Do You Want To Know What Time It Is?
 

Hi All,

Would you like to build a sundail? Or just look at how they work?
I just uploaded an Excel spreadsheet to the ftp forum. It will give you the basic calculations to layout, setup and read a sundail. It's in Unspecified_Upload/Sundail.xls
I will be interested in hearing what you think of it and of course any pictures of what you have made.

Chris

Cool
 

Thanks chris,
I'll definetly take a look at it.
PEACE :D

Hi Steve,

I thought it would be cool to have a sundail so I started reading up on it.
I am going to check around some of the surplus wharehouses for the materials because I origionally wanted to make it out of brass until I checked on the price. Gulp!:eek: :eek:
Now I am thinking some old rusty steel plate for that antique look.:)

Have fun,
Chris

although it would not be authentic - it would look like it...
might want to try some exterior engraving stock with a brass or copper finish.

the color core is usually black for the metal finishes but it should look attractive. just a thought.

Hi,

The thought of using brass was that it would weather well. You know in time it would get that blue green patina to it. I could even speed it up with some chemicals.
I'm pretty sure that laminated foils have a coating on them to prevent corrosion. I don't have any of the stuff so I can't be sure. Might be worth a try. Thanks!

Chris

Try copper leafing then. Very inexpensive and will patina or stay bright depending on how you finish it. You can even buy it pre-patinaed. 5"x5" squares - sheet book of 25 runs about $6 at your local hobby shop.

Copper leaf first - then engrave the face. If you have a dxf or eps layout of the face and want to see what it will look like - email it to me and ill engrave it out and leaf it - should take less than 5 min.

Gl - would love to see a pic when you get it up and running.. er.. standing.

Copper leaf - That's a good idea. Is the glue that you use to stick it able to stand up to the weather? Cause this thing is going to be outside rain or shine. Do you think that it would stick to an aluminum base?
Another thought I had was to laminate a .062 skin of brass to an aluminum base with epoxy.
All of this is putting the cart before the horse because I'm trying to finish my machine. I ordered some tubing from "Online Metals" for my linear bearings and that is where I saw that a 12 X 12 X 1/2" piece of brass was around $260.

Chris

My hobby / work
 

Thought I would follow up on this post since I now have a system that should last 20+ years outside .... the chemist says.

Drop me a line if your still looking to copper leaf your dial, I can steer you towards the suppliers I use.

Once and a while I run across pics of other peoples work here, would love to see some tips & techniques for finish pieces.

I was able to find some brass on EBay for about 1/4 of the price. Then a buddy of mine told me of a surplus metals place that he went to that had brass for 1.75 per pound. That is comparable to the price I paid on EBay.
That is a nice looking sign. Is the 3D logo CNC cut and gold leafed?

Chris

Copper electroplating???
 

Ya I know I probably have a boneheaded idea, but...

Try homeade copper electroplating.

Use a TEST piece of steel, or whatever, as a (+) terminal.
-dunk it in a PLASTIC vat, of water and copper sulfate (special order at drugstore, get 10$ worth )
-hook up a fresh piece of copper wire to the (-) terminal and dunk it into the vat as well.

Run 2 to 5 volts DC ( wild guess ) through it and wait two days.( but check it after a few hours).

Use a small DC transformer for the power. I don't think u will need to replace the copper sulfate, but the terminal will get eaten away (to replace the copper in the solution)

It's been 18 years since I last did this, so maybe you shouldn't even listen to my advice, oh well.


PS. Good Luck on the sundail, they are kinda neat.

Thanks BeanO,

I might just try that boneheaded idea.:)
I looked around a little and I think that you could find Copper Sulfate in feed stores as it is a feed addative.
I have never tried anodising or plating since I am a little concerned about having harsh chemicals around children. But Copper Sulfate doesn't seem that bad.
When you put the piece of steel in the solution do both electrodes need to be in contact with the part or can the negative be just in the solution?

Chris

[url]www.caswellplating.com[/url] has some good plating kits.