My father got bored

[BrokenBiker]

The empty slots are still being made. Didn't even know he was making them.

He has some green/white and yellow/white acrylic for the remaining ones

Will post pics again when they are all finished

The wooden one isn't part of the set, just one he made to experiment with and see if it holds up so will be taking that one home tonight to try as and when I get time

 

[Cobbler]

I’m at a loss, what are they?

 

[BrokenBiker]

Back caps

 

[Cobbler]

Back caps

Still no wiser B.B.

 

[JOEPRO]

I’m at a loss, what are they?

Back caps

The back caps for Tig Torches. Different sizes depending on the work space available. If in a really tight spot you can use the shorter ones and cut down or use a worn down tungsten to fit inside.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Still no wiser B.B.

For tig torches...the long (or short bit) that sticks off the back of the torch to hold the tungsten and press on the collet

 

[Cobbler]

Ahh, I have no tiggy knowledge, a dark art!

 

[TEO]

I'm afraid my welds wouldn't support such a smart torch -

 

[BrokenBiker]

I'm afraid my welds wouldn't support such a smart torch -

Neither do mine, but it'll look good when they torch is hung on the trolley

 

[zzr1200]

View attachment 484214

The empty slots are still being made. Didn't even know he was making them.

He has some green/white and yellow/white acrylic for the raining ones

Will post pics again when they are all finished

The wooden one isn't part of the set, just one he made to experiment with and see if it holds up so will be taking that one home tonight to try as and when I get time

I presume we're talking for Rainy Days when nothing much is happening........ .

PS: Nice end caps ........is there a market for custom ones????

 

[BrokenBiker]

I presume we're talking for Rainy Days when nothing much is happening........ .

PS: Nice end caps ........is there a market for custom ones????

Well spotted

 

[BrokenBiker]

I presume we're talking for Rainy Days when nothing much is happening........ .

PS: Nice end caps ........is there a market for custom ones????

There does appear to be a market...he has shown me links for the sets that gave him inspiration and some are selling for $200+ in 'merica.

That said. Since I bought him this lathe for Xmas, he has made 14 walking sticks, these back caps, a giant chess pawn, apples, pears and plums, plus a bowl to put them in and some pens..he has no intention of selling any of it.

He used to make sticks when he was younger, but he lost the lathe along the way what with starting work, moving houses etc...he used to talk about the sticks he made a lot and when my grandfather passed we found that the 1 stick he made specially for my grandfather went missing before we could grab it and we had no proof of who took it, although we had suspicions.

he was talking about retirement late last year so got him the lathe to keep him busy if he does choose to leave work and he hasn't had a day since Xmas where he hasn't been down the shed making something.

 

[zzr1200]

There does appear to be a market...he has shown me links for the sets that gave him inspiration and some are selling for $200+ in 'merica.

Trust the Yanks, but those above are nice, way to nice to use in anger for any welding, but they'd make a great retirement gift for a top tig welder.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Trust the Yanks, but those above are nice, way to nice to use in anger for any welding, but they'd make a great retirement gift for a top tig welder.

These ones were made with use in mind...they are shiny but not polished as highly as they could be. They are nice though, and for the welding I do, they shouldn't pick up many marks, if any. I have standard ones I can use if I end up under a car with the torch jammed up around an exhaust or something.

Without the factor of time, it's cost about 22 quid to make 3 long caps, 3 short and 2 button caps. There is a set on ebay now for 70

 

[JOEPRO]

How did he make them? Are they cast and totally custom? Or painted off the shelf caps?

 

[marlinspike]

I thought they were home made fountain pens awaiting the nib fitting

 

[BrokenBiker]

How did he make them? Are they cast and totally custom? Or painted off the shelf caps?

He cut down normal back caps to retain the thread and a little bit of the original plastic, then bored, bonded and turned acrylic blanks to final diameter, polished with god knows how many grits and coated with 2k clear

He did make a wooden one a few weeks ago and just bonded the brass fitting in, but the first time I used it the heat from the torch melted the glue he used. The wooden one in the pic has been made slightly differently I think

 

[BrokenBiker]

I thought they were home made fountain pens awaiting the nib fitting

That's not a bad idea, I shall let him know about that