14 replies to this topic

[BradG]

Hi Guys

I've had a passion for fireworks from a young age, no doubt the same as all of you. Since 2004 I had avoided them and dreaded the thought of of the 5th of November coming around with new years eve. I done a tour in Iraq back in 2003, and unexpected bangs going off around me made me flinch somewhat. now Im getting over that, im enjoying the fireworks once again! We currently have the world championships going on in Blackpool (my hometown) and watched Chinas display last friday. There's a special show next friday marking the end of the event so il be going down to watch that one too 

 

I spent my teen years playing with flash powder. Grew older and wiser and realised its actually not the wisest of ideas and learned it doesn't play that much of a role in pyrotechnics regarding fireworks, with regards to other powders available etc.

 

So, why did i post this thread in the tooling category? because this is likely where i will spend most of my time. By profession, I am a C++ software developer. And my hobbies, are electronic engineering and precision engineering, making tooling and gizmos for a whole host of different fields.

 

 

 

Where i spend most of my time  luckily i have an understanding wife lol.

 

This is my workshop, containing most of my toys which includes:

 

Lathe

Mill

10 Tonne hydraulic press

Pillar drill

metal bandsaw

Electronics workbench fully loaded with most components

PCB manufacuring line

Chrome plating line

Gold plating line

Anodising line

sand blaster

and lots of other things tucked away.

 

Most of this i have for making pens, which has been my main interest for quite a while

To give you an idea:

 

 

 

Moving along, I noticed there's been quite alot of talk with regards to the DIY WASP. That sounds pretty straight forward of a project. If anyone would like some help finishing off their project, get in touch 

 

Still, no doubt most of the Q's i have, have been asked before so il be sure to use the search feature of the boards.. Though I look forward to being able to return the favour of your knowledge with some of mine in the future.

 

Best Regards

Brad

[Pyro-centric]

Welcome along.  What a super introduction.  My best wishes for your continued recovery from the tour of 2003 and I'm so pleased you are able to enjoy things again.

[Arthur Brown]

Welcome along. Enjoy your time here and come over to meet us sometime.

[BradG]

Thanks Chaps. Im always up for a field trip! any excuse to escape Blackpool for the day is always welcome 

[Arthur Brown]

We've just (today !) finished an outing to Royal Gunpowder mills,  Waltham Abbey, and a firing day in Hertfordshire. We're still tired and the next event will be some months. The Society (as distinct from the forum) has it's AGM in about March. This moves round the country and may possibly be in the Midlands in 2014.

[BradG]

sounds like you've had a great weekend! I look forward to catching future events. (anyone sneak out a barrel of gun powder?   )

[Sparky]

Nice workshop and welcome aboard!

[BradG]

Thanks Sparky, keeps me out of trouble anyway 

[dr thrust]

Great looking workshop Brad!, looks much bigger than mine, lol.
Im partial to a little lite engineering myself, how did you get that design on the pen casing?
Also I see you anodise have you had any luck with oxalic acid / sulphuric acid combined electrolytes , I'm looking for a semi hard anodise coat for tooling that's achievable in the home workshop environment without the use of chillers? Regards the doc

[BradG]

I use Ferric chloride as an etchant, but the process varies depending on the alloy. Here's a youtube vid I made while making an aluminium pen. With aluminium the reaction is very exothermic, and very quick, compared for working with brass alloys etc

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=vi8I3lEVyZw

 

With regards to anodising, I stopped looking into type III anodising when I realised that you need chillers to do it. Can't say I've come across oxalic mixes before, il be sure to read up on it

[dr thrust]

Very nice videos on your channel, subbed

[whoof]

Hello Brad and welcome.

I admit to being a little bit envious of that workshop.

Is your chrome real chrome or copy chrome ?
What chemistry is your gold plating ?

[BradG]

Its bright nickel replica chrome. I don't feel anyone should have hexavalent chromium in their workshops. The law surrounding filtration of waste water etc for dealing with it are very on top.. so much as a drop of it down the drain will trigger an investigation with the water board,and for good reason too. Anyone who's curious i suggest they watch Erin Brokovich

 

I use potassium cyanide for gold plating. 

[whoof]

Thanks
Its very difficult to get proper chrome plating done these days.
Not needed often but a bit irritating when i have something that needs it.

[BradG]

Yep, though most scenario's a good replica chrome is a great alternative, The main sector where you wouldn't want to use a replica is on show vehicles. 3 dip chrome is pretty much the only option.

 

Here's one of my chrome pens in natural daylight

 

 

A good trick with gold plating, is rep chrome plate it first, then gold plate it.    They come out super shiny

 

Edited by BradG, 27 September 2013 - 11:41 PM.