HAM Plate

I was commissioned by the South Lancashire Amateur Radio Club to make a decorative plaque for a free prize draw they were running at the 2019 Blackpool Rally for radio enthusiasts. I was given a free run with what I made so I thought it would have to be a plate, a Radio 'Ham' Plate!

The winner of the draw was Robert Lynch from the Rochdale and District Amateur Radio Society and it's his call-sign M0NVQ I am to inlay using a black epoxy putty.

Robert became interested in radio in the early 1970s but it wasn't until his retirement in 2012 that he sat all the required exams to gain his full amateur licence..

In the video (below) you can see how I made the 60mm high letter and number templates from 2mm MDF.

My home made pantograph router reduced these by a ratio of 3 to 1 creating 20mm lettering on the workpiece. This amount of reduction helps smooth out any inaccuracies to the point where they are lost in the grain and not noticeable.

After cutting the lettering they are over filled with a black epoxy putty to ensure there are no voids once the putty is cut back to reveal the lettering. The putty is very durable and will withstand a lot of punishment without cosmetic damage should the recipient wish to use the plate for practical purposes.

Click/Tap any image for a larger view

Click/Tap the player below to watch the project video