Gomer - Posted - 12/14/2010:  08:11:18

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So I have this MOP truss rod cover with my name engraved in it. This is realy cool. Any body who might hear me play might think that I was once a very famous and talented picker until the accident when both of my hands were run over by an 18 wheeler and every bone broken so that while the wonders of medicine were able to restore the appearance, that the functionality is severly affected.
Anyway, back to the MOPTRC, it is a bit thick and the edges too squared off for my liking and I was fixing to get up close and personal with a shot glass and some abrasive. Are there any thoughts on how you might go about thinning out the piece and what type of abrasive you might use???

dickinnorwich - Posted - 12/14/2010:  08:34:58

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quote:

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Originally posted by Gomer

So I have this MOP truss rod cover with my name engraved in it. This is realy cool. Any body who might hear me play might think that I was once a very famous and talented picker until the accident when both of my hands were run over by an 18 wheeler and every bone broken so that while the wonders of medicine were able to restore the appearance, that the functionality is severly affected.
Anyway, back to the MOPTRC, it is a bit thick and the edges too squared off for my liking and I was fixing to get up close and personal with a shot glass and some abrasive. Are there any thoughts on how you might go about thinning out the piece and what type of abrasive you might use???

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Tommy:
A few weeks ago we were talking about making nuts by laminating pearl and abalone. My wife had a bunch of cabochon shells she let me have. They were somewhat concave on one side so I applied a tape "handle" on the opposite side and held them down on the belt sander to flatten them. The last time I checked, I still had 10 fingers.

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Edited by - dickinnorwich on 12/14/2010 10:31:41

plunka5 - Posted - 12/14/2010:  08:49:39

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Gomer don't breath the dust! Can be hazardous to your health!

stringBob - Posted - 12/14/2010:  09:03:17

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I'd steer clear of power tools if I had less than half an inch between my skin and the abrading surface. Plus it's so easy to overcook things - you have so much more control doing it by hand.

I'd also use the shot glass for the triumphant celebration when all goes well.

I'd steer towards wet and dry abrasive paper ( used wet). You can buy it in so fine a grit you could probably polish the edge afterwards with auto polish just to finish the job off.


Regards,
Mel

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Edited by - stringBob on 12/14/2010 09:18:27

steve davis - Posted - 12/14/2010:  10:01:55

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Tape or glue your favorite grit sandpaper to a flat piece of plywood or some other
flat surface and do the tape handle as Dick says and hand sand it.

banjobrotheroz - Posted - 12/14/2010:  14:47:16

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As plunka5 said, dont breath in any of the dust it is very toxic. use a mask and if you can sand it down with wet paper or under a flowing tap to eliminate the dust.

gdoc - Posted - 12/14/2010:  15:16:11

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How about just beveling the edges?

blm10jn - Posted - 12/14/2010:  17:57:17

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Do you know how much pearl dust you have to breath for it to be seriously toxic. One h--- of a lot. It is primarily abrasive. While I would not deliberately snort the stuff you should minimally use a dust mask. A trace amount of pearl dust will not kill you. But then maybe I have been dead for 35 years and just don't know it.

Gomer - Posted - 12/14/2010:  18:00:04

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I like brother Richards idea with the tape. I will choose the liquor to go in the shot glass standing by in case I get my fingers damp during the wet-sanding process.

dickinnorwich - Posted - 12/14/2010:  19:21:51

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quote:

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Originally posted by Gomer

I like brother Richards idea with the tape. I will choose the liquor to go in the shot glass standing by in case I get my fingers damp during the wet-sanding process.

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Tommy:
I used a piece of Gorilla tape because it didn't seem to be affected much by the heat of the belt sander. The good news is that this is a one handed job which leaves the other hand to hold the shot glass.

falconeman - Posted - 12/14/2010:  20:08:41

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Now we need a new thread to find out what type of Whiskey to drink when operating power tools. I vote for Red Breast Irish!

