Hi,
I enjoy new challenges and trying out ideas I dream up so here's another unusual project which came off successfully.
I had cut 45 cast iron gears/wheels for an AVO coil winder I had fully restored from scrap and needed somewhere to store them safely; change wheels have a habit of getting lost as was the case here.
I designed and made the new hardwood box for the gears the box being comb jointed at its corners and having turned feet; the box was then stained and french polished. With so much work having been carried out now I had a box of change wheels without identification so as I like brass nameplates I thought I'd have a go at making a new nameplate.
I've never seen this done before so found it most interesting and if it didn't work I would only lose a bit of brass sheet but gain a lot of useful experience so whatever happened it would never be a complete failure.
I printed the details out then glued the letters as cutting templates onto sheet brass I had kicking around; A fretsaw fitted with piercing saw fine tooth blade was then used to cut each letter out after firstly drilling an entrance hole as needed for the blade to be inserted.
It proved to be a slow tedious job as I cut out each letter but I've got plenty of patience and determination; the letters each in turn were fettled using fine files. At this stage the letters looked quite poor but then each in turn was glued onto a blank backing piece of brass and the glue allowed to dry. Edge strips were also cut and after fettling were glued to form a neat border.
I didn't use undercoat but sprayed with a rattle can of auto black gloss lacquer completely covering the letters and backing plate; I had removed the paper templates so now there was just the brass letters with their backing all painted black. The paint was allowed to dry overnight then a sheet of 240 grit abrasive paper was placed on a machine cast iron bed and the plate gently rubbed upon the abrasive paper until all paint and blemishes were removed from the face of the letters; WOW it worked a treat then the new nameplate was blown over with clear acrylic lacquer.
Had undercoat been sprayed in first then after rubbing on the abrasive paper there would have been a fine line of undercoat around the letters edge which was to be avoided.
As with many such projects I attempt more thought goes into the project than actual work; coming up with ideas is the hardest part but now the idea is seen to work it looks so easy?
I sold the AVO Wave Winder a few years ago to a guy who would use it to wind vintage radio coils; I restored the winder just for the fun of it and for my efforts was honoured in 2009 with best restoration award; I much prefer to come up with my own ideas than to simply copy; I enjoy the challenges this creates.
Just another of my stories; hope its of interest.
Kind regards, Colin.
Homemade cast iron gears in home made hardwood box fully french polished.
Very basic cutting method; please note most important item; the mug of hot tea.
The back of the AVO badge as just cut with the saw looking a bit rough.
Arranging spacing before cutting out the brass backing piece.
Getting there with everything now glued into position still looking quite rough.
Just an idea put into practice; it's nice when things turn out like this.
The finish of what was a difficult and highly complicated project. I doubt the new change wheels will be separated and lost in future from the winder. Without doubt the most difficult part was in cutting the many change wheels but this is another story of its own because I dreamt up a new method of indexing which worked a treat and is accredited to me. I love this kind of work.
I enjoy new challenges and trying out ideas I dream up so here's another unusual project which came off successfully.
I had cut 45 cast iron gears/wheels for an AVO coil winder I had fully restored from scrap and needed somewhere to store them safely; change wheels have a habit of getting lost as was the case here.
I designed and made the new hardwood box for the gears the box being comb jointed at its corners and having turned feet; the box was then stained and french polished. With so much work having been carried out now I had a box of change wheels without identification so as I like brass nameplates I thought I'd have a go at making a new nameplate.
I've never seen this done before so found it most interesting and if it didn't work I would only lose a bit of brass sheet but gain a lot of useful experience so whatever happened it would never be a complete failure.
I printed the details out then glued the letters as cutting templates onto sheet brass I had kicking around; A fretsaw fitted with piercing saw fine tooth blade was then used to cut each letter out after firstly drilling an entrance hole as needed for the blade to be inserted.
It proved to be a slow tedious job as I cut out each letter but I've got plenty of patience and determination; the letters each in turn were fettled using fine files. At this stage the letters looked quite poor but then each in turn was glued onto a blank backing piece of brass and the glue allowed to dry. Edge strips were also cut and after fettling were glued to form a neat border.
I didn't use undercoat but sprayed with a rattle can of auto black gloss lacquer completely covering the letters and backing plate; I had removed the paper templates so now there was just the brass letters with their backing all painted black. The paint was allowed to dry overnight then a sheet of 240 grit abrasive paper was placed on a machine cast iron bed and the plate gently rubbed upon the abrasive paper until all paint and blemishes were removed from the face of the letters; WOW it worked a treat then the new nameplate was blown over with clear acrylic lacquer.
Had undercoat been sprayed in first then after rubbing on the abrasive paper there would have been a fine line of undercoat around the letters edge which was to be avoided.
As with many such projects I attempt more thought goes into the project than actual work; coming up with ideas is the hardest part but now the idea is seen to work it looks so easy?
I sold the AVO Wave Winder a few years ago to a guy who would use it to wind vintage radio coils; I restored the winder just for the fun of it and for my efforts was honoured in 2009 with best restoration award; I much prefer to come up with my own ideas than to simply copy; I enjoy the challenges this creates.
Just another of my stories; hope its of interest.
Kind regards, Colin.
Homemade cast iron gears in home made hardwood box fully french polished.
Very basic cutting method; please note most important item; the mug of hot tea.
The back of the AVO badge as just cut with the saw looking a bit rough.
Arranging spacing before cutting out the brass backing piece.
Getting there with everything now glued into position still looking quite rough.
Just an idea put into practice; it's nice when things turn out like this.
The finish of what was a difficult and highly complicated project. I doubt the new change wheels will be separated and lost in future from the winder. Without doubt the most difficult part was in cutting the many change wheels but this is another story of its own because I dreamt up a new method of indexing which worked a treat and is accredited to me. I love this kind of work.