Model Car Tech: Machine your own detail parts

[Tcoupe]

There has been a few post lately about mills and lathes, which would come in handy if you build and detail scale models but, if you dont see working one of these tools into your budget here is a simple way to machine your parts with some ordinary solder, some heat, x-acto, file and a dremel tool.

First I heat up an old frying pan, cut some 2 inch lengths of solder and straighten them (very important). Next I grip on end of the solder with some smooth jaw pliers and press it straight down to the frying pan surface, the trick is to mushroom the end of it. This step takes some skill as you will want to keep the stem centered, the size of the part you want to make will dictat the size of the "shroom", once I am satisfied with the "shroom" end I turn off the heat while the piece of solder is still on the pan, this will let it cure so it will not distort. Note it took me quite a few trys to get this down...the solder usually has some uneven areas and craters that can be filled with a soldering iron and small solder.

Now, once I have a nice piece to work with, I gently file off any rough areas and try to even it out so it will be balanced. Next I chuck the piece into my dremel tool, this is where the balancing comes in handy, an unbalaced part will take flight rather quickly at 12,000rpm. Now I take some 100 grit sandpaper and smooth out the spinning solder, then with the tip of the x-acto blade I begin to shape the part..solder is soft so it shapes easily, after I get a general outline, I use small files to finish out the shape (moving the file back and forth with the spinning part will keep it from loading up)...constantly turning the dremel on and off to check progress. Here is a pic of a "shroomed" and slighly filed part......This will take a couple of post...so PLEASE do not reply till I say "DONE" Thanks.

[Tcoupe]

Now once the shape is finished I use micro-mesh polishing cloths and metal polish on the still spinning part to bring out the "Bling" in it. Depending on the part and where it is to be mounted, I may have to cut the stem off or cut it down to make a small mounting tab. Here is a pic of two smaller air cleaners I made...they still have the stems attached and the one on the left has some unmachined material under the smooth part.

[crewcutkid]

Bitchin! Good Idears.
-Crew

[Tcoupe]

Finally here is a pic of some very small parts I made...some spikes, a bullet, and radiator/gas caps. All of these have been cut from the stems with a small mounting tab on the bottoms. Well there you have it, simple backyard model tech that anyone can do .......DONE

[whodaky]

Great post Tcoupe. Lateral thinking I like that!

[C9]

Nice post and a really 'thinking outside the box' bit on using "shroomed" solder for the base material.

I'm wondering as well if spinning up some aluminum in a drill press chuck and hitting it with file etc. would do an equally good job.

Another thought would be to drill the alumunim piece, epoxy it to a piece of drill rod the right size (1/8" ?) to fit the Dremel and go from there.
A little heat will release the epoxy if required.

Regardless, nice parts and you'll have something no one else has with the home-brewed air cleaners and all.

[bufordtjustice]

That is very cool and innovative...I'll be trying that one of these days...

Greg

[oldchevyseller]

i hate to admit it but browsing the local fabric stores they have many little discs and buttons and all sort of doo dads, that work for shifter knobs and radio buttons and air cleaners,

[Chopped50Ford]

holy crikey that stuff is small.

When you said the unbalanced stuff will fly at 12000 rpm i laughed just thinking about it.

I could see it now, put in the part, turn on machine, (flick) in the air across the garage while your ducking and swearing....lol....