Art & Inspiration Tech Week Emboss your valve cover

A friend here on the HAMB (scotty t) sent me a link to a post on embossing that
gave him the idea to to press Plymouth into his valve covers. He knew I did this kind
of thing, and asked if I would give him a hand. Well hell yes! Here's a link to that post:

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/how-emboss-lettering-into-sheet-metal-207719.html

It's a great post with good info, and I have done this in the past. With the 18 gauge we
are using I like to use a female pattern, and use the polyurathane as the male die. Either way will work, I'm used to doing it this way. I'm just an amatuer, and learn something new on every project. Enough yakking let's get started.

The pic below shows the pattern marked out on the valve cover. Below the valve cover
is the 16 gauge pattern taped to a piece of 18 gauge to use a test piece.

 

Trying to post more than one pic is a problem.

Here's another pic showing the above pattern, and blank turned over with
the polyurathane on top. I like to press the area with the small pieces taped
to them first. The P, and O require them to finish the letter shape. Doing
them first locks them in so they won't shift while pressing. Than work
back ,and forth over each letter to finish.

 

In the next pic I have moved the ***embly over to my work bench, and am
chasing the letters with a home made corking tool for better definition. I like
to clamp either side of the letter I'm working on to prevent possible distortion
of the surrounding metal. This is only the test piece, but I treat it like
the finished valve cover.

 

Just to be clear the pic in the last post has the pattern under the test piece. It will
stick to the pressed piece, and you will have to pry it off when finished. The pattern
beneath the piece will keep chasing toll in place as you work it. Size the tool tip
to just fit the pattern width of a letter. The tool is just an old chisel with a small piece
welded to it that I flappered smooth when shaping it.

 

Here's the finished test piece. Doing the test piece will give you a feel for the amount
of pressing , and chasing needed.

 

Ready to press the valve cover. I centered the pattern, and taped it to the cover. The small pieces
of tape on P, and O are all that is needed. If 2 layers are used it will imprint the valve cover.
The pattern should have all edges rounded or you are libel to get an edge mark imprinted
in the valve cover!





1

 

Awesome

 

Here's how I had to set up to press the odd shaped valve cover. Notice the apron
piece it's sitting on has the edges rounded on it also.

 

This view shows the urathane with a heavy backup piece of steel used to
press with. I have a 50 ton press with air ***it that I added to it which makes
repeated pressings much easier. I mounted the floor treadle on the side of the press
, and use an old shifter to operate it.

 

Here I have moved the valve cover to the work bench, and am chasing the
letters. I have just finished the T, and am ready to cover it, and start on the U.

 

This close up of the letters are on the test piece.

 

Here's the finished valve cover.

 

I of course stole Scotty's idea since we both have the same valve covers. Mine is
a Dodge truck Hemi . This pic shows the finished test piece, the pattern, and
the polyurathane that we used. That's McMaster Carr's stock number.

I made both patterns with my milling machine . I machined common block
letters in them, and than used a small air file to square the corners of some of
the letters as was needed. They could be plasma cut, water jetted. In the past
I have made patterns by drilling, cutting with small air saw, and lots of filing!

 

Here's a close up of mine after light bead blasting. I was able to make mine slightly
larger as there are fewer letters.

 

This pic shows the pieces to back up, and press the covers. I surfaced one of
the apron pieces in my mill, and also the cover piece. Care here will make a
big difference in the finished piece.

 

Here's the finished piece with a coat of etch prime. I hope this helps some one
with their project. If I get time I'll try to add some pics on how I press with
steel male, and female patterns.
Rich

 

Looks cl***y. great idea.

 

Insane, and very nice. Man, I wouldn't even think of trying something like that myself, just one slip and you're looking for another valve cover. Well done. Gary

 

Very nice , I try this sometimes and have varied results. I usually am just playing with ideas.

 

Nice work, endless possibilities.

 

Another excellent tech with thinking outside the box and the results speak for itself and would rival anything offered by the manufacture. HRP

 

Thank's so much for the kind words guys! I've made my
share of s**** metal in my time also! LOL
Rich

 

awesome work! thanks for sharing

 

Sometimes I am more slow witted than others.....this is one of those times.

I looked at the linked thread and carefully studied your photos and remain a bit confused.
In the linked thread, individual 'male' letters were used to press into the workpiece, but I did not see a 'female' die, unless it is the urethane. It appears to me that your method employed a 'female' die and no 'male' die, but you also used urethane.

What am I missing here? Would you be so kind as to explain the "sandwich" in detail?
Thank you for a great thread!

Ray

 

It can be confusing! The linked thread uses individual male letters, with the
urathane acting as the female die. I find when using heavier gauge I have
better luck reversing the process. I use a female pattern with the urathane
acting as the male die.
The female pattern is placed on the outside of the valve cover instead of individual
letters inside the valve cover. I place the urathane inside, and cover it with a
piece of steel. I than press the the cover piece, which forces the urathane into
the face of the valve cover forming the letters. I had hoped showing both
methods would give options, but may have confused the issue. I had wanted to
give credit to the other poster.
Rich

 

Nice job Rich!

 

That's pretty cool.

 

That is nice. I think it's probably harder than you make it look, but it looks very cool. Thanks for more personalized ideas.

 

there goes my thread on the "mystery" plymouth hemi i found in the junkyard! Rich B is quite the craftsman and a nice guy to boot. THANKS RICH!