#I need advice on how to make cylinders into sheets

18 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

craggy bane
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The best thing about cosplay is that you don’t need to go to an industrial metal supply store and buy industrial aluminium sheets you can just purchase alcohol (as long as you’re 21+)

Now I have tried this but on a smaller scale using soda cans with minimal success I’m asking for help on how to safely turn a 12 fluid ounce(355mL) can into said aluminium sheets I have plenty of aluminium cans for this project. I just don’t know how to make sure that is flat so if anyone has some good advice on how to flatten the cylindrical moulded cans out for my cosplay project it would be much appreciated.

(ironically, I’m turning the cans in the sheets to put them around a much larger cylinder)

chrome fiber
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...I may be off, but I'd see about rolling the sheets (assuming you've got the cans cut down into a sheet) between 2 rollers , the opposite way to the curve.

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If that makes sense?

craggy bane
slim violet
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I think a rolling pin would get you most of the way there if not perfectly flat.
I would be more concerned about how you are going to fasten them togther as the metal is so thin in a typical soda can that it can be torn my hand and cut with a standard kitchen knife

craggy bane
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probably by cutting notches into them

slim violet
craggy bane
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They’re the best feat of engineering ever

torn root
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I was going to recommend Spot Welding as another option, but evidently it's complicated for aluminum, and requires more expensive gear. So, depending on the aesthetic, rivets could be another approach.

slim violet
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Tbh the best way to attach super thin metal togther is with folded crimps similar to how they seal tin cans and attach popcan lids

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However those can be dificult to do well and strongly

torn root
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So...the old fallback. CA glue?

slim violet
# torn root So...the old fallback. CA glue?

Ca glue while it might work, does not typicaly adhere to metal all that well and tends to be a little bit brittle when cured which because you are using thin metal might just tear the metal

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I am still leaning towards micro rivets if you are able to set it up properly I think

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Super thin metal is a class all its own when attaching bits togther

torn root
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For poorly adhering surfaces, roughing up each mating surface with coarse sandpaper can help.