mods, if this belongs somewhere else, you have the powers to put it there. Be my guest.
I have enjoyed using my carto tanks. I have several. My biggest problem has been getting the holes cut/punched just right. Dremel-cutting is time consuming and opens the possibility of burning the filler of the carto. Punching seems easiest, but I, personally have ruined a few DC cartos by punchin my holes too big or deep, thus causing the dreaded leakage into the connector. I have been brainstorming and wanted a jig to punch the holes uniformly every time I have to swap a carto in the tank. Here's what I came up with:
It is rough and rudimentary, but works flawlessly. Here's a breakdown of how I slapped this baby together in about 10 minutes after all the supplies and tools were organized...
Supplies:
1- piece of wood (2"x2"x2") * A child's wooden block may work fine for this. I'd suggest letter "V" for vapor or "C" for carto, but pick whatever you like. I used a scrap peice of wood off a construction site.
1- a single screw *I used a drywall-type screw, as it had a fine piont on the end
1- carto condom
2- drops of superglue
Tools needed:
Handsaw for wood or tablesaw * I used a handsaw/miterbox
Drill w/ 3/8 bit and a pilot bit for the screw
Screwdriver for screw
Hacksaw or Dremel with metal cut-off wheel
Steps:
1) Drill a hole across the grain in the middle of your piece of wood with the 3/8" drillbit, as a DC carto is roughly 3/8 diameter. This will be your cartos "bed"
2) Cut the wood, so that you split the hole down the middle using your saw.
3) Drill a pilot hole from the middle of your carto's "bed" through to the outside of one half of your jig.
4) Using your screwdriver, install the screw from outside until 1/8" of the tip is now poking up, out of your carto's "bed"
5) Cut the head of the remaining screw and head off the outside of your jig block. You will hammer here. *this is optional as you could technically hit the screw head.
6) Install the carto condom with the open end closest to the tip of the screw by using a couple drops of superglue.
7) mark the point on either side of the screw point, so you will be able to center your carto where you want the hole(s)
The condom will hold the carto stationary in the carto's bed. Cover the carto with the other half of the block, so that it is encased in the wood. Flip it over and give the outside a couple of taps with whatever you like. I was actually able to puch the carto by squeezing the two sides between my hands. It needed a tap to completely open the hole tho.
Sorry the pic isn't the greatest, but I actually had other stuff to do. The jig looks like crap. I know. Does it matter? No. Does it work? Yes. All carto holes from this point, forward shall be uniform and symmetrical. So it is written, so shall it be done! At least for me it will be!
*Please don't blow up my PMs asking me to make you one, because, although it only takes me 10mins to make one, I'd still have to package it, ship it (which means going to the post office [which I hate]), so I'd charge a ....-load for something you can make in 10 minutes, yourself. Good luck!
I have enjoyed using my carto tanks. I have several. My biggest problem has been getting the holes cut/punched just right. Dremel-cutting is time consuming and opens the possibility of burning the filler of the carto. Punching seems easiest, but I, personally have ruined a few DC cartos by punchin my holes too big or deep, thus causing the dreaded leakage into the connector. I have been brainstorming and wanted a jig to punch the holes uniformly every time I have to swap a carto in the tank. Here's what I came up with:
It is rough and rudimentary, but works flawlessly. Here's a breakdown of how I slapped this baby together in about 10 minutes after all the supplies and tools were organized...
Supplies:
1- piece of wood (2"x2"x2") * A child's wooden block may work fine for this. I'd suggest letter "V" for vapor or "C" for carto, but pick whatever you like. I used a scrap peice of wood off a construction site.
1- a single screw *I used a drywall-type screw, as it had a fine piont on the end
1- carto condom
2- drops of superglue
Tools needed:
Handsaw for wood or tablesaw * I used a handsaw/miterbox
Drill w/ 3/8 bit and a pilot bit for the screw
Screwdriver for screw
Hacksaw or Dremel with metal cut-off wheel
Steps:
1) Drill a hole across the grain in the middle of your piece of wood with the 3/8" drillbit, as a DC carto is roughly 3/8 diameter. This will be your cartos "bed"
2) Cut the wood, so that you split the hole down the middle using your saw.
3) Drill a pilot hole from the middle of your carto's "bed" through to the outside of one half of your jig.
4) Using your screwdriver, install the screw from outside until 1/8" of the tip is now poking up, out of your carto's "bed"
5) Cut the head of the remaining screw and head off the outside of your jig block. You will hammer here. *this is optional as you could technically hit the screw head.
6) Install the carto condom with the open end closest to the tip of the screw by using a couple drops of superglue.
7) mark the point on either side of the screw point, so you will be able to center your carto where you want the hole(s)
The condom will hold the carto stationary in the carto's bed. Cover the carto with the other half of the block, so that it is encased in the wood. Flip it over and give the outside a couple of taps with whatever you like. I was actually able to puch the carto by squeezing the two sides between my hands. It needed a tap to completely open the hole tho.
Sorry the pic isn't the greatest, but I actually had other stuff to do. The jig looks like crap. I know. Does it matter? No. Does it work? Yes. All carto holes from this point, forward shall be uniform and symmetrical. So it is written, so shall it be done! At least for me it will be!
*Please don't blow up my PMs asking me to make you one, because, although it only takes me 10mins to make one, I'd still have to package it, ship it (which means going to the post office [which I hate]), so I'd charge a ....-load for something you can make in 10 minutes, yourself. Good luck!
