Solid Metal Blocks!

giambi77 · 11th February 2004, 02:23 AM

I really like the look of having solid blocks of metal as design/functional elements in an amp, specifically one of Peter Daniel's gainclones, and also his CD transport, with a copper frame.

I recently went though the "Metal" section of my phone book, and out of all the places, only 1 store knew what I was talking about! I was quoted $80 USD for a solid block of copper 4" x 1" x 11". For only 9lbs of metal, this seems extremely high to me!!! I have heard mention of Metal Supermarkets before, but I did not see them listed.

Basically I am looking for a solid copper block to use as a heatsink (as in Peter's monoblock gainclone implementation), and maybe some brass square "logs" (.5" x .5" x 12". How much mass (of copper) would be adequite to cool 2 LM3875TF? Also, where can I get those brass/golden spikes that Peter uses so often as bases in his designs?

I may also be interested in Aluminum blocks; how much do they cost compared to copper? To connect piece of metal together, do I need a welder? Or would I drill holes into both pieces, and screw them togther? What tools would I use for this (drill bits)? An example:

Finally, I would like to thank Peter for all the inspiration he has unknowingly given me, and to all the other people on this forum for all the help they provide

Sorry for the long-winded post, but I have been thinking about this stuff for along time!

damonpip · 11th February 2004, 02:31 AM

www.onlinemetals.com sells small quantities of metal. Their price for 1" x 4" x 12" is $90.98. I'd guess that you won't find it any cheaper unless you find it at a surplus place.

Peter Daniel · 11th February 2004, 03:06 AM

IIRC, copper is 3 times the price of aluminum. I pay around CAD $50 for those two blocks of copper in the pic (when paid cash at Metal Supermarket

)

The only reasonable way to put it together is by using screws. I'm using #10-32 stainless screws here).

As you see in a picture a piece of copper (1 x 2 x 5) is not really used for cooling, but for distribution of heat to aluminum panels and they take care of heat disippation. This amp, even when pushed, was always only slightly warm (up to 30 deg C, I would think)

elizard · 11th February 2004, 03:18 AM

1"x4"x12" of aluminum is $22.34 at onlinemetals.com
4 times cheaper

what about the feet peter?

giambi77 · 11th February 2004, 03:31 AM

Great information so far! Thanks for the input guys. If anyone has any other ideas/tips for anything related to working with metal, it would be great.

How do I drill holes into metal, that will later accomidate screws? Do I make it threaded somehow?

elizard · 11th February 2004, 03:36 AM

Yeah, you drill the hole, then you make the thread in there. You use a tap to make the thread. It resembles a screw.

Check your local hardware store for tap and die sets, or individual taps/dies (dies are for making threads on rods for use as screws)

Peter Daniel · 11th February 2004, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by elizard
1"x4"x12" of aluminum is $22.34 at onlinemetals.com
4 times cheaper

what about the feet peter?

Bronze is 10 times more expensive than aluminum, if IIRC?

Don't ask me about the feet. My busines partner gets them somwhere locally, even I don't know were

Quote:

Originally posted by giambi77
Great information so far! Thanks for the input guys. If anyone has any other ideas/tips for anything related to working with metal, it would be great.

How do I drill holes into metal, that will later accomidate screws? Do I make it threaded somehow?

There is a lot of info on metal working in this thread
Useful tools and techniques

You basically drill holes and tap them later. It is mentioned in the above thread.

elizard · 11th February 2004, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter Daniel

Bronze is 10 times more expensive than aluminum, if IIRC?

Don't ask me about the feet. My busines partner gets them somwhere locally, even I don't know were

i dont' suppose there's a way to obtain these

Peter Daniel · 11th February 2004, 03:43 AM

This thread also has some info on how to work with metal The way to build a chassis

Peter Daniel · 11th February 2004, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by elizard

i dont' suppose there's a way to obtain these

You might consider these Audio Zone propriatory parts

But there are many different places selling cones and spikes, percyaudio.com comes to mind.

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11th February 2004, 02:23 AM	#1
giambi77 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Northern CA	Solid Metal Blocks! I really like the look of having solid blocks of metal as design/functional elements in an amp, specifically one of Peter Daniel's gainclones, and also his CD transport, with a copper frame. I recently went though the "Metal" section of my phone book, and out of all the places, only 1 store knew what I was talking about! I was quoted $80 USD for a solid block of copper 4" x 1" x 11". For only 9lbs of metal, this seems extremely high to me!!! I have heard mention of Metal Supermarkets before, but I did not see them listed. Basically I am looking for a solid copper block to use as a heatsink (as in Peter's monoblock gainclone implementation), and maybe some brass square "logs" (.5" x .5" x 12". How much mass (of copper) would be adequite to cool 2 LM3875TF? Also, where can I get those brass/golden spikes that Peter uses so often as bases in his designs? I may also be interested in Aluminum blocks; how much do they cost compared to copper? To connect piece of metal together, do I need a welder? Or would I drill holes into both pieces, and screw them togther? What tools would I use for this (drill bits)? An example: Finally, I would like to thank Peter for all the inspiration he has unknowingly given me, and to all the other people on this forum for all the help they provide Sorry for the long-winded post, but I have been thinking about this stuff for along time!

11th February 2004, 02:31 AM	#2
damonpip diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: State College	www.onlinemetals.com sells small quantities of metal. Their price for 1" x 4" x 12" is $90.98. I'd guess that you won't find it any cheaper unless you find it at a surplus place.

11th February 2004, 03:06 AM	#3
Peter Daniel diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Toronto, Canada	IIRC, copper is 3 times the price of aluminum. I pay around CAD $50 for those two blocks of copper in the pic (when paid cash at Metal Supermarket ) The only reasonable way to put it together is by using screws. I'm using #10-32 stainless screws here). As you see in a picture a piece of copper (1 x 2 x 5) is not really used for cooling, but for distribution of heat to aluminum panels and they take care of heat disippation. This amp, even when pushed, was always only slightly warm (up to 30 deg C, I would think)

11th February 2004, 03:18 AM	#4
elizard diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Winnipeg, MB	1"x4"x12" of aluminum is $22.34 at onlinemetals.com 4 times cheaper what about the feet peter?

11th February 2004, 03:31 AM	#5
giambi77 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Northern CA	Great information so far! Thanks for the input guys. If anyone has any other ideas/tips for anything related to working with metal, it would be great. How do I drill holes into metal, that will later accomidate screws? Do I make it threaded somehow?

11th February 2004, 03:36 AM	#6
elizard diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Winnipeg, MB	Yeah, you drill the hole, then you make the thread in there. You use a tap to make the thread. It resembles a screw. Check your local hardware store for tap and die sets, or individual taps/dies (dies are for making threads on rods for use as screws)

11th February 2004, 03:43 AM	#9
Peter Daniel diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Toronto, Canada	This thread also has some info on how to work with metal The way to build a chassis

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