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Metal working


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  • #1252954
    Guy Incognito
    Member

    @enigmamachine42

    First, how are you guys cutting such nice round holes in the tops of your tin cans when making wood stoves?
    Second, it seems that a lot of people on here don't know that titanium needs to be cooled if you're working on it with power tools, to keep it from burring. A cylinder of compressed, inert gas blowing on the work area would probably help a lot.

    #1555497
    ben wood
    Member

    @benwood

    Locale: flatlands of MO

    yes, it is best to keep titanium cool when working on it. the main problem people have is cutting too fast, i.e. too high of rpm's. if you heat the material it causes it to harden and will dull your cutting tools. you can use compressed air or oil or even water. are you a machinist? just guessing buy your name.

    #1555529
    Guy Incognito
    Member

    @enigmamachine42

    Nope, just a mechanic.

    #1555566
    Mark McLauchlin
    BPL Member

    @markmclauchlin

    Locale: Western Australia

    As for the tops of the cans being finished so nice, its the type of can opener that you get. I don't know what they are call, although I do have one, but they are they ones that run around the outside edge rather than the top. If you get stuck I can post a pic of one.

    From one ex-mechanic to another…..

    #1555570
    Matt Mahaney
    BPL Member

    @matt_mahaney

    Locale: In the District

    If it is in fact the can opener you're looking for they are typically called "safety cut" can openers. You should be able to find one at any culinary crafts store, or people have picked them up at wally world as well. Here's and example at Amazon.

    #1555656
    Michael Theiler
    Member

    @michaelst

    Locale: Annandale

    Or, if the OP is talking about air holes, I think most people use hole punches. There is a specific one that has various detachable hole punch sizes I believe.

    I have used a paper punch from a discount store, and it works on tin cans, though I doubt it will work for much longer – its definitely not their intended purpose. So far it has done close to a hundred punches, so its got its monies worth I reckon :-)

    #1555663
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    True about the titanium. Air cooling can work; liquid cooling and low revs works better. As OP said, most home power tools spin too fast for Ti.

    Cheers

    #1555696
    Guy Incognito
    Member

    @enigmamachine42

    Thanks for all the feedback, guys. I was actually talking about the holes people cut for nesting one can inside of another when making double-walled wood stoves. For example, http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=14765

    #1555712
    Tim Marshall
    BPL Member

    @marshlaw303

    Locale: Minnesota

    in that example the inner can fits in the pre-made hole of the outer can's lid. Now that's the kind of metal work i can handle!

    -Tim

    #1555730
    Denis Hazlewood
    BPL Member

    @redleader

    Locale: Northern California

    The method I use is to score a line with a box cutter and then use a pair of tin snips. You must score very deeply. ie. many revolutions. After scoring I can tear out the plug sometimes. Take it slowly and keep a neat line. It helps to use a fresh blade.

    For the air holes I use a Harbor Freight Tools punch. Cheap, and it works like a dream on tin or Ti.

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