Something to geek out on...

[J!m]

Making a few remote flow control panels here and I just wasn't feeling the battleship gray spray paint.

Sort of throw back as you don't see this finish used often these days (other than watch movements). I thought some of the other geeks on here might appreciate my "hot rod" finish.

I'll post a photo of a completed one later today. (Clear coat is drying).

[Abdullah71601]

Very cool. Nice work.

[Pix]

Love swirled Steel/Aluminum...I do a lot of Polaroid transfers to metal.

[J!m]

Polaroid transfer??? I've never heard of that.

Can you still get color film for it? Last I knew only B&W for the microscope was available...

Looks cool!

[Pix]

Look up Impossible Project, they have a few different types, there is also fuji instant called Instax.

[J!m]

Update photos- leak checked and ready to rock!

[J!m]

And the back...

[TheRolexKingofLV]

I love the " turned machined" look

They came out great!

[Pix]

Hey Jim, is that aluminum ? What are you using for clear coat?

[J!m]

Yes it's aluminum. I used some rattle can clear acrylic. It's what we had lying around.

Went to build the other two and my other two-way valves are missing... not sure what's going on with that.

[J!m]

Here's the final product:

[james1787]

Love the finish! It's not too hard to make with a drill press and some scotchbrite. Here is a finish from a radio I built several years ago with an aluminum panel.

[Danny83]

Nice

[J!m]

That radio came out better than mine!

[james1787]

Originally Posted by J!m

That radio came out better than mine!

Thanks! Although I started getting a bit crooked at the bottom... but I'm happy with the results! I am a ham radio operator and one 'facet' of the hobby I enjoy is building radios using old circuit diagrams & parts. The receiver pictured will receive at around 3.5 mhz.

Tell me a bit more about your project. That is some nice handiwork you have there. What are your panels controlling the flow of?

[J!m]

They control argon flow to powder feeders. Currently the flowneters are on each feeder and you have to nanuslky swap the supply line in the booth.

Now you have the flow meter right in front of you and can swap feeders without disconnecting any lines.

[james1787]

Ahh, for welding. Very cool! Welding is something I have never tried (yet). I have a couple of friends with welders who know what they are doing and I haven't had the need to justify owning one (yet). Someday I would like to learn. I do solder though :)

Thanks for sharing!

[J!m]

Well, thermal spray, not welding. Sort of like painting with molten material. Metals, ceramics, carbides etc. main industry is aerospace. Our group focuses on Pratt military overhaul engines.

I do weld; however I do not claim to be a welder.

[james1787]

Originally Posted by J!m

Well, thermal spray, not welding. Sort of like painting with molten material. Metals, ceramics, carbides etc. main industry is aerospace. Our group focuses on Pratt military overhaul engines.

I do weld; however I do not claim to be a welder.

Oops, my bad.. I saw argon and immediately thought of welding. It sounds like some interesting tools (and now better looking with the swirled aluminum ) you get to work with!

[J!m]

well, it was intersting the first ten or so years. Lately it's a bit boring.

It is sort of like welding... We have a massive power supply capable of 1100 amps and 80 volts DC at 100% duty cycle. Basically a super-heated gas stream (actually hotter than the sun) has powdered feed stock injected into it which is accelerated and deposits on the surface.

Rebuild with similar materials, add carbide hard face to lightweight parts, corrosion resistance, anti-galling, abradable coatings for air seals on turbines etc.

I develop parameters, design tooling (and make it sometimes) etc. I used to write the robot programs as well but I've been out of that game long enough to know to leave it to the younger guys. When I worked for the OEM I was designing equipment (guns and feeders) as well.