Copper washers?

[Ratty]

I have allen keys but looks like I shall have to go back to the drawing board as even the smallest punch needs a 5mm hole. They increase in size according to the punch size so my idea of being able to custom make penny washers is well and truly scuppered.

 

[shenion]

one option would be to use more rivets and cut the heads off. A dremel/cutoff wheel would do this easily. A razor saw would work too.

 

[Ratty]

one option would be to use more rivets and cut the heads off. A dremel/cutoff wheel would do this easily. A razor saw would work too.

Ay? sorry shenion you lost me there but you have given me an idea (unless this is what you meant), someone mentioned these in my thread about copper rivets, no good to me as rivets as I need blind ones but would make great washers. I shall see if I can scrounge a few from one of my builder buddies as I don't really want 1000 of them ('specially if they don't work )

 

[shenion]

I was talking about pop rivets: Brass/Copper rivets
You can push the mandrel out easily and drill the head to isolate the washer.

 

[irondarren]

Ratty first you wanted copper rivets, now copper washers, are you collecting them and weighing them in?

 

[Hitch]

Ratty, if you still want a few, send me a PM and ill bang a few out for you.

A sump washer is a copper washer, that seal the joint between a sump plug and sump on a car or engine at least. Usually only a few mm wide, with an internal of 12mm+

 

[shenion]

Yes, copper is expensive; I just installed a new A/C system in house. The copper lines were just about the most expensive single part. $2.50/ft

 

[Ratty]

I was talking about pop rivets:

I get it! trouble is I'm wanting washers that are bigger than the rivet flange

Ratty first you wanted copper rivets, now copper washers, are you collecting them and weighing them in?

You guessed! I figure if every forum member sends me a few I can retire, I've pm'd everyone and asked them to ask 10 of their mates too

Ratty, if you still want a few, send me a PM and ill bang a few out for you.

Thanks H'mad I'll do that.

I've seen this on fleabay, don't know what an 'arbor' press is...would it take punch 'n dies? Seems v cheap, probably a recycled SIP but it wouldn't get serious use.

 

[malcolm]

Arbor presses are disappointing things unless you know exactly what to use them for or aren't interested in the "press" part of the name. I've got one that's about 2 feet high, but it's not used apart from for a bit of hammering around the handy square top. Just doesn't press very hard. You are welcome to it if you are ever near Bedford.

For squishing little things with appropriate tooling they would be ideal.

 

[snowcat]

arbour press'es are really for keyway broches and tooling such like, If you want a q-max cutter remind me when I bring the tank up and you can have a couple, got a draw full of them I inherited from a sheet metal worker...

 

[rtbcomp]

My Arbor press came out of the Meccano Factory - it looked like it was used for riveting over the axle ends on Dinky Toys.

 

[Ratty]

That's a kind offer Malcolm but I've just looked up arbor press and I don't think it would help with the washers, what does anyone think of this? or would it be too feeble? I've no idea how a punch would fit on (or whether it even could).

 

[Ratty]

arbour press'es are really for keyway broches and tooling such like, If you want a q-max cutter remind me when I bring the tank up and you can have a couple, got a draw full of them I inherited from a sheet metal worker...

Cheers snowy - I never say no to little tools and I'd like to see how they behave.

 

[Ratty]

Update!
Funny how these things escalate, thanks Hitachimad for making me some ...I've since found a little tool just right for making a few one-offs, it was this jewelers tool on the dreaded bay and I didn't quite get how it worked and wasn't convinced it would handle copper but as luck would have it the seller was only 5 miles away and really friendly and helpful. I took a piece of copper over and tried it out. No problem, it worked a treat. He has some nice tools if you're into mini work, dinky little anvil, 3" roller mill.. - all his family are jewelers so he doesn't sell real cr@p, the cutter is made in India and if anyone is interested (pm me for his ph number) he can get other shapes made. He's happy to do off'bay sales and I can vouch that he is trustworthy (any problems and I'll go get him )
Not being an easily satisfied person, I continued my search for a fly press as it seemed like a tool I could use for other things. The result was that I ended up buying 2, this one;

and this pretty little baby;

Only a 6" throat to give you an idea of scale, if it proves hopeless in the w/s I'll use it for cracking almonds and pressing flies.
Now all I need is tooling - anyone got any advice?

 

[lexi]

Lovely lil tool that . It`s the very same idea use for a boring machine for slates. It has a tip in it and is a boring machine right enough after drilling a few thousand slates.

Alex

 

[Hitch]

For tooling, ideally something made to suit off the shelf punches and dies would be ideal for the flypress.

A small version of the kingsland/geka types would keep it fairly simple. Just need to make a suitable holder.
Punches and dies are about £30 a set upto about 30mm. Not the cheapest solution

Greenlee do sheetmetal punches aswell, if you can find them!

 

[rtbcomp]

I've used the smaller Q-Max punches on my arbor press, just use the press to push the punch through the die rather than use the nut & bolt supplied.

 

[Hitch]

Qmax cutters, thats a good idea, got the hole to bolt them in too. Good idea

 

[Ratty]

Punches and dies are about £30 a set upto about 30mm. Not the cheapest solution

that sounds very cheap for a set..are you sure you've not missed a nought?

 

[Hitch]

When i say set.... i mean one punch and one die