I had a nice conversation with Dan about the making of the tank and asked if I could share it on this thread. I thought some of you might find it of interest. It's kind of technical stuff, but also I think gives some insight into how artisans work at least in part by "feel" which comes from understanding both the tools you're working with and the materials, like a woodworker who understands his cutting tool and knows how the particular wood he or she is working with behaves, reading the grain and then feeling how it responds to the blade. Those of you who make music or paint for a living will be able to relate, I think. People who work with their hands in traditional ways know how it is and why making things with 'intelligent hands' satisfies so deeply.
Dan said,
" Most of the fellas that have done sheet metal work probably know how I did the "ribs" on the tank. They are called "beads". I used one of the ancient bench mount machines that you might not have seen. It was actually over in the corner on a bench, in exile. The machine is called a beading machine. This specifically is a deep throated beading machine probably 100 years old like many of the others. As you can tell by holding the tank those beads add a tremendous amount of rigidity to the tank and that was normally the function of using the machine. If you have a large expanse of flat sheet metal in a piece and you are able to run some beads up and down it, it stiffens the piece up nicely so it doesn't "waffle" around. In some of my larger lantern type pieces the beading machine was used for that purpose, but a lot of times it is just used for decoration, to kinda jazz the piece up a bit. There are two rollers that intermesh on the machine to form the bead and there are many different sets of rolls for different patterns. Some have multiple numbers and sizes of beads per roll. I only have a couple sets of rolls, as they are specific to the particular model and never had need of more. They can be quite pricey. Almost better to buy a new machine with rolls available. And also very pricey.
As you might imagine this tank was much easier than the in frame tanks. It didn't have to fit anything and cylinders are pretty basic. The biggest thing is getting the end caps to snap on the piece. As with glass work, the better the fit the better the piece. You might remember that when I turn up an edge on the burring machine I like it as small as possible because the bigger the turned edge the more likely it will distort the piece. I like the burr to be 1/8" if possible. With copper on this piece it was possible. Very little distortion. I measured the cylinder and set the circle cutter accordingly allowing the extra I thought I needed for the burr. You have to consider the thickness of the metal also. I try to turn the burr a tad over 90 degrees, but most folks wouldn't be able to notice that. I think it has a tendency to stay in place a little better. The first try was almost perfect. How about that? It was a lucky day cause I just tweeked the depth gauge on the burring machine and the next two snapped right on. Had to coax them a bit, but that's what I want. I rigged up a clamp to hold them in place "gently".
The interlocking seam across the bottom was a 3/8 seam since I have a 3/8" seam set down tool to hammer up and down it to lock it in place. The fittings were soldered using the propane torch. Most of the heat was on the fitting to draw the solder towards the fitting and not running across the tank as you alluded to. It's just one of those touchy/feely things as to how long to keep the heat on it like you see the plumbers do. Just enough, not too much. I did use the big iron on the end caps and kept the heat on the burred edge of the cap so the solder was pulled into the overlapping joint.. Oh! I never did check for leaks, so you might want to do that before you mount and fill'er up. That was dumbass of me wasn't it?
It was not a difficult piece and fortunately I didn't make it difficult. Nice knowing I still can "feel" the metal as I work with it. That is the great thing about doing it the old way. It's hard to explain, but you feel it when things are working right. Kinda like cutting glass. Some days you have it, some you don't."
Thanks for letting me share this, Dan. I wish I could have been there in the Tinsmith shop taking pictures as the tank came together.
SB
