Good Morning, Lads, Ian was kind enough to send me a nice sheet of Nitrile, some time back, and recently I tried my hand a making some fuel cap washers with it. Though my home-made washers, which I cut out with sissors, were not very pretty, they worked a treat! Thanks, VERY much, Ian!!! Now, my question: Is there a special punch set that can be obtained, that will cut the washers to the proper size, AND give you a "pretty" product? By the way, I saved the center cut-out for use in making NRV gaskets. Should work perfectly, me thinks, when cut to size. Thanks for any help, or suggestions, concerning making a more professional looking washer. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Hi Doc Wad punches over here - not sure of the name over your way. I use a set of 12 similar to the ones toward the bottom of this page: http://www.proopsbrothers.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Punches_15.html Reasonably priced. Something like these would probably last longer: http://www.mutr.co.uk/prodDetail.aspx?prodID=475 IIRC it was Albert who suggested inserting a sort of centring pin so that the finished washer was perfectly aligned (I just judge it by eye and most are good. He also suggests punching on the end grain of a piece of wood (I follow this advice). HTH
PS Doc Just looked at my reply with the signature. It's just a coincidence that there's a "wad" in the Burns quote
I've used the Maun punches and they're pretty good though I don't have a set of my own. Some time ago Colin (are you still out there Colin?) suggested the use of pointed dowels for centring the 2nd punch when making washers. I've looked at sets like this where two punches are used simultaneously but haven't felt that my need justifies buying a set yet. Iwe can get them here there's probably the same or similar to be had Stateside.
Don't forget - rubber _grinds_ very well with an offhand grinder, if you need to do anything fancy! Jim Ford
Gentlemen, Many thanks for the info on wad punches! I will check around and see if a good set can be found Stateside. I won't mind paying a little bit, as I will probably use them for many years. Thanks, again! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Hay Doc I have used this set of wod punches that leaves the center mark. This is a good set if you want to cut seals for the pump seal of Tilleys and such likes. But that set I think you will find has Not got the 15/16 punch. This is an important size if cutting filler cap seals for the lager stoves like Primus #5 and Handi Quick Boils. So check for this size before buying. Also make sure you are resting the seal meterial edge on a piece of wood (lumber) . Never use a steel bench or you will bugger up the cutting edge after the first hit.
Morning, Albert, Thanks, very much, for the additional information. I have used a wad punch before, but only to make patches for my blackpowder shooting, and my punch is way too big to be of use for fuel cap gaskets. As you have suggested, I have always used a bit of 2x4 under the material when I have punched out those fabric wads, and it works a treat. Thanks, again, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Hey Doc Make sure that you use the end of the piece of 4 x 2 so that the punch goes down into the 'end grain' of the wood, you'll get a cleaner cut and it won't burr the cutting edge of the punch.
Hey, Henry, Thanks for that reminder. In making my cloth patches, I've only used the side of the 2x4 before this, but see how the end grain would give you a much cleaner cut. That's how I'll do it from now on. Thanks, again. God Bless! Doc Mark
Hello, Figured I would add my 2 cents. I purchased a leather punch on e-bay. It was rather cheap 9 dollars or so. The only problem is that the rubber compresses as you punch them out. Even if you use hand pressure and a twisting motion they tend to have an hour glass shape. But, for check valves they work just fine. I have nitrile rubber in a large sheet so if anyone needs a 3 x5 inch slab let me know. Chuck
Hi Guys! Yes, Ian, I'm indeed still out here in cyberspace. I've just got back from the annual cycle tour. This year it was from Wheathampstead,UK - Pritzwalk, Germany - Beujeu, France - Carmarge, France - Gibraltar, Spain. This winter I hope to complete the 2nd part of the map reading course which includes navigating in straight lines. Lest this note is about to be moved to another part of the Forum I guess I'd better include some fettling content! I took the Optimus Nova and, as usual, it performed impeccably. Most of the time I ran it on BBQ lighter fuel or white spirit. Petrol does tend to make for a more exciting start to dinner but on the other hand......... I've stripped the Nova down and the innards STILL don't nead any cleaning or other attention. That's at least 4/5 years of intermittent touring around and tens of litres of hydrocarbon fuel of one type or another. I've fine-tuned the burn on the Nova by bending the three arms on the 'burner plate'. Thanks for that tip, Ross. I kept an eye out for stoves on my travels but saw only a GI Colman at a silly price in the middle of France. Now I hope to catch up on all the important jobs like gardening, decorating, house maintenance etc. That last sentence was for brownie points.The lady has just gone to put the kettle on so I can reveal that I will in fact be fettling most of the winter. I'll also be spending more time on line hereabouts! It feels good to be back. Best wishes to all you fellow pyromaniacs, Colin.
Welcome back Colin. Is that a pedlling bike tour or a moterbike you have there. regardless sound like you had a great time am i wish i could go along next year. lance
Morning, Andy, The sheet that Ian sent me measures about 1.70mm, but it's hard to measure something that's not hard. So, +/- that figure, and it would seem to work perfectly for fuel cap gaskets. Hope that helps... Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
I'm sure most will have access to Burns complete poem, I must admit I didn't a little while ago and the section in context makes interesting reading. A link for those who may be interested. http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/17/messages/920.html Simes
You get a diablo shaped washer if you cut through thick washer material. If you reduce the thickness of the material you will get vertical sided washers. 1/16" is thick enough for the washers for stoves. You only need it thick enough to fill the irregularities on each surface so you do not need thick material. The diablo shape is caused because the cutter distorts thicker material as it cuts through it. The middle is compressed and spreads sideways as you are cutting it and then relaxes as the pressure comes off it. This gives you the odd concave sides. Regards Bryan
The sharper the punch is the less it distorts the rubber. The blunter the punch is you have to hit harder to cut though it. But a sharp punch will not stop it completely. I don't know the answer on how to stop this completely. 2 Thin washers can be used at one time with no problems. As quoted before thiner the nitrile less it distorts.
