Author Topic: Pulverflaschen help (Read 4184 times)

Dennis Daigger · « **on:** December 22, 2021, 11:49:29 PM »

I've finished preparing the elk antler for a powder flask and hope I can find someone that has experience making the end caps. Since the profiles of the three ends are not circles they will have to be formed somehow and a solution simply eludes me. The spouts I plan to thead into two of the caps.

Thanks,
Dennis

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2021, 01:25:16 AM »

What kind of caps are you thinking, ones that fit over the opening , inside or a combination? One way would be to make wooden plugs that fit in the holes and covering them with a metal of choice, Brass, Sheet metal, Pewter.
I don't understand "the spouts I plan to thread into two of the caps." How many spouts are you going to have and what do they look like?

Tim C.

Dutch Blacky · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2021, 02:55:42 AM »

One should remember, how the tops of the flasks have been made in the 19th century. They have been formed from metal sheets and soldered together.
This way you can adapt the form of the end cap.

James Rogers · « **Reply #3 on:** December 23, 2021, 03:24:36 AM »

Dennis
Here are how many originals were done. The caps were shaped to match the body.

Carl Young · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2021, 04:52:14 AM »

Here are a couple of photos for reference showing powder containers in the Wallace Collection in London.

Robby · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2021, 03:43:29 PM »

Dennis, I made one and capped it with walnut forming to the natural configuration of the antler.

It looks like you have made the commitment already and caps would be in order. For that I would make them from silver with some kind of knurelled edges. Looks like a fun project, good luck.
Robby

Dennis Daigger · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2021, 08:33:39 PM »

Thanks for the responses. Here are a couple of photos of what I had in mind. A post some time ago referenced a class covering the metal caps. https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=58987.msg590069#msg590069 and I was hoping to tap into that information.

To answer the questions. Metal caps and two spouts, one for priming and one for main charge. I can't imagine that the metal cap parts are soldered together in place without harming the antler.

James Rogers · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2021, 08:41:48 PM »

The antler is recessed in the areas you have cleaned up so as to make a lipped stop to accommodate the thickness of the metal you will be using to make the caps. I would make the rings first and form them to fit your antler shape and then apply the tops. I would also maybe use a piece of wood inside the antler for the cap pins to attach.

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #8 on:** December 24, 2021, 12:16:41 AM »

Soldering on the antler will not hurt it, unless you try to use a torch but you don't have to. Plug the ends, looks like you've already got them recessed for them. Then make the caps and fit them to the antler. Scarf both ends of the strip you are using to make the band part of the cap to get a better joint and give a uniform thickness.

TC

Osprey · « **Reply #9 on:** December 24, 2021, 03:08:26 AM »

Could you pour pewter ends somehow?

James Rogers · « **Reply #10 on:** December 24, 2021, 04:30:38 AM »

Quote from: Osprey on December 24, 2021, 03:08:26 AM

Could you pour pewter ends somehow?

I've done that

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #11 on:** December 24, 2021, 07:10:18 PM »

Quote from: Osprey on December 24, 2021, 03:08:26 AM

Could you pour pewter ends somehow?

Yes, that would be pretty easy to do.

Tim C.

Dennis Daigger · « **Reply #12 on:** December 25, 2021, 03:23:38 AM »

Got the first one done and ready to attach to the antler. Pretty tedious but have some ideas for making the others easier.

Dennis

Jim Spray · « **Reply #13 on:** December 25, 2021, 06:13:51 AM »

Looks good Dennis. I'm surprised the silver is there already.

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #14 on:** December 25, 2021, 01:32:59 PM »

That looks Great, look forward to seeing it finished.

Tim

Dennis Daigger · « **Reply #15 on:** December 26, 2021, 05:19:34 AM »

Caps are done and have the spout and lever bar and round stock ordered.

I can't make out from the photos how the flasks are filled so will simple make them to be filled through the spout unless someone actually knows how they are made.

Dennis

James Rogers · « **Reply #16 on:** December 26, 2021, 04:21:53 PM »

They look great. How did you attach them to the antler?

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #17 on:** December 26, 2021, 05:50:00 PM »

WOW! To say the least; Nice work.

Tim

Dennis Daigger · « **Reply #18 on:** December 26, 2021, 10:29:18 PM »

Thanks for the positive feed back.

James, the caps are not yet permanently attached. I got some 1/4" #2 and #3 unplated screws from Bolt Depot some time ago but none were round headed. They no longer list an unplated version of them so will thread rod for 2-56 or 3-56 and use three on each cap to ensure the caps are secured. I used archer's cement (the amber transparent kind) that is heated to apply and this will water proof the caps and secure them. This stuff is really tough and the screws would probably not be needed.

I used a small butane soldering iron for the solder ups. It allowed me to very precisely apply heat with the parts on the antler, keep the heating of the antler to a minimum and to precisely control the temp of the parts to just flow solder on one small area at a time. I used wire wraps on the first one and thought I might improve overall fit by using a screw type hose clamp which I did with the second. Unfortunately, my sheet stock is delicate and the clamp left indentations. The last cap was done with wire again.

Here are some photos for anyone that might want to try this.

.100" German silver was used for the cap ends. I traced the outer edge of the antler onto the plate and then milled a rabbit around the line .050" deep.

Dennis

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #19 on:** December 26, 2021, 10:35:51 PM »

Thanks, Tim

James Rogers · « **Reply #20 on:** December 26, 2021, 11:38:51 PM »

Looks good!
I have a couple very large ones waiting in the wings for me at.some point.

Arcturus · « **Reply #21 on:** December 28, 2021, 01:11:25 AM »

This thread is very timely and has given me some ideas, as I am planning a miniature version as a primer. I have a whitetail shed from my family's hunting property that I've made powder measures from, and now have left the antler base for a knife handle, and a forked section that I think will make a cool priming flask. Your project looks great so far. Thanks for sharing.

Dennis Daigger · « **Reply #22 on:** January 02, 2022, 12:31:54 AM »

Got the large spout done today so the lever is next.

Dennis

Ron Scott · « **Reply #23 on:** January 03, 2022, 05:51:09 PM »

Looking good Dennis! Let km know when you fell like making another (smile).

James Rogers · « **Reply #24 on:** January 03, 2022, 06:36:02 PM »

Quote from: Ron Scott on January 03, 2022, 05:51:09 PM

Looking good Dennis! Let km know when you fell like making another (smile).

And I will send one of the pieces I posted above when you are done with Ron's!

News:

Author Topic: Pulverflaschen help (Read 4184 times)