Searching for old valves

[bernieflyer]

Just for giggles, this weekend I am going to get on my lathe and see if I can turn down a old K vlave to half inch thread.

This was suggested to me as an option: let us know how your experience turns out......

[Gibby]

The hard part will be getting it to lock in and center in the chuck.

I'm sure if I try hard enough I could have a missing tooth by Monday.

I know how to thread items but I don’t know what is involved with tapering the tread to NPT. If this works I guess people could send me valves to mill down then thread. If the valves chuck right I could cut a valve in about an hour. I wonder if there are any strength issues when milling down the valve that far? I would have to do some kind of safety waiver with each valve. What would people be willing to pay for a custom threaded valve?

UPDATE: Initial tests are saying that its going to be hard with a DIN valve because the top of the valve is not semetrical enough to get the threaded section to spin on center. More to come later . . .

[Kelly Jessop]

I have heard several people who have been successful in converting a normal K valve into a 1/2" tapered valve-maybe worth a forum search.

[FW]

There is an easier way to rethread one. Take it to an old plumber, he can clamp it in a vice and use a pipe threading die on it. It might be helpful to turn it down to the size of 1/2" pipe first

[Arnold Mesiser]

Bernie: Check with Robin here

http://www.bobsscuba.com/main.html

Bob has been in it since the early 50's and has more old stuff than you can shake a stick at and I know I have seen a few on old bottles there..I have an 1 old 1/2 I will send you for shipping only if you pm me your email.