By Frank Ross
A number of unique aspects add interest and reveal the nature of a new gallery and supporting studio that has opened in the high desert country of Sedona, Arizona. The first two letters in the name of the gallery and web site provide a hint into the background of Gayle Herman, artist and proprietor of Cu Form ++ Gallery. Cu is the chemical symbol for copper, so it should come as no surprise that Gayle is a chemical engineer that has reinvented herself as a copper artist after escaping from the high tech world of Silicon Valley.
“I’ve been high tech all my life. I was raised in Silicon Valley, started three companies there, sold two and took the third public, moved to Sedona and crossed over from a techie to become an artist,” she said. While that may seem like a difficult transition, Gayle says it was actually a simple process.
“I was able to use my skills in metallurgy and chemicals to make the copper do what I want it to do,” she said. 
Cu Form is an innovative artistic method of encasement developed by Gayle that blends art and function into striking works that reflect the color and native landscape of Arizona. In an effort to combine beauty with function and form, she does mirrors and other decorative items to accent interior spaces and says that she has even used copper foil almost as a wallpaper to explore and express her passion for copper. She specializes in flora and fauna and her work utilizes a lot of flowers. She has also incorporated elements of Native American pseudo-morphed figures in the Southwest art for pieces to be used in exterior spaces but the majority of her work is created for interior spaces and interior design.
“I not only cover existing structures but I make freestanding structures also. I use thin copper foils in my work, so it’s not like I’m banging furniture with a ball peen hammer or anything like that. It’s a whole different approach to working with copper, using these micro thicknesses of copper. I’ve spent my life in metallurgy and chemistry, so this was a real fun project for me.”
“Copper has been my love for as long as I can recall. To me it has been a metal that is not intimidating. It’s not silver and it’s not gold, copper is a warm metal so I’ve always had this thing for it. I went out shopping for some copper art and I couldn’t find anything that I really liked. I could not find anything that wasn’t heavy and masculine, or industrial looking so I just said I’m going to develop a process to create what I like. I just worked and worked at it and the results are now featured in my gallery and on my web site http://cuformgallery.com/ArtInventoryWeb.html,” she said.
Gayle Herman, Cu Form ++ Gallery artist and owner.
“The other thing I’m trying to tie in with my gallery, being a scientist, I have a small museum here with copper chemicals and copper ores. Arizona is the copper state. More copper is produced in Arizona than any other state in the union. Tying in all of the mining, ores, chemicals and copper art together has been a fun thing to do,” she explained. 
Gayle will not reveal the technique that she has developed for creating her copper art, but will say that she does not incorporate the use tin lead solders or metallic solders of any kind. Adhesives, without VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) are used in the method of joining the various copper components. Drawing upon her chemical engineering background, Gayle creates some stunning patinas as well as thermo-oxides to achieve the final colors in her work and then seals them with a protective coating.
Some of her work is featured on her newly launched web site http://cuformgallery.com/, but there is so much more in her Cu Form ++ Gallery and studio located in the Hillside Plaza in Sedona. Next time you’re in the copper state, drop in for a visit. There is sure to be something to catch your eye.
Naturally Gayle’s choice for purchasing copper is quickshipmetals.com. If you have an artistic inclination that requires copper, give us a call. 1-800-334-2177.
By Frank Ross
Anne Goddard is a bundle of artistic energy with a copper core. For the past 20 years she’s been working with metal in one way or another, and loves this versatile metallic medium. While Anne began her life’s work as a math analyst, when she got married and moved to North Carolina she added a second major in art to her math degree and her relationship with metal began to unfold.
“I was creating enameled jewelry for 17 years, but that required a lot of travel, going to art shows all over the country. My husband and I have three children, ages 13, 12 and 10 and I was ready for a change in direction that didn’t involve so much travel. I had money in the bank and a lot of inventory to sell, so I gave myself six months to experiment and find another passion,” she explained.
