It's becoming a serious problem...........

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This Domino making.......It's becoming a problem.... I'm trying to get them more and more accurate and shiny with the tools I currently have.....For example.... I found some black and some white bars..... I used each.... and they produced good results....... I'm starting to learn how to get the scratches out....... with what I have.....I'm getting it closer to be able to read the license plate on the cars in the driveway from the garage........ I can even see the grey nose hair now when I examine the pieces........The problem is..... after each set.... I'm instantly no longer satisfied......... because they should be better......I'm platic dipping my next set..... just for fun....... carbon steel......My latest Stainless Set is 1/2" thick, 1" X 2".......PICS...... Attached ImagesPrecision TIG 185 and MP 210Bobcat 225NTCutmaster 42O/A tanks.... 2 Argon tanks...... 2 C25 TanksFacebook...... F2 Metal WorksETSY....... https://www.etsy.com/shop/F2MetalWorksF2MetalWorks.com....... http://www.f2metalworks.com/
Reply:Dude seriously, you are the man... you DO NOT STOP! I love it. Looking Good!Miller Dynasty 300 DXMiller CST280Miller Maxstar 150 STH
Reply:Very cool, they look great.Are you using a mill to make these?
Reply:I could use a stainless set of dominoes!
Reply:Thanks..... and......Nope.... no Mill yet......I have these:Bandsaw.....4lb hammer and a punch.......Dewalt Angle Grinder.......Lowes table top drill press........HF polishing unit........Precision TIG 185 and MP 210Bobcat 225NTCutmaster 42O/A tanks.... 2 Argon tanks...... 2 C25 TanksFacebook...... F2 Metal WorksETSY....... https://www.etsy.com/shop/F2MetalWorksF2MetalWorks.com....... http://www.f2metalworks.com/
Reply:Fexal:   I could store a set up here in Washington State.  Just so you don't have all of your hard work in one spot...Just saying.....
Reply:I have had a plaque for many years that hung in my office that my father gave me many, many years ago that says, simply, "The pursuit of perfection is a humbling experience."
Reply:I love that and would like to use it some day.
Reply:Looks like you're jumping from sanding to polishing too quick.  A belt sander/grinder with a 120 or finer grit would make a big difference before the polish.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Those are nice!My son was looking over my shoulder just now and said 'WOW'!He likes them too.
Reply:FexalThere are two aspects to your desire; and they are in conflict.If you were able to product the perfect embodiment  -  square, ideal finish, with wholly holes  -  the surface would only suffer in usage; andin time it would look like a worn commercially produced product.I prefer the obvious - love of labor look - visible in you pieces.What you consider too rough, will soften in time  -  but still maintain the'great grandfather Fexal made these'  -  look and character.Folk art is genuine art.Opus
Reply:turn table and some 3 micron goop start out with 120 and work you way downwill give you a mirror finishit what we use for metallurgical samplesMiller Xmt 350Lincoln Ln-25Ahp 200xSmith Gas Mixer AR/HTig is my Kung FuThrowing down dimes and weaving aboutInstagram http://instagram.com/[email protected]
Reply:Thanks everyone.......At the end of the day...... I'm having loads of fun........  From going to Westbrook to get metal and shooting the breeze with Jerry......... All the way to taking pics to post here...... Fun from start to finish........Tomorrow..... More cutting.... More stick practice...... And buying Blues Clues cupcakes for Ava's fourth birthday on Monday........FUN will be theme of the day..........Precision TIG 185 and MP 210Bobcat 225NTCutmaster 42O/A tanks.... 2 Argon tanks...... 2 C25 TanksFacebook...... F2 Metal WorksETSY....... https://www.etsy.com/shop/F2MetalWorksF2MetalWorks.com....... http://www.f2metalworks.com/
