Author Topic: Brass plate for bass (Read 279 times)

terryc · « **Reply #15 on:** June 08, 2010, 07:23:57 AM »

Well if it fails I still have the black one but since it is on the back and has no weight or load bearing then I cannot see it failing?. I mean it is almost 3mm thick and apart from cracking what else would it do?

lbpesq · « **Reply #16 on:** June 08, 2010, 07:47:29 AM »

warp?

terryc · « **Reply #17 on:** June 08, 2010, 07:57:15 AM »

Well of course but I have been told there stock has been well cured. If and when I get it done I will post some pics and here is an example of my restoration skills. This was polished using the traditional french method

mica · « **Reply #18 on:** June 08, 2010, 10:18:18 AM »

Nice job on the French polishing - that represents lots of hours.

We use 1/16 thick brass and 1/8 thick plastic or wood plates. As Bill states, our habit is to construct the plate from 5 plies to make them stronger. A single thickness of wood is more prone to cupping or even splitting at the screw recesses. Of course, you can always make another one if that happens.

We have made replacement brass plates for instruments that originally had plastic plates, but let me tell you - 1/8 thick brass is really heavy!

terryc · « **Reply #19 on:** June 09, 2010, 02:06:01 AM »

Thnaks for the comments, this table was covered with some awful red wood stain which required me to chemical strip and the top veneer was beginning to lift so I had to re glue and do some filling with wood dust and glue.
Prep is the secret(as you know) when the first few coats go on you can immediately see the effect.
As far as the plate, I may steal your idea and make it up as a laminate, going to see timber merchant at the week end..You are right about the weight of brass as my MK is already really heavy.

terryc · « **Reply #20 on:** June 09, 2010, 02:10:20 AM »

Thanks for the comments Mica, it was covered with an awful red wood stain/varnish combination.
I had to chemically remove it which also caused the glue holding the top veneer to separate.
As you know good preparation is the secret as when the first few coats went on it began to look really good.
As far as the back wood plate I am will take the laminate idea on board and going to see timber merchant this week end.
You are right about brass, that would really be heavy as my MK is already a weighty bass!