TH8RS Gate Plates by DSD

  • Thread starter Thread starter Acextreme
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Acextreme

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Ok, on his page, he says the gate plates are unfinished. What does he mean by unfinished? I sent him an email and he replied:

Thank you for your interest. The T8 Gate Plates are offered as they are described here:

http://www.derekspearedesigns.com/components

They are unfinished and hardware is not supplied.
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:banghead::ouch: He didn't answer my question! Anyone who seen his plates knows what does he mean by unfinished? Is he referring to the finishing of the plates, as in it looks unfinished?
 
Probably means: Not sanded/polished/deburred/filed/etc. Just right off the waterjet or CNC. You'd likely want to at least file down and sand the gates depending on what condition they are in.
 
Yep, basher has it nailed. That is the standard manufacturing definition. You may need to deburr, polish or paint, etc. As they are aluminum it will be relatively easy. If they were stainless you'd have a bit of work to do, unless you have the proper tools (i.e. small die grinder with carbide burr). Dremels are fine for little stuff, but they don't compare to a 60,000 RPM Dotco pencil grinder, heh.
 
Thanks, mrbasher and eKretz. Shoot, I doubt I will have the tools to do the job. Sounds quite troublesome. Did anyone buy it from DSD? How's the condition like? Do you need to file the edges so that it's at least usable or it's reasonably alright without any work required if you are not one who cares too much about aesthetics?
 
I doubt it's a big deal. It's 6061 aluminum so it can be sanded to knock the edges off.

Go pick up some 200 grit sandpaper and some 400 grit sandpaper. Also, grab a "steel wool substitute" which really just looks like a scotchbrite pad (or actually get a scotchbrite pad). Get a one that is "fine."

After you get the plate, just sand down all the edges with the 200 grit, it won't take long. Wrap the paper around a pencil or pen and do the insides of the slots a little.

Then sand the faces with 400 grit paper until the surface all looks the same, do this with the paper dry. Then sand it some with the paper wet. Then buff it up with the pad. You'll end up with a sort of smooth brushed metal look. DO NOT press hard with the pad. Aluminum does weird crap and looks uneven if you do that.
 

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