"jeweling?" "turning?" whatever it's called

[gamble]

I have a customer that wants this done on their piece.



Can I buy a piece that's already done and just cut my parts out there?
Can this be done on a steel or only aluminum?
The piece is round 2' diameter. What's the best way to accomplish this with 2" circles? And the best way to do it consistently. I don't have a drill press with a large enough throat either.

I am just learning about this so no idea where to start and what to use.

[CNCCAJUN]

Depend how large do you want each of the swirls to be?

The simplest way to do small swirls is to use squares of green Scotch Brite glued to the end of an elevator bolt.

Large swirls can be done with a non-orbiting sander, handheld drill(cautiously) or a side grinder.

Scotch Brite on the bottom of whatever you choose.

Regardless of size desired you need to layout some guide lines so it will look professional.

Allow for your overlap, typically for the look you want 1/3.

I you do not it will look like someone was trying to just clean the metal.

Aluminum or stainless is your best choice, otherwise you have to clear coat it.

What you are attempting is very time consuming.

I would offer him a price with 2" & 4" "TURNS"

Steve

[CNCCAJUN]

I assume this is a car related project.

I used to jewel stainless S&W Pistols for people with a Dremel & Semi-Chrome . . .

It takes time . . .

Steve

[abmetal]

It's called engine turning. You can buy it like that but it's kinda' pricey. I've always used the 2" round Scotchbrite pads and a die grinder. Works good...and simple.

Allen

[CNCCAJUN]

It's called engine turning. You can buy it like that but it's kinda' pricey. I've always used the 2" round Scotchbrite pads and a die grinder. Works good...and simple.

Allen

How do you layout your pattern?

I tried chalk lines but you can never get rid of the chalk . . .

Steve

[gamble]

It's actually for a sign, not a car part, but for a car type company

Yes what's the best way to lay it out? And who sells it like this already?

[abmetal]

I just eyeball it. I start out at an edge, turning half circles on the first row. Then on the next row go down half circle and offset a half circle. Confused? It's kinda' hard to explain but it really is simple. If you need, I'll post some pics of the process and maybe that will help. I'm sure there's somebody on this site that can explain it better than I can.

At the company where I used to work, we made lots and lots of stainless cabinets, boxes, doors, etc., and that's how we done all of them.

Allen

[acourtjester]

The way I have seem it done is on a drill press. You clamp a wooden fence on the table like a 1 x 4 that you mark with the intervals between each swirl. To make the swirls start on one corner and slide along the fence to the next mark and do another. After you complete that row un-clamp the fence and move it the distance to make the next row. Now swirl the next row sliding along the fence to complete the panel. This way you are swirling in an equally spaced pattern.

[JEd]

Reminds me of this video that I've always thought was pretty cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=341mObTmk2k

[WyoGreen]

Now that video opens up some interesting ideas........ That's what I love about CNC, the possibilities are endless!