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Thread: Burnished pattern type?

  1. #1
    Glenn Gordon's Avatar
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    Burnished pattern type?

    Hi,

    Can anyone tell if this classic burnishing pattern has a particular style name or term used to describe it?

    Does it serve a functional purpose? Or is it aesthetic only?

    In regard to its use on aircraft, is it used on both aluminum and stainless steel?

    Thanks,
    Glenn
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    Last edited by Glenn Gordon; 08-10-2021 at 10:06 AM.

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    FlyingRon's Avatar
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    It's called engine turning or jewelling. Purely decorative. The pattern is also described as "Perlée" given that it looks like little pearls or "."guilloché." Essentially, it's made by repeatedly moving a metal pad/brush over and over into the sheet metal with an appropriate abrasive. If you ever seen the Jimmy Stuart movie the "Sprit of St. Louis" you'll see a brief shot of them doing the turning on the plane.

    See about 40 seconds into this clip from the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El8q0gg54Dk
    Last edited by FlyingRon; 08-16-2021 at 06:18 AM.

  3. #3
    Glenn Gordon's Avatar
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    Thanks for the info!

    Is it used on both aluminum and stainless steel?

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    Mike Switzer's Avatar
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    It used to be done a lot on higher end firearms, particularly internal parts of double guns.

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    FlyingRon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Switzer View Post
    It used to be done a lot on higher end firearms, particularly internal parts of double guns.
    Clocks and watches sometimes have it aas well.

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    FlyingRon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Glenn Gordon View Post
    Thanks for the info!

    Is it used on both aluminum and stainless steel?
    Easiest to do on something soft, but it can be done to any metal with different tools/abrasives.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Glenn Gordon View Post
    Can anyone tell if this classic burnishing pattern has a particular style name or term used to describe it?
    HI Glenn, when I was a kid we called that a brushed finish. Or specifically in this case, circular brushed finish. There are methods for making other that a circular pattern.

    Rose Engine Turning, as done on a Rose engine lathe is a somewhat complex process that uses a very specialized machine. You can search on YouTube for "Rose Engine Turning" and there are some videos on how that is done. They would scoff at a brushed finish on the engine cowl being called "engine turning"

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