The_Patriot Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 Long time lurker - only my second post. So, I went searching for a really nice bridge cover for this old Series 10 bass I am fixing up. Admittedly, I am nobody's google warrior, but I do well enough. I've found NOT MUCH in the way of bridge covers at all, much less anything that might catch the eye. Is there anything more to the creation of a bridge cover than designing, cutting and bending the metal? A quick sketch: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 Unless you have high tech machinery, or patience that rivals Ghandi, go with aluminum sheeting. Its corrosion resistant, shines REALLY nice if you take the time, and will be forgiving/easy to work with. You could make a paper template of the sizes you want, slap it in a vice, use a rubber or brass mallet, and get something that would match your ideal design really easy. Not to mention, if you have a scroll saw and metal cutting blade you can get really intricate with aluminum. For your exact question, no, thats pretty much it lol. Unless you wanted to use stainless or inconel, it would be a relatively easy process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauliemc Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 Unless you have high tech machinery, or patience that rivals Ghandi, go with aluminum sheeting. Its corrosion resistant, shines REALLY nice if you take the time, and will be forgiving/easy to work with. You could make a paper template of the sizes you want, slap it in a vice, use a rubber or brass mallet, and get something that would match your ideal design really easy. Not to mention, if you have a scroll saw and metal cutting blade you can get really intricate with aluminum. For your exact question, no, thats pretty much it lol. Unless you wanted to use stainless or inconel, it would be a relatively easy process. +1 to the Aluminium sheeting. Just dont get anything too thin. Before you start shaping it, you should aneal it to make shaping & cutting easier. It can be tempered (a little) once it is in the shape you want. To aneal it you just need to put a low heat flame to it. It will probobly blacken up with soot but that is fine, just wipe it clean with a rag. You need to get it warm but not hot. Anealing makes it much easier to bend/shape. Once its shaped you can heat it up again & dunk it in some water. Then polish it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 You really dont need to anneal aluminum though. Its soft enough on its own. Steel though... that would suck so much to manipulate like that lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Patriot Posted March 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 aluminum seems to be the way to go - at least for a first attempt - there's a guy near me who does chrome plating. wouldn't that be nice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Patriot Posted April 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2012 I've met with a metal worker who is willing to work with me on a custom bridge cover - stainless steel! He's gonna have to do a few prototypes...anyone else interested? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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