DIY Sight tube

[forgetaboudit]

I just finished my DIY sighttube and its not too bad. I could've done better had I had a dremel and a little patience. But all in all, it'll do what it needs to.

Its a polycarbonate plastic tube with a compression fitting in the T. Then I used a 1/2 copper pipe and sliced it down the middle. Then I added 1/2 gallon of water and marked the pipe with a sharpie, and then cut those lines with the cutoff tool.

Maybe I'll make another pipe sleeve when I get. Dremel. Then I'll tape off the lengths of all the volume slots and make them all the same. But for now, its ok.

 

[day_trippr]

I like it! I think the slots are a brilliant alternative to the etching you were wondering about in your other thread

If you do "re-do" it, rather than a Dremel cutoff wheel, use a hack saw with a fine tooth metal cutting blade.
WAY more controllable and will produce a consistent width slot...

Cheers!

 

[forgetaboudit]

I like it! I think the slots are a brilliant alternative to the etching you were wondering about in your other thread

If you do "re-do" it, rather than a Dremel cutoff wheel, use a hack saw with a fine tooth metal cutting blade.
WAY more controllable and will produce a consistent width slot...

Cheers!

Great idea with the hacksaw! Think I'll make another this weekend. Ive got a good chunk of pipe left.

Thanks! Yeah, I tried etching a scrap piece last night the cheap way you etch S.S. and it didnt work much at all, so I knew I had to think of a better way.

[emoji482]

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, the hacksaw came to mind from folks that build tubing manifolds for cooler MLTs.
The ease of control and consistency of the cuts is the thing...

Cheers!

 

[shoengine]

I consistently make crooked cuts with hacksaws. And coping saws. Anything with a blade width less than my hand is basically a free for all as to where the cut will end up.

 

[day_trippr]

Ok, so except for ^that guy^ it's a popular approach

 

[Blazinlow86]

Great idea

 

[BBBF]

I've always wanted to do that with the left over spare from the keggle.

 

[mattsearle]

So is the polycarbonate in the compression fitting rather that the copper, and the copper just slid over the top? I ended up threading my polycarbonate tube and having a threaded fitting but I do like the look of the pipe over the top? It's a bit blichmann !

 

[Griffin495]

That is pretty slick looking. I like it.

 

[forgetaboudit]

So is the polycarbonate in the compression fitting rather that the copper, and the copper just slid over the top? I ended up threading my polycarbonate tube and having a threaded fitting but I do like the look of the pipe over the top? It's a bit blichmann !

You are correct. Needed some way to mark the volumes and I had the copper pipe laying on the workbench next to all my fittings while I was building. Said to myself, "Bingo! This might work!"

Wish the pipe would stay bright. Its already starting to lose it's shine. [emoji52]

 

[day_trippr]

Might spring for a spray can of high temp clear coat, try it on a brightened scrap piece of the same tubing, see what happens.
If it remains bright you could do your gauge...

Cheers!

 

[Jbrown57]

Nice work!
What did you use to split the copper pipe so evenly?
If you make again, consider making the full gallon slots a bit deeper for quick ID.
Jb

 

[forgetaboudit]

Nice work!
What did you use to split the copper pipe so evenly?
If you make again, consider making the full gallon slots a bit deeper for quick ID.
Jb

Just a cutoff wheel on my grinder. Marked it out with a carpenters square beforehand.

Great idea about the gallon marks. I'll have to do that for sure!

 

[odie]

I consistently make crooked cuts with hacksaws. And coping saws. Anything with a blade width less than my hand is basically a free for all as to where the cut will end up.

Miter box