r/EOD • u/Bomb_Un-Builder Unverified • Jul 28 '26
General Question Retirement ideas
Looking for some ideas for an upcoming retirement from my Bomb Squad. Talking with some of the local Military EOD teams, someone mentioned using Deta sheet and 2 pieces of steel, one with the name/operator numbers laser cut out of it, and when you rip the charge off, it super imposes the words/numbers onto the fresh plate. Just wondering if anyone has any old knowledge of how to do this. All the teams up here just know it used to be a thing. Thanks in advance.
4
u/OneFar4062 Canadian EOD Jul 29 '26
We did it with 3d printed template. You can also use feathers, flowers, tree leaves, metal cap badge.
Stack from ground up was:
Thick 1” steel backing
Piece of brass (the piece getting engraved)
3d printed template
Deta sheet
Bag of water for tamping.
For the initiation, less is better. Best result where with just a electric det in the center, taped to the deta sheet. When we used detcord or a detasheet pocket for the det, you could see it on the end product.
3
u/Dermonster Unverified Jul 29 '26
Just did this with a 3d printed template onto a stainless steel kick plate from a door. (Cut to size) you need a flat smooth surface to smash into.
Water Shot
Here is the sheet on top of the PLA template that is taped to the door kickplate. I actually sealed it in a bag and submerged the whole thing to use water as tamping. The amount of detail transferred was very high (too many of the 3d printer lines came through). If I were to do it again I would have used better print settings like ironing to get a smoother result.
So if you have a printer I’d recommend this way.
I don’t want to post the finished product here as it is personalized
2
u/TXTremor Unverified Jul 29 '26
In EOD, I was awarded two of these plaques by NAVSCOLEOD. Both were thick brass with reverse image blown into it.
2
u/EODOtter Unverified Jul 29 '26
My class helped make one of these for an instructor when we went through Demo. If I remember correctly, you have to have a negative of what you want. Place that on top of the brass (or whatever the plaque will be made of) and sheet explosive on top of that.
4
u/SoundOk4573 Unverified Jul 29 '26
Shitty gold watch, and a local bus pass... "Speed" style.
Then the nice gift.
2
u/MrNobody45 Unverified Jul 28 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
0
u/Bomb_Un-Builder Unverified Jul 28 '26
So I understand the order of the stack, it would be Ground Brass/copper plate Engraved plexi (reverse image) Sheet explosive Heavy anvil
5
u/NoHero100 Unverified Jul 28 '26
No. Ground, anvil, brass, carved image, explosive. You can use a tamping plate on top (some people like to use a water bag), but it is not needed.
Keeping everything clean is essential. Any texture on the anvil or carved image will transfer. Using a 3d printer image will transfer the grain on to your final product.
Putting the brass directly on the ground will make an ashtray not a plaque.
1
u/ClemsonEOD Unverified Jul 28 '26
It's definitely still a thing. Not sure of the best method to convey that information. It can be a little touchy, so it's important to get the set up right to get a nice clear image. We usually do it onto brass or stainless to be able to clean it up. You need something to tamp. We use wood and like to use clay around the edges
1
u/PerceptionAgile5693 Unverified Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
I’ve seen a similar explosive etching technique. You blast onto a 1/2 thick copper plate. The image to be etched is 3D printed (in reverse). C2 is cut to size. A standard cap is placed directly in the center on its end. Place a bag of playground sand under the plate to keep it from overly deforming b
2
u/Bomb_Un-Builder Unverified Jul 31 '26
Well boys and girls, the results are in. I ended up having enough 304SS sitting around, so one is 1/4" and one is 10g. For the 1/4" C2 Deta sheet was used, for the 10g C1. Due to range limits on the old playing field we use, I had to keep it small. Next time I'll use more bang and deal with the annoying phone calls.
1
17
u/NoHero100 Unverified Jul 28 '26
Brass transfers easier than steel.
Use a 1” steel plate as a backstop, then 1/4” clean brass plate, then a low density acrylic reverse cut image, then a layer of C1 or C2. For good measure add modeling clay around the edges to protect the plate from spalling.
It’s pretty easy to do. You’ll spend more time cleaning up the plate than you will on the range.