Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Austin on January 1, 2017 at 9:43pm

Hi Don,

The only trick I knew was to use a coin or similar round object of the appropriate radius as a template to scribe a radiused outside corner, then cut it with shears and smooth with a file and 3M wheel.  For inside corners, I use an appropriate diameter bit or uni-bit.

I know what you mean, though - if you try to free-hand radiused corners, it's tough to get them all the same and looks terrible if they're not!

John

N750A

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Don Honabach on January 4, 2017 at 6:19pm

Thanks John...  Appreciate the tips! :-)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Damon Brantley on January 2, 2017 at 7:32am

A quick search on amazon shows some corner cutting tools for paper. It might be possible to use one of those directly or modify it to do thinner gauges of aluminum.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Don Honabach on January 4, 2017 at 6:21pm

Thanks Damon. Hadn't considered that and I have a few of those "paper cutters" at home too. Basically lightweight punches.... I'll give it a try and if it works out, I'll let everyone know.  Not a huge amount of hope though, but now I'm curious if nothing else... :-)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Larry Zepp on January 2, 2017 at 6:58pm

Hi Don, Using a 1" wide strip sander from Harbor Freight or other supplier makes this easy. Once you get one, you won't know how you got along without it - does everything short of milling. Best Regards,  Larry Zepp, Zodiac 650B, Fort Wayne

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Don Honabach on January 4, 2017 at 6:25pm

Thanks Larry! :-)

I've got a sanding wheel that does well too and even had good success abusing my 3M polishing wheel for this purpose as well. Ultimately though, it's just hard getting the *exact* same corner sizes all around a piece. It's 100% an OCD thing if you know what I mean! ZAC would say -- "you are not building a space ship -- stop trying to build to NASA standards ...", but I sort of like building spaceships - LOL!

I almost always just use a file now to round the corners -- both inside and out. I'm usually cleaning up the edges with the file any ways, and typically can create nice round corners in 10 to 20 seconds with the file. I'm actually most consistent with this method as the machine methods (sanding wheel, strip, and/or 3M wheel) tends to quickly take too much material away before you've realized what happened. That said -- still not *exact* with any of them :-(

Was just hoping for the perfect "Squeeze and Done Tool"  ... Or said another way, had a lot of corners to round recently and thought there has to be a better way ... :-(

Don

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wayne Woloshin on January 4, 2017 at 9:38pm

I have seen a 1" hand held belt sander file type tool for taking care of the aluminum edges.Should be available at most tool stores, Harbour Freight , HomeDepot.

• ▶ Reply