Hello! This is an exploratory question, please redirect me to a more appropriate subreddit if it doesn't belong here.

I am trying to do something odd: take a thin sheet of aluminum (think beer can) and put a rolled edge on it (something you could thread a steel wire through, between 1 and 2mm in diameter. The tricky part is, I'd like to give a slight curve to the sheet at the same time -- so that the "tubular" or rolled edge follows a circumference of a larger circle.

If my aluminum sheet is 3" wide and 8" long, I'd like it to curve so it would sit flush on a circle about 24" in diameter (all the while having that rolled edge where I can thread a wire through).

It's for an one-off art project. I'd need to make a few dozen of these, probably no more than 50. Ideally I'd rig something up so it's a repeatable process, manual but somewhat automated.

I thought one approach could be by stamping it with progressively different die/punch combos (something 3d-printed could work for metal that thin), but what has my noodle cooking is how to both roll that tubular edge AND put a curve in it at the same time. It seems like the metal would not want to do that without kinking.

Let me know your thoughts on this, any ideas are appreciated!

Any way I could clean this up without damaging it? Any help is appreciated

Hi everyone!

I’m planning to create custom buttons for a project (clothes), and I’m trying to figure out the best metal to use. I want something that balances durability, ease of customization, and cost, while also being safe for fabrics (i.e., won’t stain or rust).

I’ve been researching different metals, and here are the ones I’m considering: brass, copper, aluminium, pewter.

I’d love to hear your experiences or recommendations! Any tips for working with these materials would also be greatly appreciated. I am looking to make a small amount of those buttons right now but I might be interested in producing more in future.

Thanks in advance for your advice! 😊

https://preview.redd.it/w2k5z2lj2i4e1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=143b6a6a9ed50c85285075fefd9fa12a4b3def48

I'm not sure if this is allowed, but I'm having a hard time finding metalworking for silly little projects in my area. All the places I have asked just make parts for machines or cars. I'm trying to make the ghost armor headband from ghost of tsushima for my father as a gift for him. I tried doing it with fabric and binding, but it still didn't look right. I'm wondering if anyone would be willing to make the three pieces?

I am looking into bluing some small steel parts (the hour markers) that will go onto a watch dial.

I have a heat plate that can go up to 800F. Would it be feasible to just lay the steel parts on there at the correct temp and wait till they turn blue? I have also seen people bluing with heat with brass shavings and not quite sure why. Is that necessary?

For the actual making of the parts, I would be looking to find super thin steel sheet which I would chemically mill out the pieces. Is there a specific steel that I should look for or even avoid?

Hi, I'm a Paraguayan architect and I have some questions about metal glue, because I'm goin to install 2 big metal garage doors with a metal sheet on the back and the clients doubt is about how much noise will the metal sheet make. Also the client doesn't want any ridges, welding of screws. That's why I was thinking about metal glue but I never used it before. Any kind of help is welcome, thanks!

This is design of the garage door.

Still needing to cut this angled radius to seat on 2” frame. The taper keeps falling out as it doesn’t like side load. Cleaned and reseated. Keeps happening. Threadlock seems like a hack fix but I need this out today. Killed one hole saw on stainless, at least only a 8 mild cuts left.

Need a jig to cut 2” and 4” pastry squares made of chocolate or whipped cream. This is for my neighbors catering business. So far the process has been to measure with a ruler and cut manually, but it is too slow. Commercial machines are not an option due to space and cost. The design I had in mind was a simple metal tray frame with the middle only having stainless steel wires strung across the middle at 2” or 4” for cutting food items.

Where would you recommend I go locally or online have this made.

Is the "robocop" finish on metal possible irl?

His body metal is obviously painted in the movies, so I'm wondering if there is any way to get that slight purplish finish on ti or steel without the intense rainbow" effect or paint. Not like that ridiculous finish you see on gas station knives and such, but like the image provided. Annodizing or heat treating perhaps? Wasn't lettingme post this so I had to edit this.

https://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2020/09/robocop.jpg

Newbie/non-welder here.

I would like to figure out how to weld two different size stainless steel wire (.9mm and 1.6mm) together.

I am looking to do similar to what Robin Wight is doing at about the 40 second mark on this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M05OicqsKM&list=PLziuS8DWCpjU7QFuM6wRH5C1R37aqb6OC&index=5

In the video Robin says he modified a capacitive discharge welder originally used for making thermocouples, but i have no idea how to build something like that. Hoping there's someone on here that could point me in the right direction for something similar or what to buy to build this welder setup that he has.

im doing a press lever to extrude food trhought a nozzle. but i cant make a perpendicular motion, the lever goes onward but not strigh.

these are the parts

https://preview.redd.it/0xumqp9iya4e1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=33d228f4d7525ddbb672939678efe25583e5ee92

this is how they work for now in several configurations

https://reddit.com/link/1h4dq1h/video/3puu42zqya4e1/player

https://reddit.com/link/1h4dq1h/video/q763c2zqya4e1/player

https://reddit.com/link/1h4dq1h/video/yv0y43zqya4e1/player

i want this motion

https://preview.redd.it/w64knga5za4e1.png?width=1162&format=png&auto=webp&s=0bc005eb7f3ebcc6578bf8f2955f9899c5e729fe

i left this template to share ideas

https://preview.redd.it/t60o0l3bza4e1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e2b5d41c0203abc750af9f6e9a2a41fbdaac55ed

So I know I can etch by just holding the cotton, Paul we're felt in the alligator clips. What is advantage to having electrode (brass,graphite,etc)? The only thing I can think is to help with the longevity of the alligator clips. Not sure if the extra step are worth it for minimal etching.

I degreased, polished as best I could. Degreased & then bathed in Acetone. I had previously tried to bake it in an oven at over 500* but let it cool & then blowtorched. Assume I shouldn’t have baked in the oven? Looks a bit of a mess. Anything I can do to salvage it other than paint?

Hi, i left my coffee grinder fall and the cup doesnt fit anymore. I dont want to scratch the outside. How do I bend it back to a circle shape? I have a knipex parallel plier, a lot of bike tools, some classic pliers, some screws extractor bits and a nice coffee machine.

Help please

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Hi Everyone, I am just posting this to ask for advice on what to use on this table.

My grandparents have been restoring this beautiful cooper table and they are looking for a sealant to put over the table. we were looking to use everbrite or johnsons miniwax but we are skeptical as they are either extremely expensive or hard to get in australia. if someone would be able to share any thoughts on what to seal this beautiful table with I would appreciate it.

Hi, gang!

I'm trying to figure out the best way to paint my aluminum surface in the salt air environment.

Initially I used this method:

1. Alumiprep 33

2. Alodine (Bonderite 1201)

3. Wash primer

However, I noticed that after some time the wash primer layer began flaking off.  

So I'm thinking about using alternate way to prime:

1. 99% Alcohol cleaning

2. a coat of Self-etching primer

3. a coat of Sherwin Williams High Solids Corrosion Resistant Epoxy Primer CM0483928.

Can anyone point me the right way? This seems like an easy topic, but the more I research, the more I'm confused about this topic.