“I had seen a painting on a cylinder at an art show and loved it, but when I tried applying cloisonné techniques to a cylinder I had all types of problems with cracks. The cooling rate of the copper was different than the enamel and it wasn’t working for me. I tried doing some work with wall hangings on straight copper but that didn’t satisfy my creative spirit. I just started playing around with cylindrical, square and half-round structures and strips of copper, using a torch to get different colors and really liked the results. I don’t care for using chemicals, so for me the torch is the best tool for creating different colors in copper. The thing I like about applying heat to copper is surprise of color the torch can produce. You may be trying to get a particular color and end up with a different color that is just as beautiful, but unintended,” she said. 
Her work involves a number of different types of copper, from flat sheeting to various types of wire and mesh in a dazzling array of striking colors that serve to brighten any room or decorative theme. Once a piece is finished, Anne coats it with clear lacquer so the colors are sealed and the copper won’t tarnish. The source of inspiration for Anne’s art work is found in that illusive spirit that speaks softly to the individual artist. Her source for copper to follow the muse’s whispered direction is QuickShipMetals.com of course.
Anne works out of two studios in Lincoln, Nebraska and her work can be found in numerous galleries around the country. If you’re looking for an unusual piece of artwork for your home or office, check out Anne’s work at copperelementsart.com. The combination of bold and subtle colors with a variety of textures and shapes creates strikingly beautiful accent pieces that may speak to your spirit as well.
By Frank Ross
Unlike the usual fare of fire-breathing dragons that come off the line in prototypical high performance automotive competitions in this country, the vehicles involved in the fourth annual Formula Hybrid™ competition were looking forward to a “greener” propulsion system and that captured the imagination of the management at Quick Ship Metals - the online metals outlet from Storm Copper Components.
 SJSU's Formula-Hybrid entry cruises the track during performance trials. |
Quick Ship Metals has a track record of commitment to the development of innovative technology but this project was set on a track of a different nature whose destination was of the same bent, so Storm was enthusiastic about sponsoring San Jose State University’s entry into the annual Formula Hybrid™ competition. This competition was the fourth annual, conducted by the prestigious Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, and held in coordination with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
The Formula Hybrid competition is an educational program that serves to challenge and inspire teams of university undergraduate and graduate students to conceive their own design for hybrid-powered cars, and then to fabricate, develop and compete with other students from around the world. Students are required to work across disciplinary boundaries, such as electrical and mechanical engineering, and also to enlist the support of grants, awards and corporate sponsorships.
Although 100 pages of rules determined the outcome, teams are allowed great freedom and flexibility in the design of these vehicles, with the most significant requirement being a mandatory mechanical/electrical hybrid drive train. The concept given to students is to design and build a prototype vehicle that is to be ultimately produced for the consumer, so styling, acceleration, braking and handling performance are all factors that weigh heavily in the judging process.
 SJSU's team poses for a group photo at the track in New Hampshire. |
As the eleven student team members benefit from the experience, the underlying ambition of this program is to further the goal of developing a viable alternative to carbon based transportation. John Monson, Team Leader, sees the competition as an opportunity to demonstration to automotive consumers that hybrids are capable of high performance acceleration and handling characteristics that exceed the expectations of economical forms of transportation typical of the hybrid concept vehicle.
The 2010 SJSU entry was originally a gas-electric hybrid, but in the final weeks before the competition a booster exploded so they entered the full-electric powered division. That’s where QSM contribution to the program became a critical component.
 Copper sheeting was used for battery busbars to connect the 140 lithium iron phosphate batteries that supplied power to the experimental car’s propulsion system. |
According to the project’s electrical technical adviser, Matthew Kihlthau, the .24″ x 48″ copper sheet that QSM contributed to the project was used to fabricate the copper bus bar for fuses that provided the required electrical safety element for the competition, the copper sheeting also served as the battery bus plate used as the main connector for the 140 lithium iron phosphate batteries that supplied power to the experimental car’s propulsion system. The car’s electrical propulsion system, which enabled a top speed of 60 mph, with a capacity of 90 minutes or roughly 20 miles, produced 200 amps of continuous power, with a peak rating of 230 amps at 102.2 volts.
