Jeff,
You could probably find Aluminum oxide at a science store or if there is
one in your location, at a lapidary supplier. You could also use the rubbing
paste auto painters use to polish cars after they have been painted.
A better idea would probably be to thin the material by hammering with a ball
hammer against a solid metal surface, like blacksmiths do. Aluminum is soft so
there is no need for heating it, I believe. A better material than the brittle
alu.pie is the aluminum of a pop can, sand the non printed side (first or last)
as it has a plastic like coating.
And finally, if you don't want to be thinning material, you could go to a
automobile parts store and buy BRASS SHIM STOCK, they sell it in different
thickness, you may want 0.001", 0.002" or 0.003", these guys call it 1 thou, 2
thou and 3 thou (thou as in thousand). 0.002" is generally the best thickness,
IMO. not too thick that causes fast fall off, not too thin that is difficult to
work with.
Guillermo
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff" <jrodg...@elite.net>
To: <pinhole-discussion@p at ???????>
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 1:12 AM
Subject: [pinhole-discussion] Ideas for finishing pinhole
Hello, made my first pinhole from aluminum pie tin, but I need to thin the
material some more. Sanded with 600 wet/dry paper, but have a better idea: using
fine grit and a marble, a "concave" surface could be formed... hopefully at it's
thinnest near the pinhole. Anyone tried similar method? I'm trying to find a
source for the grit (like is used to grind glass) and hopefully don't have to
mail order. Any suggestions for where to find this stuff locally?
