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Mark Scrivener

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Does anyone know a source for sheet brass with a diamond plate pattern on it? I know I've seen this before, but searching the web I can't find anything. I'd prefer the free machining "360" alloy of brass if possible.


Alternatively, I guess I could "cut" a pattern into the brass, but this would only be an approximation, and would be quite time consuming.

Thanks,
Mark
 
#2 ·
Hi Mark,
Have you looked at the K&S (Special Shapes) #2782 and #2783 Small and Large Etched Diamond Plate.
Too thin to use structurally, so you would need to solder it to some thicker brass.
Also, only 6 3/4" x 1 1/4" of usable etch!
All the best,
David Leech, Delta, Canada
 
#5 ·
Mark;
Try Airconnection.com They are located up in Ontario Canada. It is a military model site but he has a large varity of etched diamond plate, grills, etc. You will have to search around the site to find it. A little difficult at times. I got some diamond etched plate from him of a 7/8ths project. Beautiful stuff.
Noel
 
#10 ·
Considering that this product is a specialized hobby item, I consider the price fair. The sheets I have are photo etched. While I am familiar with the process, I now have neither the access to the necessary equipment nor the inclination to do it myself even if I had. I'm just glad that now I know of two vendors that provide it.

Larry
 
#13 ·
Larry, unfortunately Special Shapes/K&S are in a bad period right now. All the lattice/deck plate products are marked "discontinued" on their web site. I've been trying to buy 1/4" and 1/8" brass angle for months, but there is none to be had at any local or on-line hobby shop. I fear for what it will mean for our hobby if they go under. It could be very, very serious.
 
#14 ·
Vance, have you checked McMaster-Carr? They carry K&S shapes in the brass section. Being a large outfit, they may still have what you need in stock. Also, Small Parts carries very small milled brass angle-beautiful stuff-, but I don't think it goes up to 1/4". Good Luck.

Another idea, check out this website out of your area, probably using different distributors--Mike's Hobbies. They are in Rutland VT and are great to do business with. That's where I go for K&S, Evergreen, Floquil, and all the other real modeling stuff.
Larry
 
#15 ·
K&S order just received for small brass bar stock was only 50% filled.

The others I was told have been out of stock for a LONG TIME.
 
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#16 ·
Mark:
Dangerously thinking out loud... Could you machine a couple of lengths of round bar stock with the diamond pattern in relief, one positive the other negative, then roll a brass sheet through them and press or emboss the pattern into the sheet? Seems the diameter of the rollers could be relative small, 1/4"?, 1/2"? Would it be that difficult to cut the rollers with a CNC Lathe? Either diamond or square pattern be easier to cut?

Here's is is a sheet roller from MicroMark that is the basic/crude idea for a embossing that would need some changes so it's a press:


Image


Alterations: A flat bed with the just the two rollers vertically opposite each other. One of the rollers (probably the top one) would need vertical adjustment to allow for different sheet thicknesses. And a hand crank. Maybe this one from MicorMark could be modified? Or used as is with the two embossing rollers?


And of course having made this embossing press you could go into business making sheet for all of us? You would make fortune; well maybe just a small fortune. ;-))





 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
Hi Chris,

Interesting you should suggest this. One of the first things I tried was to take a roller from a knurling tool and press/roll it over the surface of a sheet of brass. The knurling tool is sharp, but it did not make marks on the brass with just hand pressure. A jig/press like you show would be required to make an impression on the brass. In addition, the rollers would need to be hardened tool steel (like the knurler I tried). It could certainly be done - and even wide strips would be possible (perhaps 6" wide), though I wonder what the quality of the diamond plate would look like vs photo etching.

One potential draw back to the roller/press approach is you would have to be careful not to create a curve/bend in the material as it passed through the rollers. Once perfected though, it would be faster and less messy than photo etching.

I am already planning to produce a variety of parts for our hobby using my CNC. If I wind up building a great tool for making patterned brass I might wind up offering the brass or the tool as well. However, I doubt the small fortune bit....I'll consider it a success if it just covers some of the cost of my CNC equipment.

Cheers,
Mark
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Posted By livesteam5629 on 16 Feb 2010 05:19 PM
How to make a small fortune producing diamond pattern brass sheets ......START WITH A LARGE FORTUNE!!!LOL
Sorry, I just couldn't resist.
N
Sadly it appears there may be some people at K&S who would agree with you. I certainly hope they survive. While I could manage without them, many would not and scratch building of all sorts of models (not just trains) would likely decline.
 
#20 ·
About a month ago I was at my favorite scratch build supplier (Doug's Trains in Wilmington DE) looking for some K&S angle and channel. None to be had. Doug looked up everything I wanted and it was all discontinued. On the way home I remembered a small airplane shop. Went in and bought out all his stock in angle and channels. I was just lucky. His stock was old and so were his prices. BTW Precision Scale makes etched plate but it is 1/4 inch scale. Old Kemtron stock. I think photo etching in both positive and negative diamond tread would be easier.
N
 
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Chris Scott
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