For this 4th annual competition – and SJSU’s first Formula-Hybrid challenge – the judging began in May at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where 30 teams from five countries presented their vehicles for a complicated mechanical inspection. Following the inspection, students made a presentation to industry experts from Toyota, Chrysler and other auto companies, touting the costs, design and marketing strengths of their vehicle. Once the inspections and presentations were completed, the racing began. Unlike typical auto races, where the checkered flag goes to the car that crosses the finish line first, this competition selects a winner based on the way the car is designed, built and most importantly the measured performance of drive train innovation and fuel efficiency.
 Copper bus bar was used for fuses that provided the required electrical safety element for the competition. |
San Jose State University’s team finished second in the Hybrid in Progress category, behind a collective effort fielded by Florida A&M/Florida State University. More importantly, the road to a more environmentally friendly form of automotive transportation in the future was advanced through the process of education, innovation, experimentation and the classic application of American ingenuity. Such are the things of the future, and Storm Copper’s commitment to alternative energy and innovation that will secure our nation’s future for both commerce and individual consumers.
For more information on the San Jose State University Formula-Hybrid project, check out the SJSU project Web site.
Here’s a competition summary video that illustrates the SJSU effort well.
If you have modular batteries in need of copper posts, plates or other connectors, non-plated or plated in bright tin, lead, lead-tin or other plating conducted entirely in-house, consider Quick Ship Metals.
By Frank Ross
One of the most common questions I receive in the Ask Frank section of the QuickShipMetals.com blog is related to backsplash installation. Most recently Karen was looking for a few suggestions to help her husband tackle this sometimes daunting task. I advised her that the most challenging task her husband will face is preparing the surface. To avoid having another surface to clean, wait until you have a clean surface before you check the fit of your metal. If you position the metal over the dirty wall, you’ll have to clean it as well.
Adhesives will not work properly if they are applied over oily or dirty surfaces, and kitchens are the epicenter of oil and grime distribution in any home. Those wonderful smells that waft up from a skillet of your favorite dish are accompanied by microscopic drops of the cooking oil or butter that is being used in your recipe. Frying or sauteing are the most common tasks that create airborne contaminates, but even the steam rising from a boiling pot of pasta with olive oil will eventually end up on the walls and surfaces surrounding the stove. That makes clean the project surfaces the first item on any backsplash installation project. Wash all surfaces with a decreasing agent and make sure there is no residue from that process. If you can see a film on the surface, it needs to be worked over again. Degreasing agents require a lot of clean water for proper removal, so don’t spare the water and rinse out your sponge or cloth frequently.
Once the surface is clean and dry, do a test fit to make sure you’re happy with all openings for outlets and switches. These openings can be cut by drilling a pilot hole and using a hand-held jig saw with a metal blade. It is also a good idea to hit the edges with a fine file to reduce the burred edges that can end up in fingers and hands.
Once you’re happy with the fit, apply the Liquid Nails and spread out the beads with a trowel or glue blade to ensure an even, uniform coat. Position the metal precisely then brace and clamp the metal, making sure the entire surface is flat and evenly pressured against the wall. For some applications, using tape on the edges will be adequate to hold the metal in place, but larger runs may call for additional pressure. Clamping and bracing can be easily done by cutting a length of plywood the length of your metal and attaching a 2×2 midway up the face. Cut as many lengths of wood as necessary for applying pressure evenly and clamp them to the leading edge of your countertop, using scrap wood to protect the surface of the top where your C-clamps will apply pressure.
Allow adequate time (24 hours) for the Liquid Nails to cure before removing the clamps, and the rest is pure enjoyment. Invite your friends over to admire your handiwork and accept all compliments graciously!
To kick off your own backsplash project, check out the stainless steel options at QuickShipMetals.com stainless steel. You’ll find some great ideas for upgrading your kitchen at our kitchen backsplash idea page.
Remember we’ll be happy to do custom cuts when you supply a detailed drawing.
