Making Tin Can Toys by Edward Thatcher 1919

Chapter 2

Tools and Appliances part 2

Materials Needed Aside from the Cans.- Galvanized wire, 10 or 15 feet each of the following diameters: 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 (if impossible to obtain all these diameters, get 1/8 inch or larger). Wire nails, about 1/2 lb. each of the following sizes: 2d, 3d, 4d, 6d, 8d, 10d, 20d (d is the abbreviation for penny). Tinned rivets, several dozen of the smallest size (a box containing one gross is about as cheap as six dozen). Can of lye or 2 pounds of washing soda. For heating the soldering copper, a heater of some kind, such as a blue flame kerosene stove, gas furnace or common one-burner gas stove, charcoal furnace, or gasoline plumbers' torch with attachments for holding copper. A large can or pail, or an old wash boiler for holding the hot lye solution.

Supplementary Tool List. - The tools named in this list will be found very convenient for making the more advanced models, particularly the hand drill and the twist drills which are used with the hand drill. The supplementary tools are by n means necessary for making the tin can toys, but if one can afford to get them, they will be found extremely convenient. However, almost any of the' models may be made with the tools listed on page 29 if one is sufficiently skillful in the use of them. The more work one does with tools the fewer tools on needs if the tools are intelligently used.

The tools in both lists should be purchased, i possible, as they are all tools commonly used in metal working shops. Purchase the tools listed on page 29 first and go as far as possible with them, and then purchase as many of the supplementary tools as possible when you need them.

Except when noted otherwise, these tools may be purchased at any good hardware store.
SUPPLEMENTARY TOOL LIST
1 hand drill, capacity 1/32 to 3/16 inch drills . $1.75
4 twist drills, 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 inch diameters $.10 to .20
1 pair large tinners’ shears, 12 or 16 inch $1.50
1 pair curved tinners' shears, 8 inch $1.25
1 pair double cutting shears, 8 inch (optional) $1.85
1 pair side cutting pliers, 5 inch $.75
1 pair spring dividers, 6 inch $.75
1 pair outside calipers, 6 inch
(Spring dividers and outside calipers may sometimes be obtained at the
5-and-10 Cent Stores.) $..75
1 small soldering copper, weight about 4 ounces $.35
1 half-round file, 8 inches (fine cut) $.25
1 round file, 8 inches long, 1/4 inch diameter $.20
1 small cold chisel, 1/4 inch in width at cutting edge $.15
1 large cold chisel, 1/4 inch at cutting edge
(An old wood cutting chisel is just as good for cutting tin.) $.25

3 nail sets, 1/16, 1/8, 3/16 inch in diameter at point, each
(These nail sets may also be used as punches or ground to chisel points.
Small chisels and nail sets may be obtained at the 5-and-10 Cent Stores.) $.10
1 carpenters' scratch awl
(An ice pick of the same type will do as well.) $.25

6 small clamps of different sizes
(These clamps may usually be found at the 5-and-10 Cent Stores.) $.10 to .25

1 hatchet stake, 9-inch blades
Obtained only from tinners and sheet metal workers' supply houses.
A small substitute may be made from a 10-cent hatchet. Purchase the hatchet stake if you can afford it.) $1.75
1 bench drill
(The bench drill is by no means necessary for any of the models described in this book, but it is a very convenient tool to have in the shop. With this tool, a hole may always be bored at right angles to the work. The hand drill will answer every purpose if, one cannot afford this tool.)
$7.50