I've been trying to figure this out for quite awhile now. I've seen the
engine turned finish on a variety of metals and I understand that it can be
done on basically any bright metal, but does anyone know how to create the
finish? Thanks!

You can do it on a drillpress.
You need a moveable "fence" to guide the material
Fence needs to have regular markings so increment the pattern.
You need something to chuck into the DP to make the circular patter. For
a small pattern, a cheap inkpen with an ink eraser on it works well.
For something bigger, you need something similar - A piece of round
plastic and some valve grind compound might work.
So you start your pattern at point X. Hit it with the drillpress and
whatever tool you are using. Then advance the work by 3/4 of the
diameter and make the 2nd circle. Repeat to end of workpiece. Then move
the fence back the same amount as you incremented in the Y axis and
start 2nd row.
If you have a mill with 2-axis DRO, it's a piece of cake.
That's a very general description. I'm sure better ones will be
forthcoming.


G.A. wrote:
I've been trying to figure this out for quite awhile now. I've seen the
engine turned finish on a variety of metals and I understand that it can be
done on basically any bright metal, but does anyone know how to create the
finish? Thanks!

"Rex B" wrote in message
...
You can do it on a drillpress.
You need a moveable "fence" to guide the material
Fence needs to have regular markings so increment the pattern.
You need something to chuck into the DP to make the circular patter. For
a small pattern, a cheap inkpen with an ink eraser on it works well.
For something bigger, you need something similar - A piece of round
plastic and some valve grind compound might work.
So you start your pattern at point X. Hit it with the drillpress and
whatever tool you are using. Then advance the work by 3/4 of the
diameter and make the 2nd circle. Repeat to end of workpiece. Then move
the fence back the same amount as you incremented in the Y axis and
start 2nd row.
If you have a mill with 2-axis DRO, it's a piece of cake.
That's a very general description. I'm sure better ones will be
forthcoming.

You are describing an 'engine finish'. Engine turning is a sort of wavy
pattern produced by a machine-driven scriber. It used to be popular on
cigarette lighters and cigarette boxes.

Leon

Nope, Engine Turning is exactly what he described the process as being.
I haven't heard the terminoligy of "engine finish" other than as a
diffeerent name for the process by those that want to make a new name for
the process.
Engine turning is the swirlling finish that overlaps as you go across the
piece of work. The only problem with doing the finish is getting the steps
exactly the same distance from each other. Being off by even a little bit
makes the finish look ratty and uneven.
I'll note that Cratex makes a lot of toolbits for doing this finish in a
large number of sizes.

--
Why isn't there an Ozone Hole at the NORTH Pole?

Bob May wrote:
Nope, Engine Turning is exactly what he described the process as being.

Some might not agree.

http://www.pledge.co.uk/

http://www.rgmwatches.com/engine.html

http://www.vintagepens.com/wahl_engine_turning.shtml


Kevin Gallimore

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On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 18:33:57 -0500, axolotl
wrote:

Bob May wrote:
Nope, Engine Turning is exactly what he described the process as being.

Some might not agree.

http://www.pledge.co.uk/

http://www.rgmwatches.com/engine.html

http://www.vintagepens.com/wahl_engine_turning.shtml


Kevin Gallimore

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Those are some cool pictures. I saw something like that once , very
very interesting stuff. Personally I don't think I'd get into it that
bad , just mind blowing on the capability. Never did like the big
circular pattern type myself.


What I would like to know is what is engine with computers? Turning AI
Like mechanical ? Are relays , hmmm...

"G.A." wrote in message
...
I've been trying to figure this out for quite awhile now. I've seen the
engine turned finish on a variety of metals and I understand that it can
be
done on basically any bright metal, but does anyone know how to create the
finish? Thanks!



Any sign shop that does gold leaf would be able to help you out.

Shawn

I got the best results I've had to date on a custom 'billet' air cleaner for
a friend's '69 GTO. I used the 3M "rolock" abrasive disks, taking care to
knock off the "fuzzies" on the edges before starting.

It worked like a charm. I used the mill table's X & Y feeds to set the
steps.

LLoyd

"G.A." wrote in message
...
I've been trying to figure this out for quite awhile now. I've seen the
engine turned finish on a variety of metals and I understand that it can
be
done on basically any bright metal, but does anyone know how to create the
finish? Thanks!

On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 18:33:57 -0500, axolotl
wrote:

Bob May wrote:
Nope, Engine Turning is exactly what he described the process as being.

Some might not agree.

http://www.pledge.co.uk/

http://www.rgmwatches.com/engine.html

http://www.vintagepens.com/wahl_engine_turning.shtml


Kevin Gallimore

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Thanks for posting those links. I'd seen other examples before but
nothing like the second link. And those videos were most enlightening.
I was mildly interested before and have some equipment for doing watch
and instrument making but now I want a rosette making machine. I guess
it's research time. I have a customer who has customers who have the
money and taste for custom engined turned articles. Thanks again.
Eric R Snow,
E T Precision Machine

You can call straight line scribing as engine turning if you want to but I
more consider it to be ruling. Other fancy scribing is again more defined
by other names, especially as there is no "turning" of the tool or work
involved in the process other than to quicken the rate of stock removal.