By Frank Ross
Like many home improvement projects, the beginning of this attractive copper-accented planter was rooted in an unsightly, outdated object that needed to be removed. An ugly lamppost in front of Christina Galvan’s home needed to be removed, but it was mounted in a large mass of concrete. For Christina, a structural engineer, a block of concrete was an opportunity, not an obstacle.
With a few concrete blocks, some mortar and stones she created a planter that also served as a place to mount her house number. After further analysis, Christina felt the house numbers didn’t show up well against the dark stones, especially at night. “I looked at several options, but the commercially available products were pretty expensive compared to the raw materials. I did some research on the Internet and found QuickShipMetals.com. The pricing was very reasonable so I ordered a piece of copper sheeting cut to size. I had never worked with metal before, but the copper was very easy to work with and the holes were easy to drill,” she said.
“The numbers were mounted to the planter with screws and the only challenge was making sure the holes lined up properly so they could be reattached in the same location. I used a piece of cardboard to make a template and checked the alignment to make sure before I started drilling,” she said.
“I think the planter looks fantastic. The copper is starting to weather now and it looks very organic. In fact, I like the look so much I’m thinking that I need to do a copper sculpture or create a water piece with copper in my backyard. The area I live in is noted for copper, so it is a natural fit and I love the look,” she added.
If you have a project that could be complemented with the natural beauty of copper, give our customer service staff a call on our toll-free line. Copper might be the solution you’re looking for. 1-888-334-2177.
By Frank Ross
From stem to stern, this wood, canvas and brass beauty is stunning.
For Jerry Fruetel his recently completed canoe project was a labor of love with a long courtship. Jerry built the mold and began the project 18 years ago, and just took it on its maiden voyage this past month. “I’m like that wine company with the ad campaign that said, ‘We’ll serve no wine before its time’ but for me I serve no canoe before its time,” he said with a laugh.
“This was my first canoe and I wanted to take my time and not make any fatal errors,” he said. That fatal error almost happened, but cooler heads and hot water prevailed. After the ribs and planks had been attached, Jerry had to take a break for a couple of months. He set the canoe upright on saw horses but the cedar was so soft that the weight created a 1” dent in each end. “I thought I had ruined it, but I called a master canoe builder for advice.
Once the ribs are steamed and nailed to the gunwales, it looks like the ribs of a whale.
The solution was to create some temporary bracing to push the wood back out and pouring buckets of boiling water over the damaged wood. When the wood dried out, the dents had come out and I was very relieved,” he said.
The first step to building a wood and canvas canoe is building the mold, which is essentially like another canoe, with the exception that it weighs about 300 pounds. The project lived in his garage and he worked on it when he had time off from his career with Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Minnesota.
Once he retired six years ago, the pace of the work became more regular and meaningful as well.
The mold is made of ¾” square strips of pine. Jerry explains the process that starts with attaching the inside gunwales, or rails, to the mold. Then 52 cedar ribs are steamed, bent over the mold, and the ends are nailed to the gunwales of the canoe. The result looks much like the skeleton of a whale.
Only brass could protect this beauty!
Once the ribs are in place, cedar planking is attached to the ribs to form the hull, and canvas is stretched over. The canvas is then sealed with a thick paint-like filler that hardens like slate. The next final steps for most canoe builders would be adding the finishing touches with a quality marine paint and varnish, but Jerry wanted this canoe to be special. “I’ve got about 500 total hours in the project over all these years. I could have finished it sooner, but I did some inlay work. I inlaid the Canadian Maple Leaf in decorative cherry on one end and the American Eagle on the other,” he said.
The tools of the trade, and the results of their proper application.
In his native Minnesota there are many large boulders to be navigated around, and occasionally they can’t be avoided, so Jerry wanted to protect this beauty along the nose and tip of each end. “Some guys use copper for the end cap, and that’s a great metal to finish off a canoe, but I thought brass might offer more protection since it is a harder metal. I wanted to use 20 gauge, but I contacted Quick Ship Metals and got some good advice on which thickness to use, and learned about the annealing process. That’s where the metal is heated red hot and then cooled down. That makes it softer and much easier to bend and form. As you tap on it with a hammer to form it, the metal gets hard again. I used the 24 gauge brass sheeting. It was great to work with and really looks nice.”