Gomer - Posted - 12/14/2010:  21:04:33

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I think it might be unwise to operate powertools while drinking, which is the reason I chose Mr. Richard's tape idea. I am going to find a sand paper that is fine enough where I can be at the project for long enough to take my time, but fast enough that none of the liquor evaporates in the shotglass

desert rose - Posted - 12/14/2010:  21:50:41

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I think 150 grit is a good safe number

It will be agressive but you will be in control.

This is for thinning out. For rebeveling this will work but you will want to follow with finer grits to pretty it up

As far as pearl dust

IT IS NOT TOXIC thisis voodoo

It is like small glass particles or abrasive particles so obviously its not something desireable but it is not poison and wont give you a mystery desiese or cause cancer just by being in the room

It takes YEARS and decades of daily exposure to effect the lungs and you develope a kind irratation.

Chuck Erikson the Duke of Pearl who has handled more pearl shell than anyone alive came here a few months ago and detailed his decades of research and efforts to debunk the voodoo about this

I think anyone who has smoked for even a short time has done much more life threatening activity to their lungs

Scott

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Edited by - desert rose on 12/14/2010 21:53:23

GarlicBreath - Posted - 12/14/2010:  23:42:05

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Actually mother of pearl dust is a wonderful calcium supplement.

Come on we feed chickens and geese oyster shell which is the same thing. Your wife or GF pays top dollar for calcium supplements when the same thing can be achieved by grinding oyster shell fine and putting in capsules. Or eating yer egg shells CRUNCH CRUNCH yuk OK grind those up and put in capsules and swallow.

There ARE dangerous dusts. Some of the exotic hardwoods, stainless steel (which has nickel in it, bad) and beryllium oxide but I'm new to this; there may in fact be no beryllium oxide parts in banjos.

desert rose - Posted - 12/15/2010:  01:34:27

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Here are facts researched by someone who REALLY wants to know and had four decades working with shell

banjoholler.org/forum/index.ph...ic=2349.0

Alex, yes the shell is a dietary suppliment as well as garden enhancer. NOT toxic by defination

Scott

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Edited by - desert rose on 12/15/2010 01:36:32

plunka5 - Posted - 12/15/2010:  05:02:54

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Thanks for posting that Scott...I'm guilty of spreading a "voodoo" rumor! I had always heard it was dangerous to breath. When in fact, much of the Japanese cuisine contains shell..many condiments used on rice have bit of shrimp and other shellfish in them...Hmmm, think I will go eat some leftover gomoku cha-han!

desert rose - Posted - 12/15/2010:  05:26:07

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Well its not GOOD to breath thats for sure Either is rosewood or walnut dust.

But it is not toxic or poisonous.

It can in advanced examples cause possibly a white version of black lung. It can over extended years of heavy exposure cause fluid buildup in the lungs due to the fine crystals damaging the tissues

So while it wont poison you, breathing it isnt going to give you any extra stamina either

Its interesting that Chuck actually debunked the most famous cases by talking directly to the doctors treating the patients

Scott

Frisco Fred - Posted - 12/15/2010:  05:51:04

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Gomer, you're a credit to your profession...Probably as an Ad man as well...

You trapped me with the first word...then you dare me.

O.K., not that I know anything about making things, but since you caught me. The correct way to do it is... Bring this artifact to a "Grind Shop"...The way it's done is, it's taped to a plate with very specific double face tape. Then it's ground with a horizonal suface grinder. The final product will be the one of the most accurate pieces (save the tone ring from that secret cauldron) on your maginificent banjo.

I honestly believe this will result in a product worthy of an Artist of your caliber.

Respectivly yours,
Frisco (humbled) Fred

**************EDIT..reminder to self; F.F., proof read first**************

BTW: Why do you use a Mop to cover your truss rod? Is this over my head?

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Edited by - Frisco Fred on 12/15/2010 15:54:53

heavythumb - Posted - 12/15/2010:  09:18:44

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Gomer:
When I have to sand a small part thinner, As your truss rod cover, I used double sided tape and attach it to a hand held vibrating/orbital sander (there is no sandpaper on the platen). Then I secure some fresh sandpaper of the appropriate grit on my dead flat workbench, and then turn the switch to the sander on.

