Flattening brass plates

Flattening brass plates

This topic has 6 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 6 April 2025 at 11:03 by Dave Halford.

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

Author

Posts
5 April 2025 at 12:21 #792082
t1krt
Participant
@t1krt
I’ve removed the brass plates off my denham lathe as they have stretched and curled up and will no longer sit flat.

Any tips on flattening them out?

I havnt measured them but they are roughly a mm thick… vernier eyes…..

Tia
Advert

5 April 2025 at 15:34 #792092
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
First you should consider annealing it which might introduce additional distortion.
Have a look at clockmaking books and forums as it has been a long term problem for them. Then practice on a different sheet as it is going to be one of those almost forgotten skills that isn’t as easy as it seems.
Obviously as I haven’t given specific instructions I have never actually flattened anything, but done plenty of the opposite both deliberately and inadvertently.
5 April 2025 at 17:11 #792096
John Haine
Participant
@johnhaine32865
I have read that if you heat to nearly molten on a flat surface it will quickly flatten out. Cool slowly
5 April 2025 at 17:15 #792098
bernard towers
Participant
@bernardtowers37738
can you put them in a set of bending rolls carefully at least if you overdo it you can turn them over!!!
5 April 2025 at 19:27 #792106
t1krt
Participant
@t1krt
I think you’ve given Me an idea for my first project when I get my new motor. I set of rollers.
6 April 2025 at 09:41 #792143
Dell
Participant
@dell
The brass will need annealing but don’t hammer it as it will stretch the brass, I would suggest put it on flat steel with heavy flat steel on top.
6 April 2025 at 11:03 #792157
Dave Halford
Participant
@davehalford22513
Assuming these are the brass plates with all the screw cutting gears etc info embossed on them.

Bend the plates carefully with pliers, squeeze between two pieces of hard wood etc . Any heating will remove the black enamel unless these were also painted red when the lathe was. Using a hammer will make the plates unreadable.
Author

Posts

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

Please log in to reply to this topic. Registering is free and easy using the links on the menu at the top of this page.

Code of Conduct

Latest Replies

Viewing 25 topics - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)

- Topic
- Voices
- Posts
- Last Post
- Elliott Omnimill Quill Clamp
  Started by: dangermouse in: Manual machine tools
- 5
- 7
- 6 April 2025 at 18:00
  Diogenes
- Steam pressure using thermistor
  Started by: michael howarth 1 in: General Questions
- 4
- 5
- 6 April 2025 at 17:37
  old mart
- Myford Super 7 restoration problem.
  Started by: Bootlegger Blacky in: Manual machine tools
- 1
- 1
- 6 April 2025 at 17:35
  Bootlegger Blacky
- Problem getting the right parameters on a VFD
  Started by: Robert Graham in: Electronics in the Workshop
- 8
- 12
- 6 April 2025 at 17:19
  Dave Halford
- Tangential tooling 1 2
  Started by: Keith Matheson in: Workshop Tools and Tooling
- 13
- 30
- 6 April 2025 at 17:15
  Vic
- James Coombes Drawing Error (or mine?)
  Started by: Steve Withnell in: Drawing Errors and Corrections
- 5
- 8
- 6 April 2025 at 15:06
  Steve Withnell
- Morse Key
  Started by: Steve Withnell in: Work In Progress and completed items
- 3
- 4
- 6 April 2025 at 14:59
  Steve Withnell
- Chester DB10LB Lathe – Not starting
  Started by: David Deaville in: General Questions
- 3
- 5
- 6 April 2025 at 13:34
  David Deaville
- Supply company catalogues
  Started by: nevillet in: Workshop Tools and Tooling
- 5
- 8
- 6 April 2025 at 13:23
  JasonB
- Measuring increments on boring head
  Started by: Bill Phinn in: Workshop Techniques
- 15
- 21
- 6 April 2025 at 12:46
  Julie Ann
- Machinery Handbook 1 2
  Started by: Dalboy in: Books
- 31
- 40
- 6 April 2025 at 12:03
  Michael Gilligan
- Which type of single phase motors are best for constant use – power hacksaw
  Started by: ell81 in: Beginners questions
- 5
- 5
- 6 April 2025 at 11:44
  Clive Foster
- Flattening brass plates
  Started by: t1krt in: Workshop Techniques
- 6
- 7
- 6 April 2025 at 11:03
  Dave Halford
- Stripped aluminum threads. Now what? 1 2
  Started by: brucemc777 in: Beginners questions
- 19
- 35
- 6 April 2025 at 10:39
  howardb
- Damp proofing concrete floors
  Started by: Duff Machinist in: General Questions
- 13
- 14
- 6 April 2025 at 02:52
  Duff Machinist
- How to wire up 3 phase motor and 3 phase converter?
  Started by: ell81 in: Beginners questions
- 7
- 15
- 5 April 2025 at 18:36
  Robert Atkinson 2
- My week this week! My workshop videos 1 2 … 11 12
  Started by: Phil Whitley in: The Tea Room
- 14
- 286
- 5 April 2025 at 16:00
  Phil Whitley
- Myford S7 Taistock Adjustment
  Started by: Harry Wilkes in: General Questions
- 9
- 12
- 5 April 2025 at 15:17
  Harry Wilkes
- Flexispeed Meteor 2
  Started by: ferroequinologist in: Manual machine tools
- 11
- 19
- 5 April 2025 at 07:01
  ferroequinologist
- What Did You Do Today 2025 1 2 3 4
  Started by: JasonB in: The Tea Room
- 23
- 78
- 4 April 2025 at 20:57
  Nigel Graham 2
- Powered hacksaw – blade lift for the return stroke
  Started by: Sonic Escape in: General Questions
- 8
- 17
- 4 April 2025 at 20:00
  Nicholas Farr
- New member old lathe
  Started by: t1krt in: Introduce Yourself – New members start here!
- 8
- 16
- 4 April 2025 at 19:52
  t1krt
- Which lathes have drawbars in the headstock? 1 2
  Started by: ell81 in: Beginners questions
- 17
- 26
- 4 April 2025 at 18:04
  Howard Lewis
- gear cutting with the shaper
  Started by: jacques maurel in: Workshop Techniques
- 5
- 6
- 4 April 2025 at 15:15
  Andrew Tinsley
- Electric motor vibrations
  Started by: Sonic Escape in: General Questions
- 8
- 12
- 4 April 2025 at 07:38
  JasonB

Viewing 25 topics - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)

View full reply list.

Latest Issue

April 2025

Buy Latest/Back Issues

Newsletter Sign-up

Latest Replies