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Topic: Machinist, “What type of metal are these pieces made of?" |
Paul Brockett
From:
Connecticut, USA
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Posted 9 May 2017 7:11 am |
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The picture below shows two scissor mechanisms. One from a Sho-Bud guitar and the other from a Fender 400. I know there are many machinists here on the forum and I would like to ask them, “What, exactly are these pieces made of?â€
They feel like steel but they don’t seem to rust easily.
I’ve researched the archives and found information on what the tops of the fingers are routinely made of but not the rest.
Thank you in advance. Paul
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 9 May 2017 7:37 am
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| almost certainly steel of some sort....mild steel most likely. Check with a magnet if the attraction is there but not super strong, they're likely some grade of stainless (yes some of it magnetic and some of it will rust). If there is no magnetic attraction it'll most likely be some stainless alloy or other. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 9 May 2017 7:46 am
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Galvanized steel, perhaps, with rust occurring where the zinc went away? The other steel in a Bud got zinced (zunc?)
_________________
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 9 May 2017 7:52 am
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oops, yes Lane is correct, there's some sort of plating there as well.
Last edited by Ross Shafer on 10 May 2017 5:56 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Paul Redmond
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 9 May 2017 7:32 pm
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Those seem to be mild steel which has first been carburized, then galvanized. Those Fender parts are rock hard.
PRR |
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Paul Brockett
From:
Connecticut, USA
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Posted 10 May 2017 10:45 am Galvanized sheet metal it is!
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Thank you for your responses. As soon as I read your posts a light went on.
I ordered the material from Mcmaster-Carr and was able to mock up a serviceable finger for my fender 400. The picture is the first one I cut out. I’m sure I can get it much closer with some practice. Still this part will make music. Thanks again, Paul
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 10 May 2017 4:41 pm Machinist :What type of metal are these pieces madew of
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I may be late. Been off a few days.
It looks simuliar to galvanize, But it does not have the blotchy pattern of galvanize. There is a coating called Cadmium, It is in the family with galvanize. It is applied by eletro plating. Either to the sheet of metal, Or to the part once made. It has a smoother finish than galvanize. Many bolts and chains and hardware are Cadmium plated. They look good, But will rust if not protected.
The metal its self could be rolled mild steel. A magnet would tell.
Good Looking duplicate copy you made. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 10 May 2017 10:48 pm
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At Performance Guitars, we used some cadmium plating. Not healthy to breath though.
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps |
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Paul Brockett
From:
Connecticut, USA
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Posted 11 May 2017 3:48 am Electroplating makes a lot of sense.
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Thanks again for the replies.
I fully agree; the look of the galvanized metal is different than the look of the original pieces.
Electroplating makes a lot of sense.
Does anyone know if the original parts were stamped out at a factory? Also, would the same factory that stamped the parts, (if that’s what they did) would they have applied the Cadmium coating?
For the record, the original pieces I have are easily attracted to a magnet.
Maybe someone in future years will find this post useful when they need to create a one off piece like I did. |
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Bob Guichard
From:
Central Texas, USA
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Posted 11 May 2017 4:06 pm
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| This finish is electroplated zinc, not to be confused with galvanizing which is a form of zinc coating but does not look anything like this. If interested the ASTM Specification B633-13 gives a good overview of the process. Cadmium has been virtually removed from industry due to its toxicity and is fairly nasty stuff. It has been relegated to specially applications primarily in the aerospace industry. If you plate with cadmium plan on becoming very familiar with your local EPA rep. |
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