Making mild steel trays - how to make edges of trays blunt?

[ELL]

So obviously you don't want trays with sharp edges, what is the quickest way to make them safe so I don't cut myself on them? Thanks.

Mild steel, 1mm thick.

 

[skotl]

A deburring or chamfer tool.

Or very light dusting with a flap disc

 

[wyn]

If you are looking to make them safe for use you could leave the edges a bit longer then bend them over 180 degrees.

Leaves a safe edge and stiffenes it all up a bit.

 

[Hitch]

What are they for?

A Dutch fold/hem/crush fold is a good solution if they're going to be handled regularly.


Otherwise, run a deburring tool along it a couple of times, followed by a bit of folded up emery.

 

[dave h 2]

Easy, wire edge

 

[piman]

Hello Dave,

wire edging is good but quite tedious to do.

Alec

 

[redlig]

Wire wheel on the buffing machine .

 

[chunkolini]

Wire wheel on the buffing machine .

Beat me too it.
I make lots of sheet metal sculptures that will be handled.
I run a 120g flap wheel over the edges then do them with a wire wheel.
Then do a skin test; run a finger all round the edges to check for sharps.

 

[Morris]

My preferred technique if it is going to be a hazard to fingers. Go over the edges with a fine file and finish with a rubbing block. Tedious but it works for me.
With thin sheet anything that's a bit "vigorous" can risk sharpening the edge rather than making it safe.

 

[Cheesie]

If you have a folder, fold a safe edge

 

[colnerov]

Easy, wire edge

Appears to be a secret process with a good view of his elbow.

 

[Turbo]

On steel that thin a grinder is too aggressive and only raises burrs.

i would use a powerfile with a 120g belt followed by hand sanding with 150g emery cloth.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Quickest way is a double bladed deburring tool


I've also got a homemade version that takes the radius inserts to give rounded edges but that's a bit pointless on 1mm thick material I'd think

 

[Guzrik]

Tack a tube or a rod on the edge, doesn't look very professional but is functional and relatively easy to do.

 

[ELL]

Tack a tube or a rod on the edge, doesn't look very professional but is functional and relatively easy to do.

Would look fine in my opinion. Thanks!

 

[hotponyshoes]

That's 3mm round bar on 1.5mm sheet, there is also an angle folded into the sheet for stiffness (you can see it better on the first pic, it's folded outwards)
Welded all the way along rather than tacked but if yours is steel tacks would probably be fine depending on the abuse it gets. Or just lay a thin filler rod in place and buzz the tig all the way along if you can jig it somehow to hold the distortion.
Or weld the edging on first then flatten the sheet back out and size.

 

[bricol]

If you can't fold them over into a safety edge as suggested above, then you can buy steel safety edging sections - preformed strip in a U-shape - slip over the edge, tack in place as needed. Often used ot make edges of perf rather less aggressive in guarding etc

 

[marlinspike]

If appearances aren't important you could edge the trays in rubber. Quick and fairly cheap. Probably use adhesive if they get lots of handling.

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