Jerry loves the smell of wood and making sawdust, but the wood he loves the most is a paddle in his hands. “I know people who build canvas canoes that don’t care to paddle, , but I love to take mine out. I had read about them being quiet and smooth. It is that for sure, but it’s also faster than I thought it would be and it really handles great.
Jerry takes his canoe for a turn on the Mississippi River.
“My ambition is to turn my love of working in wood and making canoes into a service to charities in our area. These canoes sell from $3,000 to $8,000 depending on how they’re finished out. I want to make 10 over the next few years and donate them to be used for charity fund raisers,” he said.
Based on the beauty of this brass appointed masterpiece, I’m betting the bidding will be brisk!
The decorative and protective uses for brass and copper are almost endless. If you’ve got a project that needs protecting, contact our customer service staff for answers to any questions you may have about these metals. The call is toll-free. 1-888-334-2177.
By Frank Ross
There are many ways to dress up a truck, trailer, garage or workspace but none of them have the dramatic impact and appeal that aluminum diamond plate provides. The popularity and durability of diamond plate is most often seen on fire trucks, ambulances and heavy-duty trucks, but in recent years folks have found a way to incorporate this highly durable, attractive metal into just about every conceivable form known to man. Simply put, if a design idea in conceived, someone has built it in diamond plate.
In addition to the standard motor vehicle dress ups, tool boxes, kick plates and workbench applications, diamond plate shop accessories have been created in everything from tool and towel racks, trash cans, switch plates and even shop lights. However, if you’re the typical home owner with a shop and tools, you want to make as many of these yourself to save a few bucks and have the exact dimensions that meet your particular needs.
For common uses such as kick plates, Quick Ship Metals has precut diamond plate aluminum ready to ship, and special orders cut to specific sizes are not a problem. Both are routinely shipped out daily. For a quick solution to shelving needs in a garage or work area, these heavy-duty one-piece Diamond Plate Shelves are perfect. They’re extremely strong and ready to mount.
Although the eye appeal is a strong motivator for using diamond plate, the ease of working with it is also a major factor. You can cover a lot of abuse on the front, sides and back gate of a horse trailer by wrapping it with .063 diamond plate. It’s easy to cut, shape and attach with a minimal amount of tools and labor. Another positive aspect of this versatile metal is the added weight to a vehicle or trailer is minimal.
When selecting diamond plate, the most common question consumers have is related to thickness. In general there are two common areas of application, decorative and structural. For decorative use where you are not supporting weight, .063 would be a good thickness. Our .080 and .125 diamond plate is ideal for applications where you need more strength such as the interior walls of a trailer. These grades are great for uses that do not require structural support. Our Heavy Duty Aluminum Diamond Plate Corner Protectors, made of .125 DP, are very popular. It features a one piece design for solid strength and rugged protection. Some people also use the .080 grade for wainscoting in high traffic areas. For structural use or for building trailer ramps that have to support a lot of weight, use ¼” 6061-T6 TREAD PLATE.
If you’re the type of person that is more of a hands-on craftsman, the sample pack enables you to hold the metal in your hands and get the feel for the various gauges. For only $12.99 you can order an Aluminum Diamond Plate Sample Pack that contains .063″ through .125″ thicknesses offered by Quickshipmetals.com. The .250″ thickness is not in our sample pack but available upon request.
As a dedicated Harley rider in a very hot climate I can tell you that parking your motorcycle on asphalt, sand or plain dirt and hoping the kickstand won’t sink into the hot surface and topple is no way to leave your ride. What you need is a custom cut 6” x 6” Motorcycle Kickstand Plate. Besides being a sharp addition to your bike, having the peace of mind is worth a lot more than the cost of this handy plate. Another great idea for bikes is the Flame Motorcycle Pad.
