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Step 6Mount
While it might look like some fancy metalworking was involved, it really wasn't.
you'll need tin snips or a hack saw, and some files.
Mark out (on paper again) the shape of this mount. Mine was 5cm long, folded 1cm away from either end, with tabs from the fold to the edge 5mm wide (the first picture has 5mm grid paper still glued to it).
It needs to be wide enough so that when you fold it, the strap fits inside, and narrow enough for the sprung bars to be snug.
Cut out the shape on the paper, and stick it to a chunk of metal, preferably stainless steel (dumpster dive for this one: a computer chassis, for example, is fair game).
This piece is aluminium about 1mm thick and came from a discarded plotter.
You only need to use a glue stick for this one, you want this paper to come off in the end.
Cut the metal with either the tin snips or the hack saw, being careful to avoid cutting the paper, but the closer you get, the less filing you do.
Now file it, rough for the meaty bits, fine for the edges and burrs.
At some point, before you bend it, you'll need to take to it with a drill. A 1mm bit was pretty much the perfect size for my watch parts.
The straps will hinge on this point, I put the holes a little under 2mm from the ends of the tabs.
Get it in the vice, and brute force it into the right shape, tabs last.
BE CAREFUL, if you bend it on the line, it could end up too narrow and you'll probably have to start again (I did, bending it back caused a tab to tear off.)
check for burrs again, file them smooth.
if you used a glue stick, soak the finished product in water to release the paper.
The sprung bars for the watch straps go in a LOT easier than they come out.
you'll need tin snips or a hack saw, and some files.
Mark out (on paper again) the shape of this mount. Mine was 5cm long, folded 1cm away from either end, with tabs from the fold to the edge 5mm wide (the first picture has 5mm grid paper still glued to it).
It needs to be wide enough so that when you fold it, the strap fits inside, and narrow enough for the sprung bars to be snug.
Cut out the shape on the paper, and stick it to a chunk of metal, preferably stainless steel (dumpster dive for this one: a computer chassis, for example, is fair game).
This piece is aluminium about 1mm thick and came from a discarded plotter.
You only need to use a glue stick for this one, you want this paper to come off in the end.
Cut the metal with either the tin snips or the hack saw, being careful to avoid cutting the paper, but the closer you get, the less filing you do.
Now file it, rough for the meaty bits, fine for the edges and burrs.
At some point, before you bend it, you'll need to take to it with a drill. A 1mm bit was pretty much the perfect size for my watch parts.
The straps will hinge on this point, I put the holes a little under 2mm from the ends of the tabs.
Get it in the vice, and brute force it into the right shape, tabs last.
BE CAREFUL, if you bend it on the line, it could end up too narrow and you'll probably have to start again (I did, bending it back caused a tab to tear off.)
check for burrs again, file them smooth.
if you used a glue stick, soak the finished product in water to release the paper.
The sprung bars for the watch straps go in a LOT easier than they come out.
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