Small easy project

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Small easy project

This topic has 29 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 10 February 2016 at 12:15 by Lars-G Kjellander.

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4 February 2016 at 19:56 #223952
Hollowpoint
Participant
@hollowpoint
Started this little project a few days ago. Thought it might be of some interest. I'm just gonna let you guess what it is.
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4 February 2016 at 19:56 #31115
Hollowpoint
Participant
@hollowpoint
4 February 2016 at 20:03 #223955
Hollowpoint
Participant
@hollowpoint
The above isn't a nut but it was machined from solid to look like one! It measures 37mm across the flats. A couple of plugs made:
4 February 2016 at 20:34 #223960
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
It's clearly a Model Engineer's notion of the perfect wedding ring. I claim my prize please!
4 February 2016 at 21:22 #223963
Martin King 2
Participant
@martinking2
Cigarette lighter?
5 February 2016 at 19:44 #224068
Hollowpoint
Participant
@hollowpoint
Correct! It's a trench art style lighter. How did you know?

Here is the striker, kinda gives the game away.

Parts put together before soldering

Edited By Hollowpoint on 05/02/2016 19:46:09
5 February 2016 at 21:37 #224077
Tim Stevens
Participant
@timstevens64731
You will be surprised when you come to look for a 37mm spanner to fit it …

Tim
5 February 2016 at 22:27 #224079
Rainbows
Participant
@rainbows
Did you make the striker or pull it out of another lighter?
5 February 2016 at 22:44 #224080
Hollowpoint
Participant
@hollowpoint
The striker wheel, the spring inside and bottom screw are from a cheapo petrol lighter I bought from poundland lol. The brass part I made to suit.
5 February 2016 at 22:59 #224082
Frances IoM
Participant
@francesiom58905
Posted by Tim Stevens on 05/02/2016 21:37:05:

You will be surprised when you come to look for a 37mm spanner to fit it …

Tim

I thought we all had these precision spanners
6 February 2016 at 10:10 #224112
Ian S C
Participant
@iansc
Seen a number of articles on these lighters, including (I think) Model Engineer which actually described how to make the flint wheel.

You would be better reducing the photos to some thing like 640 x 480 for posting, some (might be just me) are still on dial up, and these pics take for ever to appear, 1/4 hour or more tonight.

Ian S C
6 February 2016 at 19:55 #224178
Hollowpoint
Participant
@hollowpoint
Be interesting to see how the wheel is made in the article. I imagine like a small gear.

Ill try to keep the image size down.
6 February 2016 at 20:02 #224180
Martin King 2
Participant
@martinking2
I only knew because I have had several of these in various tool lots and from car boots. Usually they have old pennies soldered in for the front and back covers which dates them precisely.

The WW1 dated examples have done very well for me on EBay although the prices vary enormously, cheapest I sold was £8 and the most expensive was £76!

Nice project, I may have a go if I get some time…. as if!

Martin
6 February 2016 at 21:17 #224198
Hollowpoint
Participant
@hollowpoint
Yes they are a nice little piece of history, it never seizes to amaze me just how creative soldiers could be with almost nothing to work with. I couldn't justify paying the prices they make on ebay so thought it would make a nice project.

Edited By Hollowpoint on 06/02/2016 21:18:42
7 February 2016 at 10:37 #224240
Ian S C
Participant
@iansc
One method of making the flint wheel I read of entailed clamping the blank across it's diameter in a vice between two files, squeeze, release, move the files in opposite directions rolling the wheel, squeeze again and keep going until completed. Use silver steel, and after forming the serrations, harden, I can't remember if it was tempered, I suspect not.

Ian S C
7 February 2016 at 12:19 #224256
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Posted by Ian S C on 06/02/2016 10:10:29:

Seen a number of articles on these lighters, including (I think) Model Engineer which actually described how to make the flint wheel.

Colonel Niall McNiall, who corresponded with ETW from Ireland.

If there's room I will include one of his gadgets in the 'gadget issue'.

Neil
7 February 2016 at 12:41 #224259
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
On the subject of trench art can anyone identify the cartridge this penknife is made from? It was given to my grandmother by her brother who was killed in France in 1918. I expected it to be a British .303 but the dimensions are all wrong. Nor is it the standard German calibre. A friend who knows a bit about guns thought it might be Italian except that their bullets were rounded rather than sharp tipped. And I can't think where my relative would have got hold of Italian ammunition during WW1.

Dimensions are approximate!

Thanks in anticipation,

Dave
7 February 2016 at 15:34 #224273
Hollowpoint
Participant
@hollowpoint
6.5 x 50 arisaka bullet looks close. Japanese.
7 February 2016 at 16:53 #224293
Lars-G Kjellander
Participant
@lars-gkjellander17135
I have 2 knives just like that, bought some 40-45 years ago. The cartridge are marked "METALLVERKEN" a Swedish company, and the blades are stamped "MORA" a famous knife maker, (at least in Sweden), and they have been fired, at least they have an indentation in the back. They are 12mm diam and 55mm long + 6,5mm bullet.
7 February 2016 at 21:08 #224330
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
Thanks Lars_G and Hollowpoint. Much to my surprise given the Japanese origin I think Hollowpoint has nailed it!

Wikipedia says that the British bought 150,000 Arisaka rifles in 1914 and used them mostly for training. "The 6.5×50mm round was subsequently produced in Britain by the Kynoch company and was officially adopted for British service as the .256-inch (6.5 mm) caliber Mk II in 1917."

I think this example of Trench Art probably came from a Training Camp. I now doubt it was made in the front-line as I'd previously believed.

The item works well as a pen-knife and although easy to make must have been a desirable novelty. I wonder if the Swedish examples were manufactured by Mora and how many other nationalities have produced them?

Regards,

Dave
7 February 2016 at 21:48 #224335
Danny M2Z
Participant
@dannym2z
When I was a digger we used to drill a 7.62mm projectile, turn the end off and fit a section from a ball-point pen into the tip. Inserted into an empty cartridge case and finished off with a length of ball link chain – they made nice presents once polished and engraved.

The instrument fitter's mobile repair truck had a small Boley lathe installed in the back which was perfect for such jobs

My wife did tell me that a few eyebrows were raised when she used her's to sign a cheque at the local bank though! Probably would not get past airport security nowadays.

* Danny M *
9 February 2016 at 18:18 #224621
Hollowpoint
Participant
@hollowpoint
Got this done yesterday. Soldered, wick inserted and filled with cotton. Works great! I'm probably gonna make a knurled cap to replace the domed nut but its otherwise finished.
9 February 2016 at 18:27 #224624
Nicholas Farr
Participant
@nicholasfarr14254
Hi Hollowpoint, very smart job and I like it, although I've no real use for one.

Regards Nick.
9 February 2016 at 18:33 #224628
Hollowpoint
Participant
@hollowpoint
Me neither, I don't even smoke. Might come in handy for firing up those steam engines.

Edited By Hollowpoint on 09/02/2016 19:00:31
9 February 2016 at 19:35 #224637
the artfull-codger
Participant
@theartfull-codger
Lovely little item Hollowpoint, it's nice to make "quickies" like this in between the larger jobs [keeps you sane!!

Graham.
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