Polished printing plates

[Lorne]

I see a lot of various metals mixed in with styrene these days! A really cool material to add is offset printing plates!! Go to your local print shop and ask for used AB Dyck (popular printing press machine) printing plates (print shops usually throw them out, if not recycling). They are a super thin medal plates. They polish to a super chrome finish and cut very easy (scribe and snap very flexible). Very cool stuff!! And FREE!!!

 

[SfanGoch]

Only if you can find a print shop that isn't hard up. Another member here was looking for a source of used printing plates and was also informed to check out print shops. I got curious and stopped by one near me. I asked the manager if he could give me a couple of used plates and he laughed. He said that he's not running a charity. He explained that a box of 100 plates weighs about 17-20 lbs. and that translates to around $.25/lb. from the mongo (scrap metal) dealer. With the amount of plates that his shop goes through, that adds up to serious money.

[Pete J.]

7 minutes ago, SfanGoch said:

Only if you can find a print shop that isn't hard up. Another member here was looking for a source of used printing plates and was also informed to check out print shops. I got curious and stopped by one near me. I asked the manager if he could give me a couple of used plates and he laughed. He said that he's not running a charity. He explained that a box of 100 plates weighs about 17-20 lbs. and that translates to around $.25/lb. from the mongo (scrap metal) dealer. With the amount of plates that his shop goes through, that adds up to serious money.

Ok, so that equates to about $.30 a plate from the scrap dealer.  I'd pull a buck out of my pocket and say I'll take three. ?

[Bainford]

It's a valuable recyclable material, so I wouldn't expect to get it for free. However, offer $2-5 for a sheet. That is many times the value of the material as scrap, but still a very cheap source of thin aluminium sheet for the modeller.

A friend who worked in a print shop years ago gave me seven of these plates for general garage use. I had them kicking around for years before getting rid of all except one, which I kept for modelling.

[iBorg]

Sadly most shops that would use these have converted to digital. They're not as common as they were ten years ago.

[Lorne]

I wasnt even sure if offset printing still existed? I was in the printing business 20 years ago. I got out when the color copier took my job. I guess if a print shop will "sell" the plates then it really is great for our hobby!!
 

[89AKurt]

I scored a free sheet last century!  Local newspaper print shop had no problem giving it to me, said they were thrown out.  Years later I went back, they charged me for a sheet, was relatively cheap compared to K&S stuff at the hobby shop; that was when I got the plate of the page that had me in an article, made a permanent record to hang on the wall.  But what I got is not shiny on the back, I fine sand and polish to get it shiny.

[iBorg]

Long time printing educator here.....

At one time 3M sold E plates. These had a really nice polished surface. These were discontinued about twenty years ago as they required some pretty nasty chemicals to develop. The presses that use these were smaller sheetfeds. That market has pretty much gone to digital printing.

A newspaper press would use a hard anodized plate. This results in a rather dull gray finish. I'm not sure how usable those would be.

My suggestion is to go to a local hoe improvement store and get some aluminum flashing. If you need it softer you can always heat with a torch and effect its temper.

 

[Straightliner59]

3 hours ago, iBorg said:

Long time printing educator here.....

At one time 3M sold E plates. These had a really nice polished surface. These were discontinued about twenty years ago as they required some pretty nasty chemicals to develop. The presses that use these were smaller sheetfeds. That market has pretty much gone to digital printing.

A newspaper press would use a hard anodized plate. This results in a rather dull gray finish. I'm not sure how usable those would be.

My suggestion is to go to a local hoe improvement store and get some aluminum flashing. If you need it softer you can always heat with a torch and effect its temper.

 

Aluminum flashing is what I have  used, for years. I anneal it, if I need it softer, for more complex shapes. No need for that, for making panels, etc. It does have a thin plastic coating that needs to be sanded off,if you are going to anneal it. I made the scoop for my '34 with it, as well as the interior panels and dash. The body, seat bucket and firewall for my junior fueler. It's invaluable as a building material.

[peteski]

There are many sources for thin sheet aluminum.  Flashing is relatively thick and stiff.  Yes they have their uses for modeling, but the cheap single-use (disposable) aluminum cookie sheets, and pans used for roasting turkey also offer plenty of cheap aluminum which is just right thickness for many modeling projects (and thinner than the aluminum flashing).  Those trays are sold in dollar stores.  Then of course, aluminum soda cans are another good source of stiff and thin aluminum.

[Pete J.]

The other option is shim stock.  You can buy it in brass, aluminum or copper and in .001" increments of thickness up to .010"  It's not cheap and generally comes in 100" X 6" rolls but that is a lifetime supply and very high quality.  I have a roll of each and don't think I have used a foot in 5 years.  Nice stuff to work with. 

Oh and by the way it is also quite useful for truing up a mill and lathe. ?

Edited January 9, 2020 by Pete J.

[misterNNL]

I have several sheets of printing plate and would like to be able to shape it to build model travel trailers like the Airstreams built in my home town. That would require multiple curves. How is the annealing process done that I see mentioned here and can it be done at home safely?

[Straightliner59]

While the flashing is a little heavy (about .008", once the plastic coating is sanded off), whatever alloy it is, is perfect for creating compound curves, such as dragster cowls, once it's been annealed. I attempted the same with tooling aluminum, but, it doesn't form complex curves as readily. It tends to buckle, fold. Neither tooling aluminum or roaster pan aluminum feel really stiff/durable enough to build entire bodies with, although they do work nicely to create the odd panel, by burnishing them over a kit part. Tooling aluminum works wonderfully to make things like baby moons, and other plain hubcaps. I rubbed some down over the top of an air cleaner, and in the instance I was super-detailing one, I would definitely go that route. They all have their place, and each is better suited to some tasks, than others. The bottom line is, one can never have too many different materials! ? I skinned this vac-formed tank lakester with tooling aluminum. It was just a quickie build, but fun!

[Straightliner59]

55 minutes ago, misterNNL said:

I have several sheets of printing plate and would like to be able to shape it to build model travel trailers like the Airstreams built in my home town. That would require multiple curves. How is the annealing process done that I see mentioned here and can it be done at home safely?

Here is how I learned/read how to do it: You'll need a good torch (I use a Bernzomatic MAPP gas torch), a bar of Ivory soap, and something to hold enough water to quickly quench the sheet. Coat the metal by rubbing it with the bar of Ivory soap. Light the torch, and heat the aluminum. As soon as the soap coating turns black, quench the sheet, and you should be good to go!

[SfanGoch]

You could get K&S .016" aluminum or brass sheet. They can be easily formed into shape (the brass after annealing). I use both for fabricating numerous parts like door skins and aircraft parts. These are landing gear doors

for a 1/48 scale B-52C fabricated from aluminum and brass

 

[peteski]

12 hours ago, SfanGoch said:

1/48 scale B-52C fabricated from aluminum and brass

 

 

As I kid I built the 1:72 scale model, and it was large.  A 1:48 version must be huge!  Where in the heck do you find room to display it in small NYC apartment?

[SfanGoch]

Let me clarify that those are aluminum and brass landing gear doors fabricated for a 1/48 scale vacuform B-52C, not a brass and aluminum Stratofortress. I also have the 1/72 Monogram kit in my mitts now, along with a 1/48 vacuform kit by Sanger. It has a 3.85 ft. wingspan.  I'm treating myself to a fancy-schmancy birthday present in February when I'll snag the ultimate 1/48 Stratofortress kit made by HpH Models in the Czech Republic. It's a multimedia fiberglass/resin/PE kit.

Link to assembly manual.

These 1/48 scale monsters will be housed in 48 x 48 x 16 inch 3mm plexiglass cases which will double as an end table when stacked.

Edited January 10, 2020 by SfanGoch

[peteski]

9 hours ago, SfanGoch said:

These 1/48 scale monsters will be housed in 48 x 48 x 16 inch 3mm plexiglass cases which will double as an end table when stacked.

COOL!

[Pete J.]

On 1/10/2020 at 4:21 AM, SfanGoch said:

Let me clarify that those are aluminum and brass landing gear doors fabricated for a 1/48 scale vacuform B-52C, not a brass and aluminum Stratofortress. I also have the 1/72 Monogram kit in my mitts now, along with a 1/48 vacuform kit by Sanger. It has a 3.85 ft. wingspan.  I'm treating myself to a fancy-schmancy birthday present in February when I'll snag the ultimate 1/48 Stratofortress kit made by HpH Models in the Czech Republic. It's a multimedia fiberglass/resin/PE kit.

Link to assembly manual.

These 1/48 scale monsters will be housed in 48 x 48 x 16 inch 3mm plexiglass cases which will double as an end table when stacked.

What is the origin of your fascination with BUFF's?  I never like the aircraft.  Much hated by pilots.  When I went to pilot training in the 70's, the pilots that finished last in the class got stuck with the B-52s.    Not sure that this is the case anymore, but I suspect so. 

[SfanGoch]

Goes back to when I studied aero in Brooklyn Technical High School. One of my junior year teachers was a BUFF crew chief in the mid 1950s and sang the praises of the Stratofortress. Same with my freshman year technical drawing teacher, the late C. Kyrie Kallas LTC, USAF (ret.), who was a Master Navigator, flew on B-17s and B-47s. He told our class he always wished he could've navigated on a B-52. He had a lot of respect for this monster.

My former teach

He also wrote an autobiography, On the Wings of the Wind: The Story of the Last Navigator

[misterNNL]

3 hours ago, SfanGoch said:

Goes back to when I studied aero in Brooklyn Technical High School. One of my junior year teachers was a BUFF crew chief in the mid 1950s and sang the praises of the Stratofortress. Same with my freshman year technical drawing teacher, the late C. Kyrie Kallas LTC, USAF (ret.), who was a Master Navigator, flew on B-17s and B-47s. He told our class he always wished he could've navigated on a B-52. He had a lot of respect for this monster.

My former teach

He also wrote an autobiography, On the Wings of the Wind: The Story of the Last Navigator

Thanks for showing respect for a former service member. A number of my high school teachers in the '50's were military men and all were dedicated humble men.

[bisc63]

On 1/8/2020 at 2:37 PM, iBorg said:

My suggestion is to go to a local hoe improvement store

We could use a hoe improvement store around my hometown...?

[iBorg]

You know most young people don't even know what a hoe is......or a wheelbarrow.

 

[peteski]

8 minutes ago, iBorg said:

You know most young people don't even know what a hoe is......or a wheelbarrow.

 

Not sure if Rusty was talking about a farming implement . . .