Reply:There is no fun in this....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:You might buy a cheap chinese surface plate and some stick-on sanding disks of various grits.  Stick these onto the surface plate, then lap your dominos against it.  This will make the surface of the dominos really flat and give a good mirror once you lap through all the grits and then polish.You'll probably have to harden the dominos to get a lasting mirror finish.  Softer metal will still take a polish, but it'll easily pick up scratches with use.Hardening may also give you a nice side-effect.  Hardened dominos may have a nicer "ring" sound compared to the soft ones.You might take a look at how they make gage blocks.  You probably don't want your domino sizes to be measured in the millionths of an inch, but the surface smoothness and ability to 'wring' the blocks may be interesting.Yeaaaaaah, I could spend a lot of time doing this sort of thing.Dynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:Cool stuff, of you really want to make life easier, look into a vibratory tumbler an different media to run in it. Throw the parts in a few at a time and let it do the work for a few hours.ESAB Migmaster 250Ltec ST23 spoolgunMiller Passport
Reply:FexalBe forewarned!AndyA is trying to get his set of: cryo'd - gage block - dominos,in the next James Bond Movie.Don't be misguided.Opus
Reply:I very much like your dominos, and the simple approach of using what you have, and making them as good as you can.  People can do amazing work with simple tools - especially when they like doing it!  Sure you could use fancier tools, but that doesn't necessarily make it more satisfying.Miller Dynasty 200 DXMiller CP-300 with 30A feederHypertherm Powermax 900Oxy-fuel w/Harris torchesScotchman Glide-in bandsawMonarch 10EE latheEmi-Mec Autoturn latheDeckel FP2NC milling machinePro-Tools 105 Bender
Reply:Happy, happy birthday to your 4-year old. I remember the days fondly. They pass so darned quickly. Relish them while you still can.
Reply:WOW!! good job..so nicely donethanks for sharing
Reply:Originally Posted by AndyAYou might buy a cheap chinese surface plate and some stick-on sanding disks of various grits.  Stick these onto the surface plate, then lap your dominos against it...
Reply:I'll take any that you aren't satisfied with VERY NICEMiller 252Miller Bobcat 225Lincoln MigPak 1801959 Hyster forkliftHarris OA torch
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumFor the dominoes, a decent sized piece of scrap granite from a counter top outfit would do nicely.  Those guys give away their broken scrap pieces.As for gage blocks, I read that years ago, Webber used to keep their final finishing process secret.  If people would visit, the machines were covered.  As an added precaution, there were lots of risque girly pictures on the wall to distract the observers.
Reply:Just a thought here Fex, but have you heard of Lacquer Stick ?  http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-to...-prod7778.aspxIt would give those dots some contrast with black, white or my favorite, Red.
Reply:You could go and make crosses and wine bottle holders.I had projects that didn't meet my expectations and when shown to others thought they were awesome. We are too critical of our work. Only us guys that do this see the flaws.Respectfully I might say that imperfection is, many times, it's own beauty; a guarantee of individuality and the signature of a continually evolving artist.  Just a thought. Personally, I would rather value character than chrome-dip perfection.
Reply:Get yourself some water stones.  They are relatively cheap and will make the polishing much easier.  If you are ending with 120 grit sand paper and then going to polish I would suggest a 400 grit and 1000 grit water stone.  The water stone will make a much more consistent scratch pattern and make the higher polish go much faster and look much better if a mirror polish is what you are after.  Aside from that tidbit of advice, keep up the great work, experience is often the best teacher and it would appear you are quite the good student.Chris.
Reply:Wow, that looks really nice.  Good job brother, your attention to detail is what sets your work apart.  I like them just as they are.  Too perfect and it does not have that "made by hand antique look."GarLincoln Electric, Power MIG 256Hypertherm Powermax 45 Miller Dynasty 280DXSmith O/A torchGenesis of a welding table
Reply:Make another 5,000 dominoes, then set em up around your shop and get a video of the course.Maybe afterwards you could make a sign for your local Domino's pizza store!
Reply:InsanerideThanx for the Lacquer Stick link.It scratches an itch.Opus