[SEL] ATIS Charity Auction

[Jerry Evans]

At 07:00 PM 27/12/2008, you wrote:
>Message: 5
>Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:43:39 -0500
>From: "Mike Royster" <mr at carolina.rr.com>
>Subject: Re: [SEL] ATIS Charity Auction
>
>
>I have some of Jerry's tags, would love to bid on more!!!
>
>MR
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Alan" <rustaholic777 at yahoo.com>
>To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
>Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 1:34 PM
>Subject: Re: [SEL] ATIS Charity Auction
>
>
>Yes George,
>It does appear to almost be dead.
>There did seem to be some interest in the one item up for auction but I just
>sweetened the bid and they with all their extra wheel barrow loads of cash
>just backed off.
>That manual is just a little old for my Jeep but I will love to have it if
>they don't feel they can out bid me. 8>)))
>I was just looking at the pictures on my digital camera chips and I wish
>Jerry Evans had one of his engine plate offers on the auction. I just saw a
>nice picture I took of a brass plate I need for a Witte.
>Alan in Michigan


O.K. O.K. O.K. you've convinced me. (Grin) Have a look at the site!!

         To be honest, I was not going to offer this year because I've had 
a few problems making them lately and have a few outstanding orders for 
which I apologise profusely. Luke, Elden and a few others are waiting for 
me, I have not forgotten - just need to sort out a problem which cropped up 
with the manufacture.

         Here's what happened. I make the masks by using a laser printer 
with a special film and then use a "heat press" to transfer this mask to 
the brass before etching.
         a) My Laser printer went "KAPUT" so I bought a new one from the 
same manufacturer (Samsung) but the latest version.
         b) At the same time I got in some new stock of the special film.

         My problems started there and were compounded by the fact that the 
thermostat on the heat press started acting erratically.

         Long story cut short. The damn stuff is not transferring properly 
and I'm having to spend a lot of time "touching up" masks with a tiny paint 
brush (only about 5 bristles) and vinyl silkscreen ink (it's immune to the 
ferric chloride I use to etch with).

         I cannot figure out if the new laser toner is to blame or is the 
new batch of film to blame or is it my heat presses fault. It is only going 
to be sorted out by a process of elimination.

         The problem is on the list of "To Do's" for the next few days so 
I've just got to get of my "Behind" and sort it out. I've got some "stock 
masks" made with the old printer onto a batch of the older film sheets so 
will try tomorrow and apply a few of these. If they work O.K. then I can 
eliminate the heat press as the source of the problem.

         Next is to take a few sheets of the new film to a small "print 
shop" in town (about 20Km's away) and get them to print onto the new film - 
I used their machine some time ago and I know that their machine and the 
old film worked fine together. Then it's back to the shop to try and apply 
these to brass. If they work O.K. then I can eliminate the film as the 
culprit and blame the new printer.

         If this does not work then I can blame the film. Unfortunately it 
is imported and not commonly used so I may have a few problems with the 
local agent. Time will tell.

         In the meantime, to those of you that are waiting, I apologise for 
the delay but do intend to write to you guys soon (you know who you are). 
I've got a few tags here waiting to go out but these are mostly for guys 
who have ordered multiple tags and I've not finished the whole order.

         Watch this space - I will sort the problem out.

Keep the revs up (or down)
Jerry Evans
Near Johannesburg in Sunny South Africa.
Etched Brass Engine Plates made to order:
<www.oldengine.org/members/evans/plates/index.htm>