Hello all: Although metal working is not my forte, I do use metal (brass) to make the gnomons for my stone sundials. I have found that the common Dremmel moto-tool when fitted with a Dremmel 1.5" black composite cutoff disk and arbor, will easily cut metal. These cutoff disks will be found in the Dremmel department of your local hardware store. They can be used to make straight cuts and also are suitable for some types of engraving.
If you buy a sheet of metal (brass, copper, aluminum, or steel), you can easily make your own gnomons. I use 14 guage (1/16" thick) sheets, but this method will cut even thicker pieces. I suggest that you use the perfectly straight foundry-cut edge of the sheet as the style side of the gnomon. First draw the lines to be cut with a fine point "Sharpee" pen or glue a paper drawing of the desired cuts onto the metal with water soluble white glue. After cutting the other sides, use sandpaper with a block of wood to smooth the sides that you have cut with your Dremmel. Holes for attaching the gnomon to your dial plate can then be drilled through the metal with a hand-held drill with metal bits. (Before drilling, make a little indentation in the metal with the point of a nail and hammer to serve as a guide for the bit so that it doesn't wander). Besides cutting metal sheets to make traditional triangular gnomons, your Dremmel can also cut rods for vertical or perpendicular gnomons. I Hope this simple technique will be of use to some of you. John Carmichael 925 E. Foothills Dr. Tucson Az 85718 USA tel: 520-696-1709 website: http://www.azstarnet.com/~pappas
