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  1. #1
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    Cool 50 cal Bottle opener

    This is a prototype bottle opener ,not tested as yet finished today and no bottles with pop off caps to test it, Inspired By Les . The guy who runs a stall next to me at Broadbeach markets sells home made bottled ginger beer and real fruit ice blocks, I noticed he was using some el-cheapo bottle opener ,and as he has supplied me with cold ginger beer over a period of time, offered to make him a real bottle opener hehe. This is the result I used an end mill in my drill and drilled through off centre to give me the shape , a little tricky but with care it went fine .about 5 mins with a file and all done , I had no more "real" brass projectiles so quickly knocked up one in my little metal lathe ,pressed it in and did a quick sand and polish, nothing flash as it may need modifying to work properly , I don't think these will become a regular on my stand as getting very hard to source the casings these days cheers ~ John
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    G'day all !Enjoy your stay !!!

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  3. #2
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    looks great john, i am sure you will get to test it out at the market next time

    the other thing i am sure about is that he will reckon that its fantastic (well thats if it works)

    great job

    all the best

    MIK
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  4. #3
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    I used to make lots of these; warships are a handy place to get raw materials from! Looking at yours I think you'll find it will skip off the cap as I don't think the "tang" will dig under the cap edge but it can still be made to work with a bit more effort.

    My way was to use a 5/16" rats-tail file only; you cut straight across until the file is full depth then sharply change the direction of travel so you end up with an "L" shaped slot. The "tang" then needs to be slightly depressed a mil so it hooks under the cap. I use to turn the projectiles from phospher bronze and press them in with CA to lock them in place.

    Then of course the 4 1/.2" and 5" shell casings I'd turn into wine coolers or ashtrays, the Bofors 60/40 casings I'd turn into chimes, the Phalanx 20mm casings I'd machine into Uckers pieces, the fun never stopped!

    Sometimes I miss those long evenings at sea, but not as much as I miss having ready access to a decent metal lathe

  5. #4
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    I start by cutting a 45 degree notch 1/2 way through the casing with my band saw, the using a 4" wide flat machinists file the file out a nice sharp lip to grab the bottom of the bottle cap.
    Be interesting to see how yours works.

    Les
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  6. #5
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    Thanks for that info I gave him the opener at the markets today, and he used it all day opening ginger beer bottles, I asked if there was any problems,as I was prepare to do some more filing if needed ,but worked perfectly . I had a look on Ebay after I posted this and there were plenty for sale in The USA, most looked liked Les's design Cheers ~ John
    G'day all !Enjoy your stay !!!

  7. #6
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    Nice work John, I take it this was not a powder coated one?
    Regards Rumnut.

    SimplyWoodwork
    Qld. Australia.

  8. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by tdrumnut View Post
    Nice work John, I take it this was not a powder coated one?
    Nah! just a quicky as a surprise , it was a shell casing that I managed to damage the neck of when trying to get a projectile out, so was never going to be a pen its gone to a good home though hehe. Now if I could figure a way to make a combo pen and bottle opener I might be on to something lol. Cheers ~ John
    G'day all !Enjoy your stay !!!

  9. #8
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    Looks good John

    As you say, a pen/bottle opener combo is the go if it can be done
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
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  10. #9
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    Damn, you have tried it out already. I could have brought a six pack of XXXX stubbies down to give it a go
    The Pen is mightier than the Sword

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  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by plantagenon View Post
    Damn, you have tried it out already. I could have brought a six pack of XXXX stubbies down to give it a go
    Greg that might be just the incentive he needs to make another one haha
    Regards Rumnut.

    SimplyWoodwork
    Qld. Australia.

  12. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by plantagenon View Post
    Damn, you have tried it out already. I could have brought a six pack of XXXX stubbies down to give it a go
    I'll knock up another for testing lol, although don't the beer have screw tops these days ? cheers ~ John
    G'day all !Enjoy your stay !!!

  13. #12
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    i hope he treated you to an ice cold beer, i mean ginger beer

    MIK
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  14. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by MBUMIK View Post
    i hope he treated you to an ice cold beer, i mean ginger beer

    MIK
    Yep ! I got the first bottle of the day hehe, he couldn't wait to test it out ,at the end of the day he said he could of sold it half a dozen times lol. But with the costs and difficulties involved getting hold of these things ,I will be sticking to pens
    cheers ~ John
    G'day all !Enjoy your stay !!!

  15. #14
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    i am not sure, but you can buy the brass casings for other calibers at gun shops, are 50 cals not readily available??

    you don't even need a gun license to buy the brass, actually you don't even need a license to buy gunpowder, projectiles, primers or any of the other parts to make bullets, you only need a license to buy taylor made bullets, is that silly or what

    MIK
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  16. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by MBUMIK View Post
    i am not sure, but you can buy the brass casings for other calibers at gun shops, are 50 cals not readily available??

    you don't even need a gun license to buy the brass, actually you don't even need a license to buy gunpowder, projectiles, primers or any of the other parts to make bullets, you only need a license to buy taylor made bullets, is that silly or what

    MIK
    Yep agreed hehe, but the 50 cal are a bit rare ,I mostly get them from overseas suppliers , but a bit of hoop jumping involved, even for once fired ones, Most states don't allow the 50cal guns, but a few do as single shot target rifles. They sometimes come up on shooting forums though, I recently got 100 for $4 each plus postage , some of them are already passed on to other keen bullet pen makers hehe. PS I have just been scrounging around for metallic tape (sheets) to give your remarkable boiler plate pens a try Cheers ~ John
    G'day all !Enjoy your stay !!!

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