This flame sculpted diamond plate motorcycle pad is custom cut from .080 aluminum diamond plate and it will provide your bike with a stunning parking spot that your buddies will definitely envy. This 10’ x 4’ bike pad will accommodate most size motorcycles and includes a non-skid rubber mat to rest on.
When the brightly polished look isn’t what you’re looking for, consider Black Aluminum Diamond Plate .063″. This unique metal gives you the advantages of a tread plate surface, without the weight of steel.
Another positive aspect of using aluminum diamond plate is the ease of care. After a while, the accumulation of road dirt and residue can leave your beautiful metal with a dull appearance. With a few easy steps and a little elbow grease, you can quickly restore the once-bright shine. Start by using a very fine steel wool to remove any accumulation of dirt and film. Next you need to use a lime-cleaning agent and a rough sponge to scrub the surface thoroughly. If you have sensitive skin, when using strong cleaners a pair of heavy-duty rubber gloves is always the wise option. Once you’ve got the film and road dirt removed, wash away the cleaner with soap and water. Now you need to apply some Mother’s Aluminum polish. A microfiber cloth is the preferred method of application, and it is best to work the polish into the surface slowly concentrating on small areas at a time for a smoother, even appearance.
Once the polish has fully dried, finish off the process and add a layer of protection by applying a coat of Mothers aluminum wax. This is the most challenging part of the job, so be very careful to use very small amounts of wax at a time. Trying to wax a large area can lead to spotting and streaking. To prevent the wax from building up on the edges, apply the wax in as thin a coating as possible, paying particular attention to rub out any streaks that begin forming.
QuickShipMetals.com carries Aluminum Diamond Plate in sizes and gauges that are perfect for any application. For additional information or assistance with your order, login to our Live Text and Chat Support try our toll free number, 1-888-2177.
By Frank Ross
The most common places for damaging water leaks in residential construction occur where roof flashing is installed, and poor installation is most often the cause of failure.
Flashings are the critical material that forms the barrier between the primary roofing material (asphalt shingles, ceramic tiles, etc.) and objects that don’t get covered by that material. Regardless of the roofing material, the critical areas with the highest potential for leaks are these transitional areas.
Pliable metal flashing is used to direct water away from valleys or dormers created by changes in the roofline, plumbing or fan vents, a chimney, or a skylight installation. Copper is the preferred material, though there are other cheaper materials being used today and is practically leak proof when installed properly. Poor installation of non-copper metals that depend on caulks or roofing cement to seal out moisture are certain to leak over time as constant exposure to the elements slowly destroys the adhesive and elastic qualities of these chemical sealants.
Depending on the material used, the lifespan of a roof can range dramatically, and this means that the flashing in these critical areas of exposure must meet or exceed the life span of the roofing material. When flashing metals are used it is critical that they must be easily shaped and soldered, brazed or welded readily. And while some installations can be done using crimps, a permanent seal is the most secure option.
Soldered joints will stand the extreme temperature swings and the resulting expansion and contraction that a roof is exposed to. The most troublesome areas are where flashing must be formed around a corner such as a chimney or dormer, or where two pieces must be spliced together. Traditional flashing metals include copper, tin coated steel, lead and galvanized steel.
Copper flashing is the preferred metal because it performs far better than other metals in all areas of concern. It is malleable and easily formed, easily soldered and is very durable. Copper sheeting used for roof flashing is also known as 16-ounce copper because the .0216” thickness required for this application weighs about 16 ounces per 12” x 12” sheet. Tin coated steel and galvanized steel will eventually rust and corrode. While it is possible to paint tin and galvanized metals, it is very difficult to get paint to adhere properly due to oils on the surface from the manufacturing process. Cleaning the surface is required, special primers and several coats of the finish paint are best but seldom used, so peeling or flaking paint will eventually give way to rust and flashing failure. Aluminum cannot be soldered, and if it is used to flash around a chimney or a brick wall, it will corrode rapidly. The chemical composition of the mortar will attack and destroy the aluminum!
