monsteromatic followup
Posted by BruceW on Saturday, 22-Dec-2007
Captain U-96 aka Mike asked what it might cost to make our aforementioned modifications to the topomatic and to be honest, I have little idea what it would cost to hire a machine shop to do what we did. The little I do know is that any kind of machine shop work is not cheap, and that the further away from being a machinist you are, the more they charge you. I have the good fortune of working in a place that has an excellent machine shop with a boss who's a hot rod junkie like I am, and he's a good friend.
After relating our odyssey that led to our present configuration of the topomatics I will make it much simpler. Here's all you need to do to a stock unit:
Above any other modification, replace the handle if possible, and turn it 180 deg from where it stock mounts. It doesn't have to be like mine. ChasM has an excellent design using a piece of tubing. Any local hobby store sells a two part resin based liquid called "Alumilite" that could be used to reinforce the stock handle. Just be sure to remove all the stock silver paint first and mount it to the axle bolt before you pour it to fill the underside of the handle for the best fit. Another co-worker of mine did this to her new topomatic and it seems as strong a handle as the steel.
Second; take your unit completely apart. Remove all the paint down to bare metal inside the compression compartment. I noticed that my paint has worn off which most likely means I have been smoking paint chips. Use steel wool or 3m pads and shine the aluminum cutter to a mirror finish. Shine the spoon to a mirror finish. This effort greatly reduces drag from the tobacco, easing operations, and will stop the metallic metal taste. Lubricate each piece you re-assemble with a lite coat of white lithium grease, or any stiff grease. I don't recommend oil, because it could spread to a point of contact with the tobacco. Doing these simple things will greatly increase the lifespan and functionality of your machine. Good Luck!
Our latest project involves an old sausage stuffing machine that we are trying to convert into a cigarette making machine. We have no problem at all extruding the tobacco with out shop made die set. We are however having major problems locating flat paper stock and glue. Seems that the big tobacco companies have this paper custom made overseas, and no one is willing to talk to us about it... Another problem arising is who gets the machine when it's finished. I got the idea from watching an episode of "How it's made" on Discovery when they visited the RJ Reynolds manufacturing plant. oh well, maybe more after Christmas.
Happy Hollidays
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- Re: monsteromatic followup
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Saturday, 22-Dec-2007
Thanks Bruce,
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I know it isn't cheap to get personal machining done, but it seems your approach is spot on! Since I have a backup machine I think I'll try it! I think the first job I'm going to get in to is polishing the compression chamber. Thanks for your input. Capt Mike