Talk nicely to someone at Richard Austin Alloys:

**LINK**

http://www.raaltd.com/aluminium-plate-products.html

… They sell offcuts.

MichaelG.

Another interesting link Michael. It's given me a new word: apparently "Shate" is defined as the "overlap between sheet and plate."

Excellent word – it will come in handy whenever I have an 'expletive deleted' moment in front of mother.

Cheers,

Dave

Fix it to a faceplate by the corners to do the groove before you cut them off.

I've not tried wax but the watch makers tend to use that or shelac. Another alternative is thin double sided tape and a pad to aply pressure from the tailstock.

I rounded the aluminium square plate by facing a short length of 32mm aluminium rod and supergluing it to the centre of the plate. Although I was nervous that this wouldn't be strong enough (and took gentle cuts only) at the end I had to warm the work on an electric cooker ring to break the bond. Warming with a blowlamp works too.

Isopropyl Alcohol is fairly good at cleaning up the residue.

The secret of using superglue successfully for this is new glue, absolute cleanliness and not moving the joint while the glue takes effect. The slightest trace of oil or grease seems to seriously weaken the bond as does fussing with the alignment during the setting period.

Dave