I am trying to fabricate an Optimus 80 flame spreader from brass. I am having a hard time getting the circular part cut with some symmetry. What have others used to cut that area? I tried a small hacksaw, and it will not cut in an arc. I have a dremel tool. Has anyone found a bit to cut metal? Maybe a jeweler saw? A chassis nibbler, and rough cut it for finishing with a file or Dremel?
Good cantilever tin snips, sometimes called aviation/aircraft tin snips. 8) You can get straight, left or right hand cut shears & I have a pair I used to make a "Zora" plate. 8) If I get time tomorrow, I'll pop some pics on this thread of the one I made from the brass salvaged from an old dead Tilley lamp tank http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=aviation tin snips&_fscr=1 Stu
I used a cut-off wheel in an angle grinder to rough out the desired shape and then finished with a small file (fashioned from an old brass door knob). I think I read on another post here, the circle of the burner plate is 30mm diameter(?). Scribe this well into the brass before you start any cutting so as to not lose the lines to work to.
Angle grinder to cut to rough shape, then cutting wheel on a Dremel (easiest to use a wheel that is fairly worn down), then file to final shape. Brass is very easy to fashion with a file. Circle is 1 3/16" (30mm) diameter. Scribe the circle first, then mark out the 'arms'. You need to dish the centre of the plate. I found it easiest to place the plate on a 24mm socket, place the rounded end of a ball pein hammer on top and strike the hammer with another hammer. This is a link to my attempt - Link Regards, Terry
'Twas your original post which got me started on this project. I used blue painters tape with a pattern drawn on it for my layout. The scribe will probably work better. I will try the angle grinder,and that got me to thinking about another method: Rough it out to shape, then clamp the piece between 2 same size sockets of the right size. The sockets being harder material, will prevent the brass from being ground away past the edge of the desired circle diameter.
Do you have a sabre saw (jigsaw)? A great way to cut parts like this is to clamp the saw upside-down in a vise and use both hands to cut out your piece. Personally, I would make a drawing with a graphics program and print it out on paper, then glue the paper to your piece of copper and just cut it out. Easey Peasey.
Hi John, AH Packstoves list that part on ebay for US$ 11.95, Mike at Base camp here in the UK lists them for GBP 4.95, the part number is 2174, it is a common part which is used on the new Svea 123R. Unless parts are difficult to find in the US, I'm trying to visualise why you need to make one?, unless you like the challenge. I don't think the world would run out of that part, it's been around for over 80 years, maybe even longer, there might even be one lurking in the hold of the Titanic? :o Best wishes in your endeavours=John. Now there's the makings of a good story, 'stove from Titanic at auction'. ------------------------- If in doubt, brew up.
Never ever, ever, ever, strike 2 hammers together. The faces are hardened, unless you buy them from Aldi that is, and you could get shards splitting off straight into your eye.
If one is worried about striking the ballpein with another hammer, the second hammer could well be a wooden/rubber mallet or deadblow. Then the work can be done without risk of shattered hammer faces. J
Nah ! Not for that Henry, I did however, get a clip in the ear for using a file without a wooden handle though ( or was it for leaving a chuck key in the lathe's chuck )
Yep, done that as well What about arseing about with the compressed air. winding up a ball race until it starts to scream then letting it go up the workshop, sparks flying.
Alright Henry, rap on the knuckles for putting your finger in the flux. I was taught to make shapes like this in sheet using an Abrafile (finish with warding files). Sadly Abrafiles are no longer available. A suitable replacement for these is a tungsten carbide rod saw, 300mm for your hacksaw frame. Power tools just help you turn material into waste quicker.
