You have to get creative when trying to make parts that are no longer available. Factories could make them easily - IF you wanted thousands or millions of them. Making a few or a few dozen is the challenge.
I am looking into the feasibility of making replacement cycle clutch pulleys for Selectrics. The ones that Tony C. sells are too expensive and I'm looking for a cheaper, more-efficient method.
Shordzi - yeah, thanks for asking! Well, the project started out with high hopes - but has been a little deflated for one reason ... I don't have any broken knobs that I can repair. :-) I need 2 things for this to work: 1. an example of a good knob so that I can cast a mould, and 2. a broken knob so that I can cast the new knob onto the old steel knob collar. I have been working with a couple of collectors that have specific needs, but knobs and collars have yet to appear at my door. So until they do, I cannot answer the question with anything but more questions.
Once I do have knobs finished, I will post them here for sure. I will also be attempting some Hermes green color matching as well as casting plain old black knobs.
A similar project that is under way is casting replacement carriage release levers for 5 and 6 series Smith-Corona's. I'll do a posting on that as well.
Sorry for the delay in response - Blogger is not notifying me of comments by email like I had hoped it would.
Very interesting ... hope it works like a charm!
ReplyDeleteGreat work on the knob. Now when everything is worked out you can make a killing making and selling second generation Hermes 3000 knobs.
ReplyDeleteYou have to get creative when trying to make parts that are no longer available. Factories could make them easily - IF you wanted thousands or millions of them. Making a few or a few dozen is the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI am looking into the feasibility of making replacement cycle clutch pulleys for Selectrics. The ones that Tony C. sells are too expensive and I'm looking for a cheaper, more-efficient method.
Wondering how the project went on... a curious fan.
ReplyDeleteShordzi - yeah, thanks for asking! Well, the project started out with high hopes - but has been a little deflated for one reason ... I don't have any broken knobs that I can repair. :-) I need 2 things for this to work: 1. an example of a good knob so that I can cast a mould, and 2. a broken knob so that I can cast the new knob onto the old steel knob collar. I have been working with a couple of collectors that have specific needs, but knobs and collars have yet to appear at my door. So until they do, I cannot answer the question with anything but more questions.
DeleteOnce I do have knobs finished, I will post them here for sure. I will also be attempting some Hermes green color matching as well as casting plain old black knobs.
A similar project that is under way is casting replacement carriage release levers for 5 and 6 series Smith-Corona's. I'll do a posting on that as well.
Sorry for the delay in response - Blogger is not notifying me of comments by email like I had hoped it would.
Cheers!