Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 41
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    77

    Default Brass Handwheel?



    Looking to source a small hand wheel for this little project, (A saw blade rise and fall precision height adjuster) similar to the one on the photos above and have been searching online everywhere I can think of, to locate such. (Overall heights an issue - as it can't protrude above saw table height without affecting / interfering with the timber material being sawn).



    There are any number of lathe tail stock and milling machine hand wheels on the internet... such as the above on ebay etc.

    I thought that purely for aesthetics reasons - it might be nice to have a small hand wheel in say Brass (bronze) polished around the outside edge...
    BUT,
    I can't seem to locate anything like this in brass (or bronze) on line.
    Maybe it's not a suitable metal for making such a device? (Not hard enough?)...or too expensive?
    I'm guessing there's a good reason they aren't readily available...

    What am I missing - why aren't they readily available?.

    This is about the only one I've been able to locate a pic of online.



    Its a little large for this job but shows similar to what I was thinking of roughly.

    Assuming one WOULD work OK and look good.... how would be the best way to go about having one made?
    Do you cast one for e.g. or turn one on a lathe out of a block of solid brass (bronze?)

    I seem to recall somewhere I have a 2 liter ice cream bucket with a dozen or so old brass keyed alike padlocks floating around in the shed somewhere... do I melt these down to obtain my brass?

    Is this something anyone here would be keen to make?
    I know squat about metal work so figured it best to ask those who do...

    Many thanks in advance for any advice.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,540

    Default

    TIG welding brass is tricky because the zinc comes out of the mix first and mucks everything up. I couldn't say definitively but melting down old brass locks may be the same if you are not careful.

    What size wheel are you looking for?

    Michael

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    Brass is commonly cast in home foundries. I have done it myself. My first attempt. Not totally successful due to lack of heat, but I did make a small ingot. I have just been watching a video from Doubleboost about casting brass, called "Casting Brass". A quick search on YouTube should find it.

    That is a very nice handwheel.

    Dean

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    77

    Default Best I can tell

    Best I can tell this hand wheel needs to be about 100mm dia (or less ~ 75mm+).
    I'm not sure where tig welding the brass would be required in making such a hand wheel?.
    Again I know zilch about this topic - I'm just trying to nut it out is all.
    Yes you can see that the brass does look nice.
    Theres any number of brass gate valve type wheels in plumbing applications yet they seem not to be used anywhere in machinery like lathe tailstock hand wheels or milling machine hand wheels.
    I find that really surprising - I'm sure there must be a logical reason for it... like cost of the material or difficulty working it, or it's not hard enough for the application?.
    I'm off to watch Youtube about casting brass.
    You'd think you could just buy one off the shelf out of China or something?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    SA
    Posts
    1,649

    Default

    Why not just turn up a plain disc type hand wheel out of some 75 mm diam brass round stock.

    You don't need spokes.

    Be dead easy and look OK.

    Rob
    The worst that can happen is you will fail.
    But at least you tried.



  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    You'll probably find it's the cost of brass Vs cost of plastics, as to why they're not easily available. Put an advert on market place to see if anyone has something similar, failing that ask in the foundry section of metal work for an approx costing.
    Kryn

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,540

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Timless Timber View Post
    I'm not sure where tig welding the brass would be required in making such a hand wheel?
    TIG welding is not required. I was just trying to make the point that casting brass is not just throwing a bunch of scrap in a pot and pouring out a finished article. There are going to be traps in there (like getting the stuff too hot) that will catch out the unwary.

    Michael

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    77

    Default in

    In my minds eye....



    I had been "imagining" something like this... (Which apparently is off an old fire truck).

    I'm wondering about say 3d printing one in plastic... and then loss sand casting...

    I know a group of guys interesting in having about 8 or so of these height adjusters made up, and was thinking it might be something that the plastic 3D mockup... could be used to make say 10 or 12 lost sand molds from - then do one pour...

    But it's a lot easier to say it, than do it, I am sure... and I'm guessing, not cheap to do?

    The cast Brass / Bronze youtube vids are totally fascinating.....

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    77

    Default Whereabouts

    Whereabouts would you buy 4 inch dia Brass or Phosphor Bronze Barstock in a short length/s - to spin up a hand wheel on a lathe?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
    Posts
    292

    Default Would this be an option?

    Couldn't you locate a steel wheel you like and have the chrome stripped and re-plated in brass? Tell the plater you want the brass plating nice and thick.

    Pete

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    77

    Default Sure,

    Sure thing - what a terrific suggestion - I hadn't even thought of that!

    Thank you very much indeed.

    There are any number of suitable hand wheels available online in steel and stainless steel etc.

    Brass Plating it, never occurred to me.

    I can't think of a reason not too.

    I'm in the middle of bidding on and shipping a 2 inch long piece of phosphor bronze 4 inch round bar stock from the UK to Oz - to have a couple of them spun up on a lathe as my only option... but plating opens up a whole new realm of possibly much cheaper possibilities.

    Thank you indeed for such a creative work around type suggestion.

    I owe you one for that!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Kingswood
    Posts
    930

    Default

    You could try model engineering suppliers.

    Example in the UK: http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalo...achine-Handles
    They have 80 mm chrome handles.

    There are also suppliers in Australia.

    There could be forum members with an old machine tool fitted with chrome handles (like my Sheraton 9A).

    John

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Newport, Victoria
    Posts
    117

    Default

    A wheel from a large gate valve might do the job. It may be worth looking at gate valve suppliers. They may sell replacement handles.

    Christian

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    I think I've seen large fire hose connections (valves/taps) with brass hand wheels about that size. Have a look in a scrap metal yard or tip shop.
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Bellingen
    Posts
    278

    Default

    I have never tried plating anything but have read a few stories from home electroplaters. Is brass plating doable as a diy project? Just curious...it could open up a few more possibilities. Could be fraught with issues though....

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Handwheel Driven Leadscrew
    By Jors in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 27th Dec 2012, 08:50 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •