Engine turned dashboards or other parts

[Paul Payne]

Has anyone discovered a technique for simulating this surface treatment? I was thinking of both aluminum sheet stock as well as plastic (maybe with bare-metal foil?) I would like to scratchbuild a hot rod dashboard with this treatment. Thanks!

[Mr. Metallic]

I read somewhere when someone once suggested using a battery powered pencil eraser(the kind used by draftsmen and artists). They have a low RPM, so put some sandpaper on the end and give it a try. I've been wanting to try it myself.

[VW Dave]

Sounds feasible, Craig, doing that on aluminum sheet; BMF likely would disintegrate in the process, however.

[ronr]

I`ve tryed a little section of .005 alum. from Hobby Lobby by using an eraser as the pad. Worked pretty good in a dremel.

RonR

[Paul Payne]

Thanks for the info, guys! I have some aluminum sheet, and will try using a dremel tool with an appropriate tip. I will post a pic when I have something done.

[Steve H.]

A friend used a pinch of steel wool on a cotton swab to turn a pattern in BMF. You only need a couple light spins to leave a pattern.

[Biscuitbuilder]

Has anyone discovered a technique for simulating this surface treatment? I was thinking of both aluminum sheet stock as well as plastic (maybe with bare-metal foil?) I would like to scratchbuild a hot rod dashboard with this treatment. Thanks!

Back in the early 80's, I scratchbuilt a 60's Watson USAC Dirt Championship car, which needed an aluminum firewall and instrument panel. But, how to "engine turn" the aluminum! I had a sudden idea!

Old-fashioned typing erasers are impregnated with a mild abrasive, that will scuff aluminum! So, I bought one, ran it through a pencil sharpener to get a point on the end of the rubber, then cut the wood pencil-style shank and drilled into the cut end to superglue a length of brass rod in it, and firmed up the sides of the rubber tip with superglue as well. I simply chucked in my Dremel tool, and mounted the tool in my drill press. Voila!

After a bit of pracice, the thing worked perfectly--good enough to help that car win First Place at the 1985 IPMS Nationals in Indianapolis.

I wish I had the car to photograph, but I sold it to a model race car collector about 6 weeks after the Nats, for more money than I ever would have guessed anyone would pay for a builtup.

Biscuitbuilder