[TheForge] Making dies for cutting sheet metal?

[David E. Smucker]

Bruce, Get some 16 gauge mild steel and take it to your friendly local body
shop and ask them to cut 1/4 wide strips using their plasma cutter.  Using a
straight edge as guide they can get very nice pieces.  Pay them and bring
them a case of Beer.

Dave Smucker
Brasstown, NC

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bruce .
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2014 8:22 AM
To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Making dies for cutting sheet metal?

> if you can't weld a stack you won't be able to use an abrasive saw, 
> the chatter will destroy the disk very quickly

Yeah, I'm going to have to cross that bridge when I come to it.  If I go
this route, I may do certain operations on a stack of plates, and others on
individual plates.  I think a lot of what destroys saw blades and grinding
wheels is the resonance of the objects being cut.  I figure that if I use a
slow device, like a jewelers saw, that might be greatly reduced.

Anyway, I've come up with an idea for a new and interesting way for forming
the complication on the end of each tine, and if the idea works I may be
able to go back to making the tines in one process and fabricating the combs
from the tines.

Now, does anyone know where to get 1/4" x 1/16" mild steel stock?  I find
nothing commercially less than 1/8" thick, and anything thinner is
high-priced specialty steel.  I might be able to make 1/4" x 1/8" work, but
it's not ideal.

Bruce
NJ
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