Warning: I have never done this with a random orbital sander, only a vibrating/orbital. You do that at your own risk.

Caution: The above process will tend to round the edges of the pearl you are sanding. If this is an issue for you, take a thin piece of wood (say 1/16” plywood) attach that to your sander platen, then attach the truss rod cove to the wood.

YMMV

Dick:
Where does one get Gorilla tape?

Heavythumb

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Edited by - heavythumb on 12/20/2010 06:18:19

dickinnorwich - Posted - 12/15/2010:  10:03:10

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quote:

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Originally posted by heavythumb

Gomer:
When I have to sand a small part thinner, As your truss rod cover, I used double sided tape and attach it to a hand held vibrating/orbital sander (there is no sandpaper on the platen). Then I secure some fresh sandpaper of the appropriate grit on my dead flat workbench, and then turn the switch to the sander on.

Warning: I have never done this with a random orbital sander, only a vibrating/orbital. You do that at your own risk.

Caution: The above process will tend to round the edges of the pearl you are sanding. If this is an issue for you, take a thin piece of wood (say 1/16” plywood) attach that to your sander platen, then attach the truss rod cove to the wood.

YMMV

Dick:
Where does on get Gorilla tape?

Heavythumb

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George:
As I recall, I got the Gorilla tape at Home Depot.

Forrest - Posted - 12/15/2010:  11:16:06

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I bought my Gorilla tape in the paint section at Home Depot.

mike gregory - Posted - 12/20/2010:  06:07:26

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quote:

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Originally posted by desert rose

I think 150 grit is a good safe number

It will be agressive but you will be in control.

This is for thinning out. For rebeveling this will work but you will want to follow with finer grits to pretty it up

As far as pearl dust

IT IS NOT TOXIC thisis voodoo
It is like small glass particles or abrasive particles so obviously its not something desireable but it is not poison and wont give you a mystery desiese or cause cancer just by being in the room

It takes YEARS and decades of daily exposure to effect the lungs and you develope a kind irratation.

Chuck Erikson the Duke of Pearl who has handled more pearl shell than anyone alive came here a few months ago and detailed his decades of research and efforts to debunk the voodoo about this

I think anyone who has smoked for even a short time has done much more life threatening activity to their lungs

Scott

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news.nationalgeographic.com/ne...odoo.html

Brethren and cistern, I implore you to refrain from using the name, or the nickname, of ANYbody else's Belief System as a shorthand way of saying
"Silly imaginings, unsupported by facts".

That would include, but would not be limited to: astrology, voudon, christianity, scientology, mormonism, catholicism, creationism, paganism, shamanism............. the list could go on infinitely, as the various Belief Systems are intended to relate to the Inifnite.

Any Belief System which encourages its adherents to refrain from treating me unkindly, is just fine with me. That would include, but would not be limited to: astrology, voudon, christianity, scientology, mormonism, catholicism, creationism, paganism, shamanism............. the list could go on infinitely, as the various Belief Systems are intended to relate to the Inifnite.

Have a nice day, and an even nicer Infinity.

Paul R - Posted - 12/20/2010:  08:20:55

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quote:

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Originally posted by Gomer

Anybody who might hear me play might think that I was once a very famous and talented picker until the accident when both of my hands were run over by an 18 wheeler and every bone broken so that while the wonders of medicine were able to restore the appearance, that the functionality is severely affected.

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So, you encountered that same truck, too! It gets around.

Jonnycake White - Posted - 12/20/2010:  10:47:46

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Toxic things are harmful.

There are other things that are harmful also.

18-wheelers can cause harm to your hands.

Dust from shell, glass, rock, wood, etc. can cause harm to your lungs.

Take approriate safety measures.

Eating calcium is not the same as breathing it.

Sheldon - Posted - 12/20/2010:  14:40:11

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I have an "EdgeCrafter" knife sharpening file with three different diamond grits that I use for similar purposes. It works well.

Sheldon

Lachlan - Posted - 12/20/2010:  19:55:38

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quote:

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Originally posted by blm10jn

But then maybe I have been dead for 35 years and just don't know it.

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Is your real name Keith Richards?