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Topic: Brass bar ... Tungsten filled.....then chromed |
Brian Henry
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Posted 8 Aug 2016 11:04 am |
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I really like a 3/4" diameter brass bar and usually get my machinist friend to put a bullet on one end and then drill out a 1/2" hole and fill it with molten lead, the send it a away to be triple chromed. These bars are great.. I have a question.
Would it be feasible to fill the hole with tungsten powder, which is much much heavier than brass? Tungsten powder is readily available on eBay.
Also if so, what would be the best way to make sure the tungsten powder would not escape?
Thank you |
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Storm Rosson
From:
Silver City, NM. USA
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Posted 8 Aug 2016 5:43 pm
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| Maybe a threaded plug using a hex (allen) wrench to tighten. |
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Jeremy Threlfall
From:
now in Western Australia
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Ned McIntosh
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 8 Aug 2016 7:03 pm
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A solid Tungsten slug would be even better - more mass.
Depleted Uranium better still - even more mass!
_________________
The steel guitar is a hard mistress. She will obsess you, bemuse and bewitch you. She will dash your hopes on what seems to be whim, only to tease you into renewing the relationship once more so she can do it to you all over again...and yet, if you somehow manage to touch her in that certain magic way, she will yield up a sound which has so much soul, raw emotion and heartfelt depth to it that she will pierce you to the very core of your being. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 9 Aug 2016 7:45 am
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Or you could maybe just buy a nice BJS bar.  |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 9 Aug 2016 7:28 pm
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Erv, the chromed SDF can hold their own with the BJS.
I believe (but haven't double-checked) that the SDF Tungsten bars have molten Tungsten poured in.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 10 Aug 2016 6:47 am
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| The melting point of Tungsten is over 6000 degrees, I'm very doubtful he's pouring molten Tungsten as it'd probably melt the stainless or steel bar it was being poured into. Both have melting points that are less than half that of tungsten. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 10 Aug 2016 7:23 am
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For the life of me I can't understand why people go to so such trouble to reinvent the wheel.
If they would spend half their time on practicing that they do dreaming up these cockamamie ideas, there time would be much better spent. |
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DG Whitley
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Posted 10 Aug 2016 7:27 am
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Erv, I agree with you. A ton of great music has been played with very simply made bars. I think "seat time" will bear greater results playing-wise than "exotic" tone bars.
But again, to each their own. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 10 Aug 2016 7:33 am
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Amen, brother!  |
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Scott Swartz
From:
St. Louis, MO
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 10 Aug 2016 12:54 pm
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DG, some of us like heavy bars. Having been playing for a couple decades, I think I can say I can sound like me with any hard metal. The Tungsten filled are pretty cool
Ross, that's handy to know. Obviously not likely to be the method, then.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Brian Henry
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Posted 15 Aug 2016 9:51 am
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Hi Erv, I take your point. My only reason for this crazy idea is that I had the index finger on my left hand amputated as a result of a childhood accident. I can play ok, do gigs all the time, have made cds with a regular BJS.
But I like a small 3/4" bar for my hand size. I feel that if I had a 3/4" brass bar that was chromed and drilled out to 2 1/2" and a piece of really heavy tungsten inserted, it would require less pressure on my wrist. Its worth a try, even though it probably sound stupid. |
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Patrick Huey
From:
Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2016 10:01 am
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| Brian Henry wrote: |
Hi Erv, I take your point. My only reason for this crazy idea is that I had the index finger on my left hand amputated as a result of a childhood accident. I can play ok, do gigs all the time, have made cds with a regular BJS.
But I like a small 3/4" bar for my hand size. I feel that if I had a 3/4" brass bar that was chromed and drilled out to 2 1/2" and a piece of really heavy tungsten inserted, it would require less pressure on my wrist. Its worth a try, even though it probably sound stupid. |
Brian, trying anything different isn't stupid cause it's often the most outlandish stuff that works best. I amputated the end of my right thumb a few years ago and just took 1/4-1/2" off the tip. The end is now kind of fat and round instead of tapered. I'm still trying to find a thumb pick that'll stay put good.
_________________
Pre RP Mullen D10 8/7, Zum 3/4, Carter S-10 3/4, previous Cougar SD-10 3/4 & GFI S-10 3/4, Fender Steel King, 2 Peavey Session 500's, Peavey Nashville 400, Boss DD-3, Profex-II, Hilton Digital Sustain, '88 Les Paul Custom,Epiphone MBIBG J-45, Fender Strat & Tele's, Takamine acoustics, Marshall amps, Boss effects, Ibanez Tube Screamer, and it all started with an old cranky worn out Kay acoustic you could slide a Mack truck between the strings and fretboard on!! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2016 10:24 am
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Brian,
I understand, my best wishes in your endeavor. |
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Brian Henry
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Posted 6 Sep 2016 3:23 pm
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Her is a pro type. It is 3 1/4" in length and 3/4" in diameter. As you can see the center was milled out, the bar cut in two, very heavy and expensive tungsten inserted and the two halves pressed together. As it is ,t really is awesome, but I will be sending it to St Lewis Chrome plating. They only charge $10 per bar bar and do a great job.
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