How to Make a Steampunk Corset Busk

The following is an instructable on how to create a busk or flat steels for a corset. What's special about this one, is that it creates a busk in order to help keep eveything lookin pretty.

Materials

You need the following:

3 feet of 1/2 inch wide 1/8 inch thick aluminum
Swing box latches
Rapid Rivets
A rotary tool (for cutting the steels)
A drill/drill press
Center Punch
Bench Grinder
Tipping fluid(Plasti-dip)

I got my latches and rivets from http://www.etsy.com/shop/steamshopsupplies

Marking and Drilling the Busk

The first thing you need to do is figure out the length of your busk and the dimensions of the latches. I made the top of the first latch an inch from the top of the busk, but this step will just take alot of guess work and fine tuning. Once you get everything marked, use your rotary tool to cut the rough shaped of the busks. Center punch your marks and drill it. To find out what size drill bit you need, i put the cap of the rivet in a gauge. I ended up going with a 5/32 inch drill bit

Grinding and Tipping

Next, take a bench grinder, and grind off the burrs from drilling, and round off the tip of the busk. Then take them, and dip the edges in tipping fluid. Let them dry for a couple hours. Here I'm also tipping some flat steels .

Set Them!

Cut holes all the way through both sides of the busk for the rivets, and then slide in the busks. Place the latches and set the rivets. I recommend using a metal anvil to set them on. And then, admire your craftiness!