Valley flashings are generally divided into two categorize, open and closed. As implied by the name, open valleys are visible when completed and closed valleys are not. When open valleys are installed, long sheets of 16 oz. (minimum) copper are cleated to the sheathing and underlayment before any shingles are applied. Adjacent sheets of copper are overlapped a minimum of 8″. The sheets are nailed only at the top and copper or bronze nails are used.
Closed valleys are constructed as the shingles are installed by inserting copper flashing squares between successive layers of shingles. These flashing squares are folded on the diagonal.
When slate or tile is used for the primary roofing material, 20 oz. plain or lead coated copper is recommended for use in valley flashing. But keep in mind that building codes vary widely across the U.S., so you should check with your local codes before beginning any project.
Once you’re ready to start, remember that QuickShipMetals.com has an extensive stock of copper sheeting in all sizes and thicknesses that are appropriate for roofing flashing. Give our friendly customer service staff a call for a price quote that won’t send you through the roof!
Call toll-free: 1-888-334-2177
Once again the heat radiating properties of copper provides a solution to a high-tech overheating issue with computer components. With computers and especially video cards, fast isn’t often fast enough, and the ever present quest for more speed usually leads to an upgrade of existing components, which sometimes creates compatibility and heat issues, especially in the confined spaces of a laptop. 
When Dell owners upgraded the video card in an Inspiron 8500 with the Mobility Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo, over heating became a serious issue. Although the Inspiron BIOS recognizes the Radeon 9600 correctly and it does work in the 8500, there is no BIOS support for the overheating issue.
During operation, users discovered the BIOS shut-off temperature is set low enough that the heat generated by the upgraded video card will cause the notebook to shut down. Thanks to Dell Community Member MadMax for supplying the pictures and the instructions that solves this problem. They key to the solution is using a small piece of copper plate that measures 3cm x 3cm x 1.5mm thick. Other items required include a heat sink compound such as Arctic Silver 5, rapid glue such as cyanacrylat from Loctite, soldering paste to clean the copper, Acetone and a small Philips head screwdriver.
It appears that the main issue that needs to be addressed is with the thermal pads that Dell uses for contact between the chip and heat sink on both GPU and CPU. These pads are quite thick and only marginally effective so you need to replace them with the 1.5 mm thick copper plate so the heat sink and GPU chip makes contact.
First, disassemble the video card until it looks like this photo. Then remove the pad that covers the die of the GPU. Clean the die with Acetone or Isopropyl alcohol that is over 99% pure. Apply the thermal compound to the copper plate, and then apply the rapid glue to each corner of the copper plate. Next, fix the copper plate to the metal making sure the side with the heat sink compound and glue is facing the metal. Apply some thermal compound on the die and screw the parts together making sure that you do not tighten the screws too much, which can crack if too much pressure is applied to the die. Remember, copper expands when it gets warm so you need to make sure there is enough room for expansion.
Install the card back into your notebook and you will note that the CPU operates at about 50°C while the GPU heats up to 75-80°C in 3D games, compared to the original 100°C.
For more detailed photos and instructions, use this link and note the English instructions are on the photos. MadMax instructions.
Copper, so many solutions for such a simple metal! Call 1-888-334-2177 for your copper solution.
Our customers come up with some great ideas when it comes to beautifying and simplifying kitchens and the necessities of preparing food. Magnetic stainless is an excellent option for a kitchen environment because it is so easy to care for and so durable in this challenging environment of heat, water and recipes that create air-borne oil and grease. 
If you’re tired of digging through stacks or racks of various spices and blends of your favorites, then this may be just the solution you’re looking for. There’s nothing more frustrating than finding the right bottle of seasoning to discover that it is almost empty. In addition to ease of use, this rack also makes it easy to see when a particular spice is getting low and needs to be restocked.
With this magnetic rack, every type of spice you need to create your favorite dishes is within easy reach and with the open-ended containers it’s a snap to identify just the right container required for seasoning perfection.
Quick Ship Metals has the magnetic stainless steel, and you can spicing up your life quicker than you can say chicken cacciatore when you pick up the metal tins with clear lids online, for only $1.48 each at this link: Tins with clear lids.
