Tech: Smoothing lumpy metal, fixing dents, making a shrinking disc.

..or a really big hammer!

Okay so that idea probably wouldn't work...how about this one: Cut your blank out roughly to size chuck it up in an electric drill. Mount the drill in the bench vice with the throttle lock on. Then grab your angle grinder and.... Not safe? What do you mean it's not safe?

Okay, seriously though how about this one: Cut a perfectly round template out of plywood on the lathe and set it on top of your rough-cut disc. Then use a router with a grinding stone mounted in it to bring it perfectly to size. The template would be whatever diameter you need to get the final size you want, and you'd need another piece of plywood behind the steel blank to keep it from flexing around but I think it would work...

 

i found myself an old ss pot lid, its about 12" dia, 20ga, has the right size hole for my angle sander/polisher, havent tried it yet was wondering if anyone has done this?

 

John's new video is very good, I'll try to post a review on it in a couple of days. As he mentioned, he shows you how to make your own shrinking disk. While making it from 304 stainless is the probably the best, he says that you can also make it from cold rolled (CR) steel.

 

Could you do the same possibly with a homemade circle jig using a bandsaw to cut it? You might have to cut very slowly to minimize blade flex. I know it works for wood.
http://www.shopnotes.com/plans/band-saw-circle-cutting-jig/

http://www.bluewood-designs.com/article.band.saw.circle.jig.php

 

Hi Budd,

I have used a pot lid for shrinking. It can work, but 20 gage in a large diameter like that might be a little bit flimsy. Be careful. I have a stainless bowl that would make a very good shrinking disc for inside reverses (valleys). It was a mixing bowl or a dog disc... something like that. look around, you will find something a little smaller in diameter and perhaps thicker that will be a little safer.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

 

My '51 Really need one of these discs. I think I might have to order one, and the DVD.