Copper Vessel Table-Inspired Tool Mods

[Peter Miles]

Butch Foster's informative thread on refurbishing some large copper chocolate candy-making vessels http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4945

presented a number of simple, but very useful tools.

It made me think that there are some additional possible uses to consider for English Wheels, specifically for the lower arms.

Using the lower arm, or a lower arm attachment, as a support or holder for various pounding dies is something that I hadn't really considered before (although I have seen several wheel/air hammer combos that I liked).

My oddball, forever under construction, english wheel has a 'default' lower arm that could easily function in a manner similar to what Butch has done with an arm clamped to a workbench.


http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3183/Copper_Lower_Arm_Jury_Rigged_Raised_Position.JPG

Kerry's line of wheels have bolt-on lower arms that could take something custom to accomplish something similar.

Replace the mocked up lower wheel with a stake socket. Or use it as is with normal or specialized wheels to planish out bumps or bead roll some details back in (Joe Andrews suggested something similar to me).

The biggest drawback that I can quickly envision is that having the upper arm there gets in the way of looking directly down at the point of contact.

Sliding off the upper wheel and stub axle would help, but you you still have a head knocker in the way.

The existing lower arm could slide out a foot or so while still retaining enough clamping distance. Or, one could slide in a longer lower arm to push the end even further out. However, that is a 3.5" in diameter solid shaft. A 6' length of 3.5" diameter CRS is probably more than I want to try to pick up by myself very often.

So this may be an idea without any practical merit.

I am curious what thoughts others might have to offer on this.

So, any thoughts other than that using the existing copper arm to work on a copper pot is a bit too much yuppie color coordination ???

Peter

[Gonejunking]

Peter

3.5" crs may not be BIG enough, I think you need to find some 12", just to keep on the safe side:lol: :lol: :lol:

[butch foster]

Peter - Your horizontal lower is essentially the makings of an offset post dolly or stake holder. As you suggest, you need to get it out far enough to clear the upper and allow you to work. If you intend to hang it out with 3' in the machine and 3' clear of the lower support, it will need to be steel, not copper. Thick wall tubing would probably work. You then need to fabricate an upper arm that will accept your choice of stakes (dollys). Unless you are working on a rediculously deep shape like the copper pots, I would weld a flat plate on the end of the tube so I could bolt on a bench vice which I could then clamp in any variety of dollys or stakes. Not sure its really worth the brain damage when you can do the same thing on the bench. I had no choice give the size, shape and depth of the pots. The silversmiths use an offset stake holder on a smaller scale to reach into vessels in order to planish them. I've just taken it to an extreme. Unless you have a specific project in mind, don't waste your time.

Butch