Another “what’s that for” thread

[memzey]

Hey everyone. Further adventures in bootfair-land resulted in me bringing home this little oddity:

I thought it might be for cutting leather washers in a brace or perhaps some kind of expansive bit but wondered if someone on here <cough>Andy</cough> might know for sure?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Tank cutter.

 

[Sideways]

Still a commodity item, but with a plain shank these days to fit a standard chuck ...

 

[Dovetaildave]

Ahhh ingenious, you've pimped it up to work as a dovetail cutter :wink:

 

[memzey]

Cheers guys. So what’s it used for then?

 

[screwpainting]

Coopers 'Tap Hole' cutter?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Cheers guys. So what’s it used for then?

It's a tank cutter. It's for cutting holes in tanks. The drill holds the thing on centre and the cutter which is adjustable scribes the hole

 

[sunnybob]

Have a close look at the tip of the scriber. Does it look as though something is missing?
Its either a tank cutter as Phil said, or it might have had a small diamond on the end and be used for cutting holes in tiles for pipes to go through

 

[AES]

For me it's a tank cutter (though can be used for cutting big holes in thinner stuff which isn't a tank).

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Just for clarity, the 'tank' in question is usually of the domestic water variety made of thinnish sheet metal or moulded plastic, not a device with caterpillar tracks and a big swivelly gun on top. You probably could cut a hole in one of the second with the device shown, but it might take a while.

 

[screwpainting]

Have a close look at the tip of the scriber. Does it look as though something is missing?
Its either a tank cutter as Phil said, or it might have had a small diamond on the end and be used for cutting holes in tiles for pipes to go through

Nope, definitely not for cutting holes in tiles.

 

[Boringgeoff]

I haven't seen one quite like that before. I guess the square collar above the cutter with the thumb screw is wedge shaped and locks the cutter bar at the required radius. I'm also guessing there's a grub screw on the other side that holds the drill bit?
It would be nearly 50 years since I used one of these on the farm for putting inlets and outlets in corrugated iron water tanks.
Nice find.
Cheers,
Geoff.

 

[memzey]

I haven't seen one quite like that before. I guess the square collar above the cutter with the thumb screw is wedge shaped and locks the cutter bar at the required radius. I'm also guessing there's a grub screw on the other side that holds the drill bit?
It would be nearly 50 years since I used one of these on the farm for putting inlets and outlets in corrugated iron water tanks.
Nice find.
Cheers,
Geoff.

You’ve described it to a tee Geoff even down to the square tapered boss and screw to hold the bit in place. Now the question has been answered it will be added to my ever expanding set of brace bits

 

[Boringgeoff]

It's a slippery slope Memzey, but there are not enough brace tool collectors in the world. Here are some of my tank and washer cutters.
Cheers,
Geoff.

 

[Boringgeoff]

This topic has raised another query in my mind. You will see that Memsey's tank cutter has the cutting edge on the inner side of the cutter where the one I have attached here is on the outer. Memsey's would appear to cut with the clean edge on the inside as in making a washer, whereas mine would leave the clean edge on the outer as when cutting a hole. Clear as mud?
All the t/c's I've seen have a similar profile to mine, any ideas or am I over thinking this?
Cheers,
Geoff.

 

[AndyT]

I wondered if someone on here <cough>Andy</cough> might know for sure?

I've been on holiday, with patchy mobile coverage, so I've not seen the forum every day.

But I think it's a tank cutter!

 

[memzey]

Great stuff everyone thanks. If that’s a tank cutter is this for cutting washers then?

These oddities keep following me home...

 

[Boringgeoff]

Yes Memzey, washer cutter it is. I've got one like this and mine has Pat No 423259 stamped on the shank but no makers name on it.
It was patented by W A Smith and F W Francis of Birmingham in 1935.

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publica ... 3259A&KC=A
Cheers,
Geoff.

 

[AndyT]

As arranged in the photo, it will cut a disc. Reverse the inner cutter to make a washer. But don't be tempted to "correct" the lengths of the cutters - they do need to be different lengths so that the inner one cuts first, leaving the leather supported by the "background" as the outer cut is made.

 

[Boringgeoff]

These oddities keep following me home...

Oddities to some Memzey........Treasure to others.