Letters for casting patterns?

[vtsteam]

I've added relief lettering to a few casting patterns with a Dymo label maker -- you know the ones that punch out an adhesive backed plastic strip? But that is pretty limited.

I have also printed and cut out cardboard letters and glued them and lacquered them to patterns -- very tedious, but at least you have a range of sizes and typestyles. Though tough to cut some shapes with an X-acto. B's are particularly difficult. The smaller the letter, the worse it is. I would like to do letters in the 1/4" to 1" size range size range

Does anybody else have an easier solution for adding relief letters to patterns?

Thanks!

[andyf]

Fridge magnet alphabets?

Googling "fridge magnet letters"  and  then "fridge magnet capital letters" shows them in lower case and then in capitals. Numbers are probably available, too.

Given the right adhesive, they could probably be pulled off for re-use.

Andy

[Jasonb]

Slaters letters can be used in small sizes, they are plastic and can be stuck on, look at the model railroad sites.

https://slatersplastikard.com/plastikard/alphabets.php

This was done with their letters 2mm high, though they are not cast in, just used to get the look



For larger than just google" pattern makers letters" there are several suppliers with different fonts etc.

[awemawson]

I have a bag of typemetal letters that I bought many years ago at a foundry supply house - I'm sure they must still be available.

I lay them on the pattern then spray with paint, which wicks under them by capillary action and glues them on.

Here are some similar ones:

http://anvils.co.uk/products/view/367?cat=34

[vtsteam]

Thanks guys! That's very helpful.

Looking to see if I can find those kinds of things on this side of the Atlantic.

[Rob.Wilson]

Hi Steve

Look for Nobo Letters ,,,,,,, sold buy stationers ,,,,,,,,,,,, the thy that banks /offices use to make signs

http://www.mayfairstationers.co.uk/nobo-grooved-board-characters-p-8928.html





Also look out for personal desk signs .

Rob

[polecat]

a bit late i know but try trade-letters.com and ask for nancy she'll fix you up that's where we buy our cut out letters very good prices
polecat

[Pete W.]

Hi there, Rob,

That's a very smart-looking casting.             

But I'm intrigued - how did you mould it?

Years (and years) ago, I remember seeing a machine on some railway station platforms.  You put in a coin and then turned a big brass pointer to your chosen letter, then pulled the lever on the side.  That impressed the chosen letter on to a strip of aluminium, about 20 SWG.  Then you repeated for more letters until your session was complete or until your money ran out.  Then you pulled another lever and the strip of aluminium was delivered via a chute.  Each end was a nice semicircle with a pin-hole for attachment.  I'm sure some pattern makers had the same machine (presumably not coin operated) because I've seen castings with part numbers moulded on them closely resembling those aluminium labels.

[dsquire]

I've added relief lettering to a few casting patterns with a Dymo label maker -- you know the ones that punch out an adhesive backed plastic strip? But that is pretty limited.

I have also printed and cut out cardboard letters and glued them and lacquered them to patterns -- very tedious, but at least you have a range of sizes and typestyles. Though tough to cut some shapes with an X-acto. B's are particularly difficult. The smaller the letter, the worse it is. I would like to do letters in the 1/4" to 1" size range size range

Does anybody else have an easier solution for adding relief letters to patterns?

Thanks!

Steve

Just out of curiosity I googled "Letters for casting patterns?" and got a whole assortment of types, styles, sizes and materials to choose from. Have a look and see if there is something there that might be what you are looking for. 

Cheers 

Don

[vtsteam]

Thanks all -- most of the letters sources listed so far are not available in the US, unfortunately. We don't seem to have the same train and bank supplies here!

DSquire -- Thanks! I must have been using the wrong search terms, because yours did indeed turn up more possibilities. I hadn't specifically searched for casting -- so maybe that was the problem.

But true casting pattern letters brings its own problems. Unfortunately Mifco wants $197 for 125 letters,  and Budget Casting Supplies wants $1.67/ letter or $40 for a full alphabet and only carries 1/2".

Contrast this with the UK model train plastic full alphabets available for 6 pounds or so. available in many small sizes.

I did find one interesting reference to having letters made up by rubber stamp makers, here:

http://www.artmetal.com/files/imported/project/TOC/proces/cast/letters.html

But still would like to find a source for inexpensive plastic letter alphabets in small sizes, or some additional methods for making them.

[Jasonb]

Have you tried Pasta, worked OK on this guys genorator

http://www.dampfundmehr.de/HP/forengen/forengen.htm

[John Stevenson]

Last time I tipped a can of alphabet spaghetti out it had a ransom note in it !!

Seriously what about getting some one with a laser cutter to cut out the letters you need in perspex ?

[BiggerHammer]

A friend with a 3D printer?

[vtsteam]

Sorry to report I don't have any friends with a CNC laser or a 3D printer. I don't know anyone who owns even a non-CNC lathe, as a matter of fact -- well, excluding the owner of the local machine shop. And I'm pretty sure he doesn't machine anything as a hobby, and owns no CNC equipment. He owns a Bridgeport with a DRO. He does have a full overhead flat belt drive, throughout the building, however.

[vtsteam]

JasonB, the alphabet pasta is very cool on that model generator!

Probably not as good as a pattern in greensand -- both for moisture and undercut reasons. Still, if desperate and with some filler to give draft, and lots of shellac, I suppose it could be done.

Keep the ideas coming!

[Pete49]

I have made many letters for wooden clocks etc with a scrollsaw many times and I reckon with the ply you could do it and then glue them to the pattern. My sizes where usually 1/2" to 1" so have at it
Pete

[vtsteam]

Thanks Pete, I've done the same with cardboard letters using Xacto or even scissors. It works okay for larger letters.

JasonB -- I just found a company that supplies plastic letters for railroaders in the US similar to the UK Slaters Plastikard you mentioned earlier.

The company here is called Plastruct and they have a website. Think I'll order a set to see what they're like. Thanks for that suggestion!

[Rob.Wilson]

Hi there, Rob,

That's a very smart-looking casting.             

But I'm intrigued - how did you mould it?

Hi Pete ,,,,,,,,,, have a look here http://madmodder.net/index.php/topic,3137.25.html  it took a few goes 


Rob