Post by Bill aka Gramps on Jan 31, 2012 18:29:59 GMT -5
This is how I do it
I've always liked moon caps ( spun aluminum ) and back when I was a teen these were real popular. I saw an ad yrs ago for them but the guy wanted 6 bucks a set fer them so I said to heck with that I'll make my own. It's real simple ta do. You'll need some sheet aluminum ( I use pipe jacket covering cause I got it from the plant I worked at. It's bout .040 thick ) a file, a 5/8s hole punch, some sort of mandrel for a drill and some sandpaper ( 320 or 380 works good ) and a lubricant. I used ta use water soluble cutting oil but ran out, but real soapy water works or some lamp oil.
First ya need ta punch out some blanks. I use the end grain of a piece of hard wood ta punch on. Maple works real good. Then ya have ta flatten the backs out with a file.
For a mandrel I use an old slot car axle and rim.
Once the back is flat stick it on the mandrel with 2 or 3 dabs of CA.
Then run tha file over it ta smooth and even it out and move on to tha sandpaper and lube.
Once ya get it ta look the way ya want. Take a knife and pop it off. Wash it with some lacquer thinner and ya can clear it with lacquer if ya want.
It's just that easy and ya can make as many as ya want fer almost nothin.
I've always liked moon caps ( spun aluminum ) and back when I was a teen these were real popular. I saw an ad yrs ago for them but the guy wanted 6 bucks a set fer them so I said to heck with that I'll make my own. It's real simple ta do. You'll need some sheet aluminum ( I use pipe jacket covering cause I got it from the plant I worked at. It's bout .040 thick ) a file, a 5/8s hole punch, some sort of mandrel for a drill and some sandpaper ( 320 or 380 works good ) and a lubricant. I used ta use water soluble cutting oil but ran out, but real soapy water works or some lamp oil.
First ya need ta punch out some blanks. I use the end grain of a piece of hard wood ta punch on. Maple works real good. Then ya have ta flatten the backs out with a file.
For a mandrel I use an old slot car axle and rim.
Once the back is flat stick it on the mandrel with 2 or 3 dabs of CA.
Then run tha file over it ta smooth and even it out and move on to tha sandpaper and lube.
Once ya get it ta look the way ya want. Take a knife and pop it off. Wash it with some lacquer thinner and ya can clear it with lacquer if ya want.
It's just that easy and ya can make as many as ya want fer almost nothin.
