Tricks of the trade

[AllanKP69]

Wow I did not realize there were still 35mm rolls of film and plastic containers. I remember having dozens of these when the admiral had a darkroom set up in the garage many years ago. I have a friend that works in a filling and packaging company and he sent me bags of the following 30ml bottles, tips, and caps. Works nicely and very controllable for PVA glues with the dispenser tip.
Allan

 

[Corsair]

Wow I did not realize there were still 35mm rolls of film and plastic containers. I remember having dozens of these when the admiral had a darkroom set up in the garage many years ago. I have a friend that works in a filling and packaging company and he sent me bags of the following 30ml bottles, tips, and caps. Works nicely and very controllable for PVA glues with the dispenser tip.
Allan
View attachment 484436

You can still buy 35mm film.

 

[Jimsky]

Here is what I've been using for a super-long time. I do have to clean the needle occasionally in the hot water.

 

[Masters Mate]

Here is what I've been using for a super-long time. I do have to clean the needle occasionally in the hot water.

View attachment 484484

I've been using the same bottle for four years (I bought a packet of three and use the one of the extras two for water and one for Weldbond). As you say, clear the nozzle in hot water and go again...

 

[AllanKP69]

TREENAILS -
There are multiple ways to make treenails successfully. The things I try to keep in mind:
Subtle color
Scale
Strength
Cost
Time
Tools needed

Regarding diameters the following shows typical diameters needed at different scales. I have never tried to make wooden treenails smaller than 0.016" diameter but if someone has done this with success, I for one would love to see how to do this. Dimensions are in inches.

--------------------------- Full size ------------1:98------------------ 1:72----------------1:64--------------- 1:48

Hull--------------------------1.5-2--------- 0.016 - 0.02---------0.02 -0.028 ------ 0.023-0.031------ 0.031-0.04

Deck nail covers-------------1.5-----------------0.016---------------- 0.02--------------- 0.023------------0.031

Based on information from Peter Goodwins, The Construction and Fitting of the British Man of War, pp 60-61, decks were often spiked, not trennaled but then covered with a 1/2" thick 1.5"diameter round (or diamond shape) wooden cover. For the models trennals no larger than 1.5 inch diameter would have the appearance of the wooden covers. When wooden trennals were used on the decks rather than iron spikes they would have been about 1 inch diameter.

The photos are various methods I have seen used and there are probably more, with their own benefits and flaws. My preference is the last description. If anyone has more methods that they have used with success, it would be great to see these.
Allan

1.) Toothpicks.

2.) Made with hypodermic needle



Draw plate with bamboo, my favorite method
Start with any bamboo skewers. They are cheap and go a long way.
Slit the skewer with a hobby knife such as an Xacto or Swann Morton, et al. I slit these into as many strips as possible as they need to get down to some small diameters and the largest hole on my draw plate is 0,059 inches. When running the piece through the draw plate it is good to pull at a slight angle and the pass it through the same hole two or three times. I cannot speak for the first two methods but I can produce about 200 trennals down to the smallest diameters in about an hour. Large diameters take less time with subsequent increased output.





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[Peter Voogt]

TREENAILS -
There are multiple ways to make treenails successfully. The things I try to keep in mind:
Subtle color
Scale
Strength
Cost
Time
Tools needed

Regarding diameters the following shows typical diameters needed at different scales. I have never tried to make wooden treenails smaller than 0.016" diameter but if someone has done this with success, I for one would love to see how to do this. Dimensions are in inches.

--------------------------- Full size ------------1:98------------------ 1:72----------------1:64--------------- 1:48

Hull--------------------------1.5-2--------- 0.016 - 0.02---------0.02 -0.028 ------ 0.023-0.031------ 0.031-0.04

Deck nail covers-------------1.5-----------------0.016---------------- 0.02--------------- 0.023------------0.031

Based on information from Peter Goodwins, The Construction and Fitting of the British Man of War, pp 60-61, decks were often spiked, not trennaled but then covered with a 1/2" thick 1.5"diameter round (or diamond shape) wooden cover. For the models trennals no larger than 1.5 inch diameter would have the appearance of the wooden covers. When wooden trennals were used on the decks rather than iron spikes they would have been about 1 inch diameter.

The photos are various methods I have seen used and there are probably more, with their own benefits and flaws. My preference is the last description. If anyone has more methods that they have used with success, it would be great to see these.
Allan

1.) Toothpicks.
View attachment 484690
2.) Made with hypodermic needle
View attachment 484691

View attachment 484692
Draw plate with bamboo, my favorite method
Start with any bamboo skewers. They are cheap and go a long way.
Slit the skewer with a hobby knife such as an Xacto or Swann Morton, et al. I slit these into as many strips as possible as they need to get down to some small diameters and the largest hole on my draw plate is 0,059 inches. When running the piece through the draw plate it is good to pull at a slight angle and the pass it through the same hole two or three times. I cannot speak for the first two methods but I can produce about 200 trennals down to the smallest diameters in about an hour. Large diameters take less time with subsequent increased output.
View attachment 484970
View attachment 484971
View attachment 484973
View attachment 484974
View attachment 484975
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Another option is not pulling them through the drawplate but only make points:

Then you can make smaller points. Twist them into the drilled hole with some glue and the tip will brake of. Them you only have to sand them flat with the surface. 0,31 mm = 0,012”.
Regards, Peter