Plate pre-conditioning?

[fixaze]

Using some of the suggestions on making the SmackBooster....

Working with some 304 ss .020" material...I tried several methods for roughing up the surfaces.

* lightly scratched surface using a 120 grit belt on a sander....cause that's what I had

* tried placing a coarse double-cut file on a block of wood and hammering on the sheet stock over the teeth. This did create some impressions...but not a lot. Also on inspection of the file...the teeth on it were chipped.

* took the same file and finding a place on the end where the teeth were at the edge...I used this to scratch the surface in a cross hatch pattern...works pretty well.

* using...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... number=621

I punched a pattern of indentations with the convex shape towards the active side of the plate. This punch is point real well and this makes some sharp indentations.

Made in Taiwan and is decent quality despite the price.

Sort of time consuming....but probably worth it. I think the idea is to roughen the surface without removing much material.

[SeaMonkey]

[fixaze]

Thanks for the link.

What I think would be most effective would be knurling:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knurling

http://www.technologystudent.com/equip1/knurl1.htm

Usually done on a lathe and on round objects...but could be adapted to sheet material?

[fixaze]

Can't find the quote...but I believe eletrik mentioned that someone managed a gas output boost of around 30% or thereabouts (1.7 L/min to 2.2 L/min?) by using a small end mill on the plates surface.

A regular drill used LIGHTLY or or a stone used in a grid pattern might do the same thing?