A Vintage Moisture Meter - The Protimeter

[AlanBeckett]

Refugee,

I'm amazed that you managed to extract so much information from a low resolution picture and a comment. They are brand new as the pictures show. I've examined them under a glass and I can't see any seal contamination. They feel slippery because they're small and shiny. They always do, as anyone who has ever changed a Watch Battery will tell you.

I'm certain that are are dozens of different ways to make an A413 Battery replacement. We could even run a Competition -'How many ways can you think of to make an A413 Battery'. I could think of a good few myself. This is the way I've chosen to do it this time.

Didn't get much time today due to a Boiler Failure. However, as I will need to plug at least one end of the hole I turned down a bit of the scrap Acrylic as a trial.

       

Alan

[AlanBeckett]

So, after some pondering, experimenting and Domestic interuptions - more later - I came up with a plan.
I decided to have a fixed end and a removable end. Two removable ends would probably have been more convenient, but a lot more work.
This is the final Drawing:-

   

Fixed Ends first - just a bit of Brass Turning really. I knurled the Section that goes into the Plastic to give it some grip, and added a dab of Glue to be sure.

       

The Free Ends were a bit more tricky but not too bad. The next sensible size up for Tapping was 7/16" UNF, the Tap Drill for which is 25/64". When I fished the Drill out of my Box it proved to be 3/8". Ah, well, get one on order - it's not the sort of thing that the local places keep.

           

Drilling and Tapping was straighforward, and I'd salvaged a couple of old Biro Springs, so it was just a matter of loading them up with Cells and Testing.

Actually, no. While the Cells are a nice snug fit in a 3/8" Hole they fell in to the Tapped hole and landed any way up. I tried all sorts of angles and methods but to no avail. I only lost 4 while trying
In the end a made a Loading Tube with a 3/8" Hole out of a bit of Nylon, plus a short bit of Streel to push with.

   

It worked fine - just load the Cells into the Tube where they're a snug fit then push the Cells Vertically into the battery. I could then turn it over and screw in the Free End using the two little indentations in the end and a pair of small pointy Pliers.

   

Fitted to the Protimeter they work fine, and the Loading Tube and Pusher sit nicely in the space where the original Battery would have fitted.

       

As far as I can tell the House is pretty Dry so that's a relief.

Would I do it the same way again? Possibley not, although it would depend on how many I was making.

Am I taking Commissions? No.

Should I paint them Red? Don't know.

Alan

[AlanBeckett]

I mentioned above that there'd been a Domestic interuption.
Herewith:-

SWMBO bought what she assures me is the last word in Kitchen Roll Holders. Who am I to argue?
However, apparently it's American and their Rolls are bigger - what isn't? - so our Rolls don't fit. She says you can buy ones that do fit but these are so expensive that you can anly afford to use one Sheet a Week. So, fix it.
Clearly a Spacer was needed and I could hardly use a bit of scrap Iron. I should have asked David, Col or Joe for a nicely turned piece of Teak or Mahogony but I wanted to press on. The only available Material was my offcut of Acrylic

                       

So, I've now got no spare Acrylic but the Holder works and I'm in good books.

Alan

[Alan Douglas]

A "Simplehuman" roll holder? Sounds like a name only the Chinese could think of. Looks nice though.

[Yorkie]

That's so good that it comes perilously close to showing off Al!

As to the drawing? Grrrrr - I am not worthy!!

[AlanBeckett]

California by the look of it - http://www.simplehuman.ca/contact-us/
At least on the UK Site they're brave enough to show the Roll not fitting - http://www.simplehuman.co.uk/kitchen/kit...ll-holders
It won't work properly unless the RH End is inside the Cardboard Tube.

Alan