Part 7
Slats Ahoy!
This is the rig I built to construct the 22 separate slat armor frames. Its a metal plate with
three strips of adhesive magnetic tape attached, and two metal support brackets.
A graver I borrowed from Linda, under threat of slow, horrible death if I damaged or lost it.
Sharp chisel point. Excellent for cutting metal parts free from their fret.
Construction instructions for Slat "O", made up of 17 parts.
This part is to be bent into a square tube and used as part of the frame. I numbered the parts for easier identification.
Part attached to the Etchmate bending tool.
A small plastic blade is used to evenly bend the part to a 90 degree angle.
A nice right angle.
The center is bent slightly.
The other end is also bent into a 90 degree right angle.
Now i just evenly squeeze it, and the two right angles bend onto themselves to make a nice square tube.
I do this to make the bend more even and square everything up.
The ends are dipped into a small puddle of superglue. Capillary action takes some of the glue up the seam.
A finished frame tube with part number.
A square toothpick is used to even out the ends.
Two finished tubes.
The tubes make up the top and bottom of the slat frame. Three thin, grooved pieces make up the vertical elements.
The metal support brackets are used to keep the frame square during assembly. The parts aren't
magnetic, but the steel brackets are. A piece of adhesive label backing paper is under the part. Superglue won't stick to it.
Basic frame.
The serrated center support is in place. Two small grooves in the tubes hold it in its proper location.
The frame is glued together.
Sometimes the frame sticks to the metal angles.
These are the slats. They are very delicate, and tend to want to bend in the center where there is a little slot.
A pile o' slats.
The edges are sanded lightly to get rid of any burrs.
Then the slats are dropped into place. Grooves in the edges keep the slats aligned.
The slat centers are glued down, then all the slats are checked for alignment.
Once they're all aligned, the ends are glued into place.
Viola. One down, 21 more to go.
Next
Yet More Slats