Need a lightweight, small screw on cap

[Gozdom]

I've long been pondering a project that involves a small (about 12-15 mm, in the 1/2 inch range) brass tube with a screw-on cap. Or any cap indeed that allows easy opening and closing. Should be brass or at least brass colored.

Problem 1: I can't tap that consistently and I may need quite a few, so a factory made part is preferred.
Problem 2: Threaded fittings used in plumbing/heating are too heavy and cumbersome for this application, being cast brass. I'd need something light, either stamped or like the threaded parts on a pen or larger audio connectors.

Ok it's basically a keychain torch. The best match I was able to find was oil lamp parts: filler caps and hoops.
http://www.oillampman.com/burners/plugs.htm



This is almost ideal as this hoop would fit into the brass tube and accept the cap; this is needed for battery replacement. However, these are 3/4 ', a bit too large. I want to keep it small and neat.

What parts, tools or methods should I look for? Brass lamp parts? Electronic components? Brake fittings? Or, is there an easy way to make a removable cap?

Any advice is greatly appreciated, thank you.

[PitYak Studios]

look for wwii 303 oiler bottles.

[Gozdom]

Pretty much what I need, except these are vintage. I would not dissect something truly old to make something _pretending_ to be old. Also, I need a steady, reliable source. Thanks though, a good illustration.

[PitYak Studios]

vintage they may be, but they are also common as muck, they were made in the millions. my local gun shop has boxes of them for a few bucks each

[Gozdom]

I see, thanks. I've found one single vendor in the US where it is sold for 10 $ each. Is the cap on vintage ones made of brass? Some look like bakelite.

There is also this vial which might be ok, but there is no size specified:
http://www.seagullbook.com/lds-products-125345.html

[PitYak Studios]

all the ones i've had have been brass. they're useful things for all sorts of projects.

[Professor J. Cogsworthy]

Screw top aluminum cigar tubes?

[Gozdom]

Screw top aluminum cigar tubes?

Seems a bit lacking in the brass department.

[Professor J. Cogsworthy]

Screw top aluminum cigar tubes?

Seems a bit lacking in the brass department.

Sorry misssed that part.... I am still on my first cup of coffee....
( I can find silver plated brass cigar tubes... lol )

EDIT: You could anodise them.....

[Gozdom]

I guess they don't make raw brass cigar canisters due to the taste. The oiler flask, however, is very close, I just haven't found cheap lots on ebay yet.

[Neibelungen]

Try a small  engineering shop.   

Should  be able to  set it up on a cnc lathe to  thread cut and part-off  and even  bore  out the centre  if required  quite easily.   Even  knurling the rim is  possible in the same run depending  on the  machine available.
 
Not sure  what the setting up  cost would be,  but part costs should be  very minimal.

[Steamworkshop]

I make the caps fo my thumbdrives out of threaded brass plumbing parts. I know they're heavier than you want but you can remove a lot of material with a bench grinder and still retain the strength.

[Uncle Arthur]

If you have a lathe of any kind you can take plumbing parts down easily with files. For a wood lathe just use the lowest speed and caution as you hold the file to the part.

[Mister P]

If you have a lathe of any kind you can take plumbing parts down easily with files. For a wood lathe just use the lowest speed and caution as you hold the file to the part.

Brass can also be hand turned with ordinary small wood turning tools - It is relatively soft and the swarf comes off in little chips so there is no need to worry about long stringy bit getting tangled up. Just remember to wear goggles when turning the stuff please. Having bits of metal dug out of an eyeball is not nice.

[Uncle Arthur]

If you have a lathe of any kind you can take plumbing parts down easily with files. For a wood lathe just use the lowest speed and caution as you hold the file to the part.

Brass can also be hand turned with ordinary small wood turning tools - It is relatively soft and the swarf comes off in little chips so there is no need to worry about long stringy bit getting tangled up. Just remember to wear goggles when turning the stuff please. Having bits of metal dug out of an eyeball is not nice.

I can well attest to the pain involved in having metal removed from an eye. I had some get behind an old pair of goggles and was in agony until I had the chip removed. The goggles are now in a landfill some where and I have a pair that conforms to my face.

[Gozdom]

Thanks everyone. I don't have a lathe but do have a grinder so I'll try peeling those cast fittings. A visit to the flea market is also due, I might find something useful.

[Uncle Arthur]

If you have a drill press you can do many of the things with it that you can do with a lathe. Just slow it as much as possible and be very careful.

[Gozdom]

If you have a drill press you can do many of the things with it that you can do with a lathe. Just slow it as much as possible and be very careful.

Been there, done that and now the drill needs a new bearing...

[Uncle Arthur]

Most can't handle a great deal of side thrust , true.

[robotmastern]

vice + bearing + hand drill + friend or table and ziptie = lathe

[Steamworkshop]

Here are a few tools I made to help with turning parts on the grinder. I cut the threads off the fitting and cap in the picture and brazed them to a piece of pipe. When I want to shape a cap with the grinder I screw it to the tool and it gives me a lot more ability to work it. The female side I use for other pieces I make. The one on the top has seen a little more use. It stopped getting sucked into the grinder once I took all the guards off the sides.