Easy Center Band Material

[Wmcullen]

I'm not sure if this process is right or wrong; unique or common. But I want to share in case it's interesting.​

30: Easy Classy Center Band
last post- 29: Scribe Tool for Octagon Cuts

Wenge with Aluminum Composite ACM Centerband
Many folks have talked up Aluminum Composite as a segmenting material.
I just discovered it... and like it a lot!
I ordered a 12"x12" sheet for $5.50 with free shipping to my local HD store.​

The material is thin, but I drilled a 1/4" hole in the middle and loaded it onto my mandrel to incorporate into a few pen designs as center bands.

[Loaded between padauk blanks]

Prepare blanks using barrel trimmer.

Turn down to within the barrel trimmed diameter.

Reload mandrel with centerband material.

Turn down together.

Summary
One advantage to turning on a mandrel is I can "see" how the upper and lower sections work with the centerband.
I can decide where the visual breaks are, even if they don't line up with pen components.
This Aluminum Composite is budget-friendly, easy to use, and a great new material to play with.

Thanks for looking
- Cullen

 

[Kenny Durrant]

I like the look. Nice and clean. First time I've heard of Aluminum Composite. Thanks for sharing.

 

[pewink]

Dibond is the leader in ACM. If you like that material, check Rowmark, and Gemini. The surface material won't matter, as only the edge would be visible for this particular use. There are several other companies as well, but I use these brands often.

 

[Gregf]

Had not heard of this either. Just ordered.
Thanks!

 

[Kenny Durrant]

Since I'm not the only one that hasn't heard about the Composite Aluminum is it a metal material or a shiny plastic?

 

[Stuart Robertson]

Is this the stuff with polyethylene core?
What became of that thin stuff we used to use as a tang liner on knife handles?About 1/32 to 1/16 thick and came in different colours...

 

[pewink]

Is this the stuff with polyethylene core?
What became of that thin stuff we used to use as a tang liner on knife handles?About 1/32 to 1/16 thick and came in different colours...

G10 is common.

 

[boatemp]

Sounds like engraving plastic. They have indoor and outdoor. Check out plastic, engraved name tags. Same stuff.

 

[sorcerertd]

Since I'm not the only one that hasn't heard about the Composite Aluminum is it a metal material or a shiny plastic?

I wondered what it was also. The site says "Aluminum Composite panels feature two thin sheets of Aluminum enclosing a Polyethylene core."
I wonder if it's available with different core colors? This looks pretty sharp!

 

[Wmcullen]

I wonder if it's available with different core colors?

I was also wondering if the polyethylene core was available in different colors, but haven't found that yet. Looks like this material is used for signs and as a lightweight but durable outdoor material.

 

[boatemp]

As a former sign maker, I've never seen it (the center) in a color other than black. The outer layer of aluminum can be gotten in several color i.e. red, blue, black but that is only on the face. When used on a pen, you wouldn't even see the color

 

[sorcerertd]

The outer layer of aluminum can be gotten in several color

I did notice that looking around on the HD site. I suppose it would be easy enough to make your own using other materials, as I'm sure has been done, but that takes the convenience factor out.

 

[Stuart Robertson]

I was also wondering if the polyethylene core was available in different colors, but haven't found that yet. Looks like this material is used for signs and as a lightweight but durable outdoor material.

With ACM the sheet surface colour is the only thing seen.
Polyethylene is produced in millions of tons annually.Don't know what grade of PE the core is in ACM.
HDPE is also made in multi colour sheet form.Takes away some of the convenience but you could stick Al to that.Glue choice and adhesion could be interesting.
And then there's polypropylene, also available in multiple colours.Might be more brittle?

 

[Stuart Robertson]

I was also wondering if the polyethylene core was available in different colors, but haven't found that yet. Looks like this material is used for signs and as a lightweight but durable outdoor material.

Mr.Sticky poly bonder apparently.
Short youtube video on process.
Hdpe needs a little heat treatment but also glue seems to need
.007" thickness.