Construction of my airtrap
 

Part One.
Since I received a lot of questions about my airtrap and anyway that I had to build one for my friend Carrie from the UK (Carrie, this is your airtrap!), here are some pics of the building.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0145.jpg
Needed parts:
- 50/44mm plexi tube (10cm).
- Two PVC 50mm end caps with screwable lid.
- one 20mm PVC T-part.
- Two male 1/2" adaptors to 15mm female.
- A piece of 15mm copper tube.


http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0146.jpg
sawing of the 50mm connector in 2 equal parts of 20mm.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0147.jpg
End cap sawed till the threads.(left = original)

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0149.jpg
Idem with lid.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0150.jpg
Glued to the 50mm connector.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0151.jpg
Sawing of the 50mm plexi at 10cm.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0152.jpg
The parts for the "reservoir".

CD :)

Part Two
http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0153.jpg
trying if it fits...


http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0154.jpg
Drilling a beginhole for the 20mm T-part.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0155.jpg
End caps glued to 50mm connector with "Hard-PVC glue".

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0156.jpg
Glueing of T-part to 50mm end cap.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0157.jpg
Other side...

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0158.jpg
Glueing of the two end caps to 50mm Plexi.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0159.jpg
15mm coppertube and tube cutter..

CD

Part Three
http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0045.jpg
Necessary for hardsoldering:
- Gasweller.
- Flux (for de-oxidating).
- Hardsolder.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0160.jpg
Cleaning of the 15mm copper tube with steelwool.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0161.jpg
Preparing the 15mm copper tube and 1/2" to 15mm adaptor.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0162.jpg
Hardsoldered 15mm copper tube to 1/2" adaptor.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0163.jpg
After filing and lapping with steelwool.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0164.jpg
Thee airtrap mounted together with the holders. The two 1/2 adaptors are glued and screwed with Rectavit "Rectafix" glue to the 20mm T-part). This glue remains elastic after drying.

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0046.jpg
The glues. (I didn't use the 2-component epoxyglue in this application).

http://users.skynet.be/turbokeu/myco...p/pict0165.jpg
The finished product!...


PS: Before glueing and soldering all parts have to be filed, scrubbed and "rugged" with fine sandpaper and degreased with methanol or another degreaser.

This airtrap took me about one hour to make...


CD

um.... thats a fine piece of work no doubt, but, pardon my ignorance, what is that for....???
splain to me plz

Awesome. Heading right now for PVC parts.

You should *really* send an email to joe and ask if he can post all this on a nice article page. I'm sure he will, your work is worth it.

It looks great man! Wow! I actually once did the same thing w/ some thick PVC tubing, but it never looked as professional. Question: What are those metal things you used to mount the air trap to the case?

It is a reservoir/air trap, a place to fill an inline system. As they system primes itself, air bubbles go into it so they don't sit around in the system.

-Kevin

These metal things are used to attach whatever you want to a wall (like tools, or tubes, or TL lamps). They exist in several dimensions and in Belgium you can find them in DIY stores.

CD

:)

[ 09-26-2001: Message edited by: Turbokeu ]

Can't find those "PVC 50mm end caps with screwable lid" anywhere:shrug:

I look through USplasic cathalog and did not see anything like that.
Really do not want to make it ugly.
Can anyone suggest something?:(

You aren't going to find them unless you are in Europe, trust me. I used 2 pieces that were 2" PVC "slide in" on one side and threaded on the other, then found the matching threaded caps. I had to go to 4 different Lowes and Home Depots to find them. You just are going to have to improvise.

Yeah... After whole night of searching through the http://www.mcmaster.com.... I think you are right

It is beautiful !
That has to be the best solder job I have ever seen !

All you have to do is polish with steel wool after you solder, and of course apply the solder sparingly.

Jimhttp://images.andale.com/f2/104/124/...torpiped_4.jpg