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Step 6Build part 1
Since the pictures I took sometimes don’t show very clearly what’s going on and also because a blueprint is worth 6 pages of directions, I drew one with the espresso machine cut in halve, and all the part measurements and hole sizes.
1. Drill the 4 holes into the 1 to ½in reducer
2. Ugly solder the ½ in pipe into the 1 to ½in reducer
Ugly solder?
Design constraint 3 says that only simple, cheap tools could be used. I considered that a blowtorch would not fit the bill because not everyone has one, and I would probably burn myself using one. Also, if one of the younger members wanted to make one of these as a Christmas present, I would have to find another way to solder everything together in a safer way. The only other tool that came to mind that fit the bill was a soldering iron. But nothing is free in life. It’s slow and the end product is really ugly.
I had to file the solder to make them look a bit nicer, but it was the only way to stay on the good side of the constraints.
So, I decided to call this “technique” ugly solder.
Note: Use only lead-free solder.
1. Drill the 4 holes into the 1 to ½in reducer
2. Ugly solder the ½ in pipe into the 1 to ½in reducer
Ugly solder?
Design constraint 3 says that only simple, cheap tools could be used. I considered that a blowtorch would not fit the bill because not everyone has one, and I would probably burn myself using one. Also, if one of the younger members wanted to make one of these as a Christmas present, I would have to find another way to solder everything together in a safer way. The only other tool that came to mind that fit the bill was a soldering iron. But nothing is free in life. It’s slow and the end product is really ugly.
I had to file the solder to make them look a bit nicer, but it was the only way to stay on the good side of the constraints.
So, I decided to call this “technique” ugly solder.
Note: Use only lead-free solder.
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I paid a little more and got a bit bigger one for ten dollars. I'm kind of wishing I'd have gone with the two dollar one, though; the igniter broke pretty easy. (I still use it, I just have to light it with an empty lighter's flint.)
Bear with me here
first off butt ugly construction, given the tools you used and the lack of soldering
skills you did an amazing job, I’m impressed, I have been working with a vast variety of metals for the last 30 years I can see the passion you put into this project, If you like working with projects as much as your article shows, I would suggest taking a welding course, T.I G. in particular it's a very precise type of welding that would bode well with your talent ,this project would be intense with Titanium,you could anodize it a multitude of colors, or even stainless steel, seriously dude check out.
Tungsten Inert Gas welding.
A fan
You know, I left the build kinda "rough" on purpose. Some Instructables are so incredible and the builds so beautiful, that they due kind of intimidate the novice maker.
In this case, I'm hoping some kid will say....."hey, that looks really easy and it'll make a nice present for my dad"
That would really rock.
On the T.I.G. side, I hope one day to be able to both afford a welling kit and have enough projects to justify the cost.
A simpler but not so cheap alternative is a stainless steel 304 brazed with a alimentary silver alloy. A jewelry oxy-mapp torch is far more affordable than a TIG welder. You can find all the fittings in SS similar as copper.
It's a small DIY project so Copper with a lead free soldering alloy is enough. Just a lighter hand for soldering and more "elbow oil" for polishing.
There air holes. The stove sucks air from those holes and the exhaust leaves up the chimney.