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Post by liveoak on Dec 9, 2022 11:37:52 GMT -5
So we finally got our Christmas presents done. I do really appreciate everyone's input as to the notch size for the cell phone holder, & thought we'd show off what we came up with. Tom nicely machined (with his milling machine), out of .375" 6061 aluminum, the holders. And then he bead blasted them to even out the surface finish.
You can also polish aluminum for this, but it's a much more tedious process.
I thought it would be nice to set a stone in them, which we could customize to peoples taste (or at least to my taste anyway)  , and also attach a key chain holder, so you could clip it on something. The round cabs are a whole other story. The cell phone holders took a 3/4" EXACT round cab. As the pocket was milled exactly 3/4". The aluminum, as everyone knows, starts out gray/silver. But I can't leave well enough alone, and like to fancy stuff up, so I anodized them. I learned this a couple of years ago, from here. The process I use does NOT use battery acid (sulfuric acid) so it can be used indoors. And of course, after anodizing them, you can dye them various colors. It's a whole multi step process, but if it's done correctly, the results can be pretty nice. And, the anodizing keeps the aluminum from corroding, and makes the surface harder. In the end, I think we're pretty happy with them. The colors are not exactly what I dreamed for, but getting exact colors is a whole art form in itself. And I think they look good enough for the relatives  . Last up is the second half of my round cab project - Key chains (for the less deserving relatives !)  . They took an EXACT 1" cab. No fudging here & there were a few rejects. I was able to find a better quality stainless steel bezel. Some of the ones out there are very crappy, but these are heavier & half way decent, although I found the bails lacking, and replaced them with split rings. Thanks for looking,
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 9, 2022 12:00:07 GMT -5
I really like the cell phone holder! Is that an original design? Adding the stone was a good idea. They look great!
The keychains are nice, too. AND, the perfect circles? i know that was a pain.
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Post by liveoak on Dec 9, 2022 12:32:32 GMT -5
I can't say it's an absolutely original idea, as we saw crudely made ones out of wood with that same concept, but just a rectangular shape. But we drew these up, & Tom machined them.
Honestly, I started by making a couple of different versions from scrap plywood, and then once we figured out what worked, Tom took over.
Thanks for the smile - I hope they go over as well with the recipients. 
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 9, 2022 12:33:44 GMT -5
I can't say it's an absolutely original idea, as we saw crudely made ones out of wood with that same concept, but just a rectangular shape. But we drew these up, & Tom machined them.
Honestly, I started by making a couple of different versions from scrap plywood, and then once we figured out what worked, Tom took over.
Thanks for the smile - I hope they go over as well with the recipients.
Patty
I think they will be a hit! |
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Dec 9, 2022 13:11:04 GMT -5
Wow, Patty! Those are very impressive! I really like the phone holder as that looks incredibly useful.
You and Tom make a great team!
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Post by liveoak on Dec 9, 2022 13:47:54 GMT -5
Wow, Patty! Those are very impressive! I really like the phone holder as that looks incredibly useful. You and Tom make a great team! Thanks Brian.
Yup- 35 years & counting, Tom & I make stuff (as well as everything else)
Thanks for sayin' Patty
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 9, 2022 16:27:23 GMT -5
Thanks for the update on the holders (and keychains). Those look fantastic! (And it looks like they could double as a bottle opener!  ) |
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Post by liveoak on Dec 9, 2022 17:51:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the update on the holders (and keychains). Those look fantastic! (And it looks like they could double as a bottle opener! ) Thanks Jason - yeah ALMOST looks like it could work as a bottle opener- but that would mess up my nice anodizing & dye so they better not try ! (or at least not while I'm looking  )
Patty.... glad she printed an instruction page for the holder, to include in every box.
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 341 
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Post by electrocutus on Dec 15, 2022 9:54:32 GMT -5
These look great! I was imagining the bigger holder with a slot in them, but your solution is so much more portable and practical. Congratulations.
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Post by liveoak on Dec 15, 2022 11:13:47 GMT -5
Nice job! How did you get you go about getting the circles perfect? core drill? Thanks Hefty - shipped them all out yesterday - boy is it a relief to ship the Christmas presents early !
Here's the link to the thread I made on making the circle cabs.
Flex shaft +++
Patty
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Post by liveoak on Dec 15, 2022 11:20:26 GMT -5
These look great! I was imagining the bigger holder with a slot in them, but your solution is so much more portable and practical. Congratulations. Thank you.
I thought portable, even key chain use or pocketbook might actually mean people would use them.
I've wanted one to use in the living room, at night, when we listen to our audible stories, so that's really where our idea started.
I hope the people who get them like them as well.
I'll probably never really know, as no matter what we make, most people usually just say,
" That's nice, you two are so talented " (even if they hate them) 
Patty
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Dec 18, 2022 15:28:23 GMT -5
liveoak I’ve been meaning to comment on this ever since I saw it a while back but wanted to go through all your links. Links on here never work when I’m using my phone but they do if I go to my computer. Anyway I appreciate that you shared all your info and product links. The anodized and dyed aluminum process is really cool. You sure do a wide variety of projects! Those are definitely one of a kind Christmas gifts. I love the simple key chains because they look nice and tactile. I can see playing with that often when I have my keys in hand. I’ve also been wanting to make my own and can appreciate the desire to find quality rings and frames. It’s hard now, there is so much choice out there but so much of it is low quality, it’s time consuming to parse through. I imagine you just used an epoxy or something to glue those in? Anyway great projects and post, I was happy to see your final results! I imagine the recipients will think they are pretty cool!👍
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Post by liveoak on Dec 18, 2022 15:59:55 GMT -5
Thank you khara. Yup - scuffed up both surfaces with a wheel on my flexshaft (sand paper would have worked) & used epoxy. Note- It took a while to find the better key chains. I have 50 cheap ones that are destined for the garbage (or donation). I almost gave up the keychain idea over them. But I think it the end they came out nice. Fingers crossed people like them. Patty |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Dec 18, 2022 18:19:51 GMT -5
liveoak Ugh, I can relate. So frustrating to waste money and time looking for quality products! I have become a curmudgeon who complains how my parents and grandparents had the same appliances for 30 years and we can’t find things that last two years anymore. So thanks for sharing your links.🤓👍
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