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What tool do I need?
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 2:09 pm
by Will_Vanderburg
Take a look at the original door sill plates and compare to the reproduction ones.
The originals have a raised shoulder that the screw head sits in. The repros do not.
How would I go about forming them? Also, the new sill plates are too wide, so they will need to be trimmed
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 3:29 pm
by Jerry VanOoteghem
Do you have the ability to make a simple set of dies to form the ridge? You're also missing the fancy little flourish at each end of the Ford logo.
Frankly, I'd use the original ones...
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 3:59 pm
by Will_Vanderburg
No die making capabilities here. The originals are gouged.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 6:21 pm
by John kuehn
How about using some raised washers. On the original sill plates that’s the effect that was being used less the seam around the screw hole. They come in all sizes and finishes. They would look pretty close but of corse not perfect.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 6:38 pm
by Will_Vanderburg
John kuehn wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 6:21 pm
How about using some raised washers. On the original sill plates that’s the effect that was being used less the seam around the screw hole. They come in all sizes and finishes. They would look pretty close but of corse not perfect.
That’s an interesting idea.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 8:04 pm
by big2bird
It's called a dimple die. Where to get one that small, I haven't a clue.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 8:33 pm
by John kuehn
Just for grins I looked up dimple die on Amazon and there are all kinds of sizes and sets. There are also other makers and suppliers for dimple dies. Be warned though they aren’t cheap. That’s probably the reason the reproduction sill plates don’t have them. The machine work to make the one stamping die for the sill plate is more than we might want to know.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 8:49 pm
by varmint
Oversized, undersized sockets, and a lot of skill. Practice on scrap aluminum and see if you like the results. You already have the originals to match the correct sizes.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 9:47 pm
by jiminbartow
They have counter sunk washers in packets of 6 at Lowe’s. Most likely at Home Depot too. I think that would be the best way to go.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 4:10 am
by Allan
Vernon has a good suggestion. A socket from a 1/4" drive set may just be the answer. Use a softwood block as an anvil, on the end grain. Practise on a scrap of alloy to get the best impression and the correct size socket.
You have nothing to loose.
Allan from down under.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 1:56 pm
by Craig Leach
Hi William,
Vernon is right on the with a little skill! getting them centered is a chore & one off center will stick out like a sore thumb. A lathe ( or at least a
friend with a lathe) to make a self centering dimple die will result in a well finished job. Trimming can be done with a good pair of snips & a
smooth file. Do they really need trimmed? If the extra width doesn't interfere leave it.
Craig.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 5:14 pm
by Will_Vanderburg
Craig Leach wrote: ↑Thu May 29, 2025 1:56 pm
Hi William,
Vernon is right on the with a little skill! getting them centered is a chore & one off center will stick out like a sore thumb. A lathe ( or at least a
friend with a lathe) to make a self centering dimple die will result in a well finished job. Trimming can be done with a good pair of snips & a
smooth file. Do they really need trimmed? If the extra width doesn't interfere leave it.
Craig.
The new ones are significantly wider than the originals.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 9:29 am
by Jerry VanOoteghem
How about using two of those raised washers, putting one on each side of the plate, then putting a bolt through them? Tightening the bolt should force the two washers together and press the raised ring around the sill plate hole. You essentially are using them as your ridge forming stamping dies. If the washers aren't strong enough, then try 2 on each side.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 10:42 am
by Allan
Jerry, the washers are typically used to house raised head countersunk screws, { oval heads} These are decorative features commonly used in the 60's to fix metal edges to laminate top furniture. The better ones are plated brass, too soft and too thin to use in the manner you suggest.
I use them on model T's when fitting aluminium edging on the wooden running boards of our colonial bodied cars.
Allan from down under.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 7:45 pm
by Jerry VanOoteghem
Allan wrote: ↑Fri May 30, 2025 10:42 am
Jerry, the washers are typically used to house raised head countersunk screws, { oval heads} These are decorative features commonly used in the 60's to fix metal edges to laminate top furniture. The better ones are plated brass, too soft and too thin to use in the manner you suggest.
I use them on model T's when fitting aluminium edging on the wooden running boards of our colonial bodied cars.
Allan from down under.
I know what they are and what they're for. He only needs to displace some aluminum. What would be the harm in trying?
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 9:59 pm
by Shannon_in_Texas
Just some ideas…
If you don’t know anyone with a lathe to make the dimple die that you need, you might be able to use something like this to (carefully!) achieve a similar result:
https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Fastener ... B09Q12F6M6
Or same thing with better views of the punch ends (and cheaper):
https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Craft-Pu ... B06ZYT59TC
Maybe with a small-diameter metal tube, like a roll pin to form the ring. You could make a female die from hardwood by filing teeth in one end of the tube and using it to cut a matching ring in the wood with a drill.
Where did you buy the sill plates?
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 10:02 am
by Mark Nunn
I was thinking along the same lines as Jerry, except I would reinforce the finish washers with bondo or JB Weld before pressing. A c-clamp could work.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 10:11 am
by babychadwick
Once you have what you plan on using as a die (cut, washer, socket, ect) rather than hitting it with a hammer or using a clamp simply attach it to the jaws in a pair of vise grips. I use a modified pair to set snaps into vinyl/leather. Its so much easier than using the hammer and punch.
Re: What tool do I need?
Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 12:52 pm
by Will_Vanderburg
Shannon_in_Texas wrote: ↑Fri May 30, 2025 9:59 pm
Just some ideas…
If you don’t know anyone with a lathe to make the dimple die that you need, you might be able to use something like this to (carefully!) achieve a similar result:
https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Fastener ... B09Q12F6M6
Or same thing with better views of the punch ends (and cheaper):
https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Craft-Pu ... B06ZYT59TC
Maybe with a small-diameter metal tube, like a roll pin to form the ring. You could make a female die from hardwood by filing teeth in one end of the tube and using it to cut a matching ring in the wood with a drill.
Where did you buy the sill plates?
I bought them from a private seller in California. They are the same ones that Snyder’s sells