I have a Davis level vial with a pinhole at one end, so I'd like to try my
hand at repairing it.  I used to do glasswork in chemistry lab in college,
so I've worked a bit with molten glass, and I have a Bunsen burner in the
shop.  However, that is where my plan peters out.

What kind of alcohol should I use to fill the vial, IPA or ethanol or
methanol?  Will a drop of molten glass on the pinhole seal the vial, is that
how it was done traditionally?

Dave

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On Thursday, July 12, 2012, David Erickson wrote:

> I have a Davis level vial with a pinhole at one end, so I'd like to try my
> hand at repairing it.  I used to do glasswork in chemistry lab in college,
> so I've worked a bit with molten glass, and I have a Bunsen burner in the
> shop.  However, that is where my plan peters out.
>
> What kind of alcohol should I use to fill the vial, IPA or ethanol or
> methanol?  Will a drop of molten glass on the pinhole seal the vial, is
> that
> how it was done traditionally?
>
> Dave
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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PP&TD
eppler.kirk@g...
650 225-3911
------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Thursday, July 12, 2012, David Erickson wrote:

>
>
> What kind of alcohol should I use to fill the vial, IPA or ethanol or
> ......

Tequila ?

Not really sure, sorry for the previous spam with no real message.  A
source on the web says denatured alcohol, fwiw.

Kirk in HMB, ca

-- 
Kirk Eppler
PP&TD
eppler.kirk@g...
650 225-3911
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave asked about filling and sealing level vials...

I think you are going to have a difficult time with this if you plan
to use your bunsen burner to seal up a glass vial filled with alcohol.
 I'm not sure you will get it hot enough with a bunsen burner for
starters.  Then you have the problem of the alcohol in the vial which
will be boiling once you get the vial hot enough.

I used to blow glass for the chemistry department when I was in
college and all the glass that we dealt with was pyrex.  Ordinary
glass would not survive the cooling period when only heated with a
torch.

I think you will have better luck if you just seal the vial with some
epoxy or cement.

Good luck,
Ted
------------------------------------------------------------------------

I missed the beginning of this thread... If you're just needing to replace a
level vial, you might want to take a look at Tony Murland's selection:
http://www.antiquetools.co.uk/toolbox.php?category=Parts%20and%20accessories

Thanks,
Dave Hucaby     dave@h...

------------------------------------------------------------------------

On 7/13/2012 3:09 PM, Ted Shuck wrote:
> Dave asked about filling and sealing level vials...
>
> I think you will have better luck if you just seal the vial with some
> epoxy or cement.
That's the approach I would take.  I believe the 'Super Glue' family 
sticks well to glass.

Ed
------------------------------------------------------------------------

I for one, would love to know how they are made, if anyone comes across it.
    A  How Its Made episode maybe?

   But for practical use I would just find a similar vial and replace 
the broken one. Level vials are plenty fragile enough.
  yours Scott

-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi,

Super glue doesn't work on glass.

Pete

Sent from my brain

On 14 Jul 2012, at 02:29, "Ed Bell" <neanderman@f...> wrote:

> On 7/13/2012 3:09 PM, Ted Shuck wrote:
>> Dave asked about filling and sealing level vials...
>>
>> I think you will have better luck if you just seal the vial with some
>> epoxy or cement.
> That's the approach I would take. I believe the 'Super Glue' family
> sticks well to glass.
>
> Ed
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
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> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
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> To change your subscription options:
> http://ruckus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
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> To read the FAQ: http://swingleydev.com/archive/faq.html
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Although I cannot remember the show (CRS) - maybe John Ratzenburger's 
Made in America or How It's Made or some other - I recall watching a 
program about the manufacture of levels.  IIRC it was about making 
wooden levels.  One of the things that stuck in my mind was the image of 
a machine making and sealing and separating vials.  I don't recall 
whether or not the vials were glass - might have been plastic - but the 
machine was dropping them out by the hundreds per minute.

I did some quick hunting through the list of Ratzenburger shows and How 
It's Made but did not find the episode.  My hunt was entirely 
cursorily.  If someone can come up with the names of current makers of 
levels, the brand name can be used for a search.

My 2¢ and worth almost as much as you paid for it.

On 7/13/2012 11:58 PM, scott grandstaff wrote:
> I for one, would love to know how they are made, if anyone comes 
> across it.
>    A  How Its Made episode maybe?
>
>   But for practical use I would just find a similar vial and replace 
> the broken one. Level vials are plenty fragile enough.
>  yours Scott
>

-- 
Bob Hutchins
Temple, TX, USA
Preserving ASCII art with every post

    \|||/
   ( © © )
ooO_(..)_Ooo_______ _________
_____|_____| _____|___ __|____
___|____|___ __|_____| _____|_
Kilroy Was Here!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

A bit of searching through the archives found some information from two
who have actually done this...

http://swingleydev.com/archive/get.php?message_id=8351&submit_thread Ted
------------------------------------------------------------------------

On 7/14/2012 3:30 PM, Ted Shuck wrote:
> A bit of searching through the archives found some information from
> two who have actually done this...
>
> http://swingleydev.com/archive/get.php?message_id=8351&submit_thread>
>
I wonder if the process could be simplified by somehow depriving the
alcohol in the vial of oxygen so it can't burn while the vial is
being closed?

FWIW Don
--
The things which are advertised most are things you need least. -
Notsurewho said that.
------------------------------------------------------------------------