--
Why isn't there an Ozone Hole at the NORTH Pole?

Eric R Snow wrote:

now I want a rosette making machine.

I have done some idle speculation about what could done with steppers.
Please keep us posted on your progress.

Kevin Gallimore

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In article ,
Bob May wrote:
You can call straight line scribing as engine turning if you want to but I
more consider it to be ruling. Other fancy scribing is again more defined
by other names, especially as there is no "turning" of the tool or work
involved in the process other than to quicken the rate of stock removal.

Perhaps -- but it is still a single-point metal removal process
similar to that which occurs in a lathe. On that basis, I would be
willing to let them keep using the term "turning", as they have for over
100 years. :-)

Enjoy,
DoN.

--
Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---

You can call straight line scribing as engine turning if you want to but I
more consider it to be ruling. Other fancy scribing is again more defined
by other names, especially as there is no "turning" of the tool or work
involved in the process other than to quicken the rate of stock removal.

--

Gold Machinery has usually had a few different types of antique engine turning
machines for sale on eBay. Here are those that are on now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3871977 3
56&tc=photo

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=387220147 8
&tc=photo

Have never seen one of these in person or in operation, but the next time I
find myself near Pawtucket I just might stop.

John Martin

Quick way is to clamp a straight edge on your drill press and use a small
wire brush (kind they use in a drill) in the chuck. Use a hose clamp on it
to keep it from spreading. Work the piece along the straight edge the
desired distance for each spot. Results may vary so practice first.

On 09 Feb 2005 02:32:50 GMT, (JMartin957) wrote:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=387220147 8
&tc=photo
Thank you for the reference. The nearly $4000.00 price is too high for
me now, but if I ever get serious it would be OK.
Eric

Eric:

Never meant to imply that you should buy one of those machines, just
that they are interesting. I suspect that learning how to use one to
its full capabilities would require years. As with the old ornamental
turning lathes - which they of course are very much like.

I've seen those machines - or ones very similar - for sale by Gold for
quite a while. So, they either have a source for many of these
machines, or the ones they offer are the same ones they've had for a
very long time. I suspect the latter.

John Martin

New England was the hotbed of watch making in the old days and these may be
machines that used to make the fancy engraving on those watches. The
Chicago area was another place where watches were made.

--
Why isn't there an Ozone Hole at the NORTH Pole?

On 9 Feb 2005 08:40:23 -0800, "John" wrote:

Eric:

Never meant to imply that you should buy one of those machines, just
that they are interesting. I suspect that learning how to use one to
its full capabilities would require years. As with the old ornamental
turning lathes - which they of course are very much like.

I've seen those machines - or ones very similar - for sale by Gold for
quite a while. So, they either have a source for many of these
machines, or the ones they offer are the same ones they've had for a
very long time. I suspect the latter.

John Martin

Greetings John,
I know you were just showing me some examples. But I'd sure like to
learn how to use one of those machines. The patterns could be
generated with CNC equipment but the turning machines are so elegant.
And the work that can be done with one of them! I'm thinking about
asking a certain customer if his customers might be interested in
having some custom engine turned pieces. He works on fancy homes. He
does the hardware and locks. Hinges and that kind of thing. Recently I
made 2 runs of 1000 each hinge finials for him. 800 alone went into
one home. The doors were tall, 8 feet or higher, and each door had 4
hinges using two finials per hinge. That comes out to 100 doors in one
house. The extra 200 finials are for his stock and for extras to be
left at the house as replacements. The people who own these homes
spend money like water on some stuff. It wouldn't take too many jobs
to pay the 4 grand for the one machine. I wonder what the learning
curve is?
Cheers,
Eric

On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 12:45:07 -0600, Rex B wrote:

You can do it on a drillpress.
You need a moveable "fence" to guide the material
Fence needs to have regular markings so increment the pattern.
You need something to chuck into the DP to make the circular patter. For
a small pattern, a cheap inkpen with an ink eraser on it works well.
For something bigger, you need something similar - A piece of round
plastic and some valve grind compound might work.
So you start your pattern at point X. Hit it with the drillpress and
whatever tool you are using. Then advance the work by 3/4 of the
diameter and make the 2nd circle. Repeat to end of workpiece. Then move
the fence back the same amount as you incremented in the Y axis and
start 2nd row.
If you have a mill with 2-axis DRO, it's a piece of cake.
That's a very general description. I'm sure better ones will be
forthcoming.

I've done a few small pieces this way. A wooden dowel with leather
glued to the end and valve grind compound or jewelers rouge for a fine
finish.