth a crap.
imho
Thanks guys,
I am going to town with a light file for the edges.
The corner, hmm, no belt sander in my inventory but I have rotary tool, let's see if I can find an attachment for taking the corners off.
IF you try grinding stones , dunk them in oil first or they will clog up in a heart beat . Same with a steel burr. You can use candle wax also .
Quote from: oldmanjoe on February 18, 2021, 07:36:22 PM
IF you try grinding stones , dunk them in oil first or they will clog up in a heart beat . Same with a steel burr. You can use candle wax also .
wax it is, I just washed em in soap, they were used plates...
Quote from: Wompus Cat on February 18, 2021, 05:57:28 PM
Push comes to Shove you can get a grinding bit /wheel to fit your drill motor and go to town .
While you're at it punch out a couple of Reel Spools Like Oldmanjoe does with his Drill for your Dam Reels...lol
Anuuder thang is to take it back to the place you got it plasma cut and they SHOULD oblige you if they are worth a crap.
imho
The guy at the steel werks was bigger than moi, more than the burrs, I value my pretty .... ;-)
Ok, I am taking orders, side plates, spools, heck 2 speed gears anyone?
Aluminum clogs files pretty quickly so make sure you have a file cleaning brush (https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-sgvho9y4/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/413/1415/File_Cleaning_Brush__62548.1570196995.jpg?c=2). Regular wire brushes don't work the greatest removing stuck debris from file grooves. With aluminum you may even have to scratch it out with a utility knife blade. I would knock the rough burrs off first with a square steel edge and smooth it from there with various grits of paper. Aluminum & files don't play well together, know that going in.
A wire wheel on that grinder would work pretty well for cleaning it up. I'd use a regular grinding wheel to knock down the corners then the wire wheel.
I use a battery power file for most light jobs
One of these:
https://www.direct-powertools.co.uk/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=28930898&AccID=103701&PGFLngID=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIitLe8Lb57gIVWertCh1AvAh%5FEAQYBSABEgJNhPD%5FBwE
The belts clean up easily with a:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252682930352?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338624526&toolid=10001&customid=a7b8fc7111d6456bf38c7739512d4835
I save my good files (Nicholson) for the harder metals like stainless.
For filing aluminum or other soft materials, you can pre load the file with chalk. The kind sold for kids to draw on sidewalks works.
Charlie
Ideally a router with a bit designed for aluminum would give you a nice edge but it would probably be cost prohibitive. I'd probably hit it with a grinder first and finish with a file.
Sounds like a good time to invest in a belt sander. You'll find a million uses. They start at about fifty bucks.
I have done this alot,,, ;) just take some 180 sandpaper and hand sand the edges,,,,gloves help sometimes,,,,, ;D
Quote from: oc1 on February 21, 2021, 04:38:32 AM
Sounds like a good time to invest in a belt sander. You'll find a million uses. They start at about fifty bucks.
Steve & BELT SANDER : Same thing as Mill & Lathe to all others ... Jeff
There is hardly an space in my little ranch for a belt sander, I would love to have one, don't need much finger twisting to buy one, but absolutely no counter space to mount it :-(.
Also, I would have never realized that Alu will clog files etc. Those edges are sharp, I already sliced my little girly fingers.
I do have some sanding blocks with 100 grit,
I thought about using the COLD hard concrete in my drive way but it snowed again.
Cant remember where but I have seen a hand held belt sander that had a table mount. This might be something to search out.
Quote from: Gobi King on February 22, 2021, 01:25:16 PM
There is hardly an space in my little ranch for a belt sander, I would love to have one, don't need much finger twisting to buy one, but absolutely no counter space to mount it :-(.
Also, I would have never realized that Alu will clog files etc. Those edges are sharp, I already sliced my little girly fingers.
I do have some sanding blocks with 100 grit,
I thought about using the COLD hard concrete in my drive way but it snowed again.
The 100 is fine,,,,,, ;) that sharp edge knocks off quick,,,round the corners and get that girl some icecream or I'm getting mad,,,,,,,,, ;D
I went to town with a rasp
The alu plates were hard but I was able to knock them down
The rasp took a beating through:-)
Quote from: oldmanjoe on February 18, 2021, 07:36:22 PM
IF you try grinding stones , dunk them in oil first or they will clog up in a heart beat . Same with a steel burr. You can use candle wax also .
They make wheels for aluminum, flapper disks do a better job. I use a large medium file or flapper disks.