The strap used to hold pipes in place would be great for making ID tags to survive sandblasting and other stripping processes if it wasn't full of holes. So far all I've found with an internet search is measuring tapes or foil tape. Anybody know a source for unholy steel tape?
Steve how about going to an air conditioning/ heating shop. They work with this stuff all the time making ducts. Have them cut you a bunch of 3/4" or 1" strips from their left over scrap. Probably won't even charge you (much).
I had our local guys make strips for me years ago. I used them as shims which I tacked around the outside of my wooden felloes. Then With my big rosebud tip I heated up the rims and pushed them over the wheels. The rims shrunk back to a nice tight wheel... that is how the old folk used to do wagon wheels. The felloe strip kept the feloe from burning before I could pour water over the rim to cool it.
TH
Try a plumber or plumbing supply store.
The old style hardware store here in Greenville Pa. has it.
Sorry. Their strap has holes.
How's about strapping steel such as for strapping items to pallets ? Available in several widths.
How about strapping that is used on pallets for tying items in place for shipping , you can drill you'r own holes. You can stamp ID with engine no,s. and letters stamps.
Bob
Your a faster typist than me Steve.
Bob
Steve, HVAC guys use the solid tape all the time. It is usually wider, but the same as the plumbers tape you have just without the holes.
The pallet strap material is springy steel, and probably not what you want. It can't be easily drilled, must be punched. It might shatter when you try to stamp it.
Your best bet would be an air conditioning shop that makes their own ducts. Ask them for scraps of the thickness you like best. They will probably be happy to shear it to width for you, and will probably give it to you. After all, you can't need very much by their standards. And if you arrive in your T, and explain why you want it, they will feel like they are participating in something fun, with scraps they have no use for.
Once you find the tape then find a whitney punch so you dont't have to "drill" the holes.They work great.
We have a Signode strapping machine for strapping parts to pallets with steel banding for shipping and the solid banding material for that comes in widths of 3/8" 1/2" 5/8" and 3/4". It comes in softer, low carbon steel and high strength high carbon steel. The low carbon steel is probably what you would require since it would be easier to scribe with an engraver. We get ours from McMaster-Carr. www.mcmaster.com. Once you get to the site, type in the search box: Metal Strapping. McMaster Carr is real good about working with the customer and if you call them and ask for a sample to help you determine what you need, they will probably send you a foot so you can see if it is soft enough to scribe. Jim Patrick
Get a piece of scrap copper or brass pipe, split and flatten out, cut to the size you want, works great. KB
If you want unholy tape you'll have to go to satan's supply house.
Be careful - if you get it near holy water it will melt!
If you do get a sample of the 3/4" wide, low carbon banding material from Mcmaster-Carr and you find it is tempered and too hard to scribe, you might want to try heating it to a cherry red and let it cool. That should remove any temper and soften it up some. Jim Patrick
Just find a sheet metal shop and have them cut some for you. They make it all the time to install duct work. I got mine that way. Leon
You can use Spinner bait Blades,just buy a package of blades the size you want,gold or silver
the hole is allready there.
Wick
Good idea Leon. Even better than that get a roll of galvanized gutter flashing from a Home Improvement supply store such as Home Depot or Lowe's and shear your own with a pair of tin snips in whatever width you want. Be careful though. The edges are razor sharp and will slice you in a heartbeat. Jim Patrick
Guys a piece of scrap aluminum works very well here. I have been tagging all mine.
I wonder how many parts from different cars you have at the same time that they even need marked. I blast a lot of parts but haven't lost one yet. I can blast about a square foot per minute, use about 400lbs of media and 2.7 gallons of fuel per hour. I'm about blasted out (and soaking wet) after 3-4 hours in the suit so how many parts can you have?
I got a roll at a heating & cooling shop. I have a lot of sheet metal scraps I could cut up, but it's easier to just snip a little piece off a roll.
Ken, it's not just parts. I'm going to make tags for various oil cans, dispensers, and containers to ID what's in them. Does a can contain brake fluid, motor oil, cutting oil, or hydraulic fluid? Which dispenser has 90W? Tags will tell.
Steve - You've given me an idea:
It would be nice to have a tag or something to make a permanent record of "vital statistics" for a rebuilt engine too. Of course those things change, but in my case for example, at age 70, it's a pretty good bet that the "stats" for any "T" engine that I rebuild, or, morel likely, have rebuilt, are gonna' be the "final" stats for me. I'm sure that the next owner would appreciate knowing things about the engine that are not too readily available, like bore size, .080" oversize or sleeved back to standard bore, crank journal size, has shims or no shims, stock or oversize valve guides, etc, etc.
Remember when there used to be a little tag wired to the gas line that showed carburetor jet size and such?
Great idea Steve,.....harold
I have about a half mile of brass tape. It's a bit narrow at 3/8" but thickness is .20" that would make a good tag. Anyone want some?
They should have some at Home Depot in the plumming department. Here in California, we use it to strap the hot water heater to the wall so it won't fall over in an earthquake. it is also used to strap pipes in place under houses or in basements. Any plumming supply store should have it.
Norm
An added thought; roofing supply--if they handle copper roofs. I got some scraps there once for free (before copper went sky-high--bought any house wiring lately -- YOICKS!!!!
T'
David D.
PS I like the copper/brass idea because it won't rust.
Go back to www.mcmaster.com. Type "tags" in the search box, then click onto "metal engraving tags". A page will appear with 10 types of pre-cut pre-punched tags. Click onto the one you are most interested in. Jim Patrick
Yes, Jim, but I'm too cheap to use those. Snipping a piece off a roll at two or three cents suits me better.
Hello Steve,
This won't help you there in the U.S. but it is available here in Australia at most building and plumbing supplies stores. I hope you can find some in the U.S. Regards, John