Which metal would you use for this?

VultureParade

VultureParade

Joined
Apr 25, 2003
Messages
369
Hey everyone,

Ok, In a prior post I went over my possibly insane project a little bit. Let me go into a bit more detail as to what I want to do and the equipment I have so I can hopefully get some suggestions.

I want to make keychain fobs, you know, little pieces of metal or whatever that attach to a keyring. Something you can hold onto when you grab for your keys or whatever.

I have access to a hacksaw.

I have access to an old bench grinder with a pink wheel and a gray wheel, haha, sorry, it doesn't haveany information about these stone wheels on the wheel so I can't provide any specs.

I have sandpaper

access to a Home Depot :)

I have various other hand tools, hammers, screw drivers, etc.

What I want to do is cut some type of metal into squares and then apply either carbon fiber or some type of rubber scales.

I'm thinking a stainless steel or something corrosion resistant. Titanium maybe?

My chief questions at this time are 1. which metal should I use for the base square 2. which hacksaw blade should I buy to cut it 3. what would I use to attach the scale material and 4. can this be done with the equipment I have and a lot of elbow grease?

Sorry for the long post but I have a lot of questions and I'm eager to get started, I'm sure you metal junkies understand :) Any info will be appreciated. Thanks for reading

-Bryan
 
OK, friend, I will give this a shot. How about stainless damascus steel and some good looking wood, antler, stone, attatched with Acra Glas? Or, mokume, which is soft metal to work and would look absolutely great.
 
Vulture, you can get it from Brownells, and yes, it's great for bonding, gap filling (important to me), etc. The materials you're bonding may need some attention, like scuffing, degreasing, but it's good stuff. I think you should consider making up some prototypes of your projected product. Make them from anything, wood, cardboard, scrap metal, just to see where you're at, and how you want to proceed. Aluminum or titanium are good choices, as is stainless. I've seen lots of titanium made into key fobs, money clips, and so on. It anodizes easily (once the equipment is set up), not particulary easy to bandsaw, but I do it all the time. I use ceramic belts to clean up the edges. Aluminum will need to be painted or anodized (different process from the titanium) to keep it from making your hand black. With the equipment you have, and what's at your disposal, I'd say that you have what it takes to make your product. It's what you mind will come up with, and the changes along the way. We'll be reading about you in Forbes eventually I hope! Another consideration is market value, is the product salable, and for how much. Is it worth manufacturing, and how will it be sold (art shows, newspaper ads, these forums). How many will copy the design when you find out it's a go :o) Good luck and keep us posted!
 
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