Tallahassee DIYer

[Numus]

Was wondering if anyone was a DIY canister light builder in the tallahassee area that might have a miller saw or any other saw that can help me cut my pvc exactly right.. i tried my first attempt at a canister and it flooded totally, someone who has seen DIY lights before said my cut wasen't even enough, it probably was because the chop saw i was using didn't have a stop and its arm was kinda bent.... just wondering if anyone has any tools and is willing to help a novice cut some pieces for a canister....

[FW]

I don't line near you, but I know some tricks that can help.

After you make your cut on the pipe, use a belt sander to square it up. A bench type is best. Be sure the table is square to the belt, and the pipe is straignt on the table. i use a square from tm table saw to hole the pipe square on the belt sander table.

If you don't have a belt sander, yuo can do it by hand. Stand the pipe up on a sheet of sandpaper on a flat surface. use a square to be sure the pipe is perpendicular to the sandpaper, and turn the pipe by hand until the end is square and flat.

Use a double bottom. The best way to assure a good seal is "scribe" the parts together. PVC isn't truly round. Stand the pipe you just squared up on a flat peice of PVC. Reach down inside the pipe, and mark the flat plate to the exact size of the inside of the pipe. Make an "index" mark on the plade and the pipe. Cut along the outside of your scribbed line. Use a belt sander to get it to fit tightli in the pipe. When you get a good tight fit, cement the part to a slightly larger PVC plate. When it is dry, put the pipe back on, and scribe around the outside of the pipe. You end up with a PVC bottom plug that seals both on the inside, and the bottom of the pipe. Much less chance of a leak.

If you use thick o-rings, that will help fill in any minor gaps on the top seal.

[curtschu]

The one I promised you will go out next week UPS

Curt

[akcaver]

Hey,
I made my own canister light and I live in Tally. I didnt quite make the canister along the same lines as most do, I used a reinforced plumbers test plug cap instead of machining pvc to make the top... it also eliminates the need for snaps. Ill post pics soon of it.
Andrew