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PE Roller??
retiredyank
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Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 12:02 AM UTC
Hope this is the right forum. Before I fork out $25-$50, I was wondering if anybody knows how to make a photo-etch roller?
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 01:35 AM UTC
Got any friends with a machine shop who owe you a favor?
retiredyank
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Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 02:04 AM UTC
I wish.
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 02:09 AM UTC
Just get a set of Tamiya zimm combs, a much cheaper option that works.
retiredyank
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Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 04:50 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Just get a set of Tamiya zimm combs, a much cheaper option that works.


Just checked Tamiya's site and no "combs". Is this an abbreviation?
HawkeyeV
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Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 05:14 AM UTC
I use a bit of masking tape and a drill bit of the appropriate diameter. The tape holds the small part plus gives you leverage to wrap the part around the bit.

But I will say having the right tool for the job is nice. Check out the tools from The Small Shop.

http://thesmallshop.com/



CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 05:35 AM UTC
Matt here is a link to the product I mentioned.
Here
retiredyank
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Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 05:43 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Matt here is a link to the product I mentioned.
Here


Thank you Gerald. I was using a similar method with no luck. Guess I'll just have to tough it out. Darren, I don't see how I can use a zimmerit applicator to bend the etch into a cylinder.
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 06:05 AM UTC
Matt I am sorry I was supposed to post this in another thread which was asking about applying Zim, and as I never looked at the question you posted believing I was on the correct thread I continued to post about a zim applicater.

Get your self some vulcanised rubber and use drilll bits to roll the PE, start with a large sized drill and then use smaller and smaller bits until the desired size is acheived. You can buy the tool mentioned and I would suggest the one from the small shop, however it works by compression (if memory serves me correctly) and you should get the same effect by using the drill bits as rolling pins.
retiredyank
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Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 07:43 AM UTC
Thanks Darren.
panzerbob01
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Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 02:20 PM UTC
I like the Small Shop rolling tool - it offers a range of of half-round channels and corresponding rollers and you can mix roller and channel sizes and do all sorts of rolling to shape parts.

But when laziness has set in and the tool is away on a shelf, I found that a folded paper-towel placed on the work table serves like the piece of vulcanized rubber mentioned above, and almost any round "shaft" does OK -I've used paintbrush handles, knife handles, Bic round pens, and of course, drill-bits.

Whatever route and tool, it pays to do things gently and gradually and work to the size and form you want! Haste will make waste.

Bob
lighthorseman
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Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 04:29 PM UTC
i have one of these PE rolling tools on my birthday wishlist
matt
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Posted: Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 01:34 AM UTC
I use a piece of rubber and some staineless steel rods of different diameters.

Drill bits or plain steel rod would work as well.
retiredyank
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Posted: Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 02:55 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I use a piece of rubber and some staineless steel rods of different diameters.

Drill bits or plain steel rod would work as well.


Thanks Matt. But I seem to be out of spare rubber.
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 03:47 AM UTC
For the size of the rubber you need get an old tyre and cut it out.
retiredyank
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Posted: Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 04:34 AM UTC
Yeah. The rear one on my bike will need to be replaced soon. Lot easier than trying to carve up steel belted radials.
matt
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Posted: Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 07:32 AM UTC
Mudflaps work great for this!
retiredyank
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Posted: Monday, December 20, 2010 - 10:30 PM UTC
Found that the photo etch is too thick. I heated it over a candle and it rolled perfectly. Thanks for all of the tips and techniques.
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