[TheForge] brainstorming and other thoughts on cutting sheet metal

[terry l. ridder]

hello mike;

while searching for jeweler saw blades on google i came across a wweb
page that lists wire saws and diamond impregnated wire blades.

http://www.covington-engineering.com/wire_saws.htm

these look interesting in that in theory they should cut in any
direction. no idea on the price.

picking up a used scroll saw is also an idea. even if i only
cannibalised it to build a treadle/pedal version. thank you for that
idea.

On Tue, 31 Dec 2002, Mike Linn wrote:

mike> 
mike> Rick Jay down in Florida sells copper and steel flower blanks that are hand 
mike> cut using plasma, Each are based on a pattern but being hand cut you get a 
mike> little variation between them. He can be reached at 850-722-1811
mike> 
mike> 
mike> I used to cut mine using hand snips, but I picked up an old scroll saw and 
mike> bought round blades (similar to rotozip bits) that cut in any direction. 
mike> This works well, but I need to put variable pulleys on the motor so I can 
mike> change speeds.
mike> 
mike> 
mike> mike
mike> 

At 11:12 AM 12/31/02 -0600, terrylr wrote:
terrylr> hello bob;
terrylr> 
terrylr> thank you for the carriage bolt & plywood suggestion.
terrylr> 
terrylr> jerry's rose kits are made from 18 gauge black sheet metal.
terrylr> i personally do not like the pattern design of the petal disks that
terrylr> jerry uses. i also want some 'difference' between the petal disks.
terrylr> laser cut petal disks, in my opinion, start to make the forged rose
terrylr> a 'commodity' item not an individually crafted item. again, the above
terrylr> are my opinions.
terrylr>
terrylr> 24 gauge black sheet metal is 1lb per square foot.
terrylr> 18 gauge black sheet metal is 2lbs per square foot.
terrylr> therefore, 18 gauge should be twice the thickness of 24 gauge black
terrylr> sheet metal.
terrylr>
terrylr> one comment i have received concerning the forged roses is how heavy
terrylr> they are. i used 24 gauge black sheet metal.
terrylr>
terrylr> there are two ways to decrease the weight of the forged roses.
terrylr> 0. use higher gauge black sheet metal.
terrylr>     25 gauge sheet metal is 14 oz. per sq. ft.
terrylr>     26 gauge sheet metal is 12 oz. per sq. ft.
terrylr>     27 gauge sheet metal is 11 oz. per sq. ft.
terrylr>     28 gauge sheet metal is 10 oz. per sq. ft.
terrylr>     29 gauge sheet metal is  9 oz. per sq. ft.
terrylr>     30 gauge sheet metal is  8 oz. per sq. ft.
terrylr> 1. make the forged rose smaller.
terrylr>     i have made three petal pattern sizes.
terrylr>     large, medium, and small.
terrylr>     medium is    half scale of the large.
terrylr>      small is quarter scale of the large.
terrylr>      large uses a 1/4  inch round stem.
terrylr>     medium uses a 3/16 inch round stem.
terrylr>      small uses a 1/8  inch round stem.
terrylr>
terrylr> solution 0 is doable with the provision that higher gauge black sheet
terrylr> metal is a special order in my location with in my opinion excessive
terrylr> minimum order rules. 30 gauge would probably be the highest gauge that
terrylr> would be useable.
terrylr>
terrylr> solution 1 is easier except there is a limit as to how small a forged
terrylr> rose may be. the quarter scale pattern would appear to be the limit for
terrylr> my ability to still be able to work it since the fine motor control of
terrylr> the left hand and arm is gone.
terrylr>
terrylr> combining the two solutions would be beneficial.
terrylr>

-- 
Terry L. Ridder ><>