DIY long reach spirit can

I think a container ship or two loaded with bendable stainless steel drinking straws has recently landed in the UK. They seem to be in every shop, and have many uses including making good pouring spouts.

This is a simple spirit can, made from a small food tin, a drinking straw, a 10mm plumbing fitting and some scrap tinplate and brass sheet.





The tin plate was marked with a circle and then cut out for the lid to fit on the top of the can, then a 6mm hole was drilled for the straw to fit through and the straw silver brazed into the lid.

Next, the lid assembly was soldered onto the top of the can. Then the filler boss/cap was made from the 10mm fitting and scrap brass plate, and then soldered into position diametrically opposite the filler spout.

Finally a 10mm hole was drilled through the lid, using the pouring boss as a guide.





A breather hole in the filler cap produces a smooth pour through the spout.





Ideal for hard-to-reach priming cups like my recently fettled Parasene.

 

That is a work of art! I'm not stunned at the inventiveness but at the pile of rubbish turned into a beautiful (and functional) object. Well done!

 

Thanks Scrambler.

 

Nice work Duncan. Did you form the bend in the tube ‘freehand’ or did you use one of these?



John

 

Thanks John,
The stainless straws have a short 'corrugated' section which allows them to be bent easily by hand.

 

Ah, right. As drinking straws they would of course!

 

very impressive!

 

Nice work, Duncan.

 

Thanks Ally and Ken.

 

Thank you. I just happened to have 4 SS straws that we bought a few yrs ago and ended up never using. Now I have a use for them

 

Now I'm wondering if there is enough material to thread the straw and drill and tap the hole in the plate. This would make the straw removable so you can store it easier. Just get a small plug for when the straw is removed.

 

Nice work, thank you for sharing.
Duane

 

Thanks Duane.

@Duck I like your idea. It looks like a M6 fine thread nut and bolt should work.
If the straw wall is thick enough (0.5mm) to take the thread, you can braze the nut under the 6mm hole in the lid to take the threaded spout. You can then use the shortened bolt with a viton washer as the plug.

You will need to braze the nut in place, as if you solder it in place the joint could melt and the nut fall off when you solder the lid to the can.

 

M6 fine nut and bolt next to the straw.