[Milsurplus] Source for Leather Washers ?

[KD7JYK DM09]

: They are cupped by design. The cupped seals act as check valves.

Yes, the cup in my pumps acted as the check valve.  Still not convinced,
myself, they were specifically formed with cups.  By the time I got to
replacing them, they were very much cupped, but, this was after a few
decades of use.  In a few instances, one could see flaws in the leather that
were across the face and the folded edges, indicating it had been cut as a
flat and folded for insertion.

: Did you cut the leather flat stock into a washer shape, soak it in water
: until very soft, then push it into the cylinder?

I cut a round of leather from a flat piece.  How much larger than the pump
barrel diameter was determined by the thickness of the leather and the
backing washers in the pump.  I then punched a center hole slightly smaller
than the pump shaft, or used an ice-pick.  If the shaft was skinny, such as
on a fuel pump or blow torch, washers would be used on either side of the
leather, these were small enough to support the leather, but no so large as
to crimp it when working the leather into the pump body.  If the shaft was 
fat, no washers were needed to back the washer, but a brass washer was used 
to prevent the leather from pulling off the shaft on the upstroke.

I never soaked the leather in water since the pumps I had were used with
oils and fuels.  I would place a few drops of 3-in-1 oil on the leather and
dab it several times between my thumb and finger to soak it and soften it
up, then fold it around the washer, place it into the pump tube, then, using
a VERY DULL flat-blade screwdriver or equivelent, slowly push the leather
in, working around the edges.  Don't get in a hurry.  Additionally, since
the sealing portion is the top of the washer, when folded into a tube it
becomes the edge and check valve, it's not TOO important to have your washer
perfectly round, the worst that happens is you get a small tab that's a
little harder to push in, this can be trimmed when it appears.

To help make things easier, find something that is smaller than your pump
housing, plus the thickness of the leather, such as a coin of adequate size.
Place the coin on the leather, trace it with a pen, then cut out with SHARP
scissors.

For maintanance, I would put a drop or two of oil in the air hole of my
pumps once a year or so, this would keep the leather soft and pliable.

: Also, any good supplier of small pieces of thin (1/16") leather sheet. I
: need a piece about 6" x 6".

The big one is Tandy, they use to own Radio Shack.  Also, Crazy Crow Trading
Post, Southwest Indian Foundation may have something, Noc Bay Trading
Company and Sterling Leather are who we deal with.  You can also find
leather at thrift shops, "bead" stores, craft stores, and hippy shops or
trading posts in your region?  Avoid dyed/treated leather.

My wife makes her own dresses with leather and we have a wide selection of
bovine (cow), moose, elk, deer, goat, et cetera.  I'll see what she has
laying around.

XYL came home as I was typing this, I've set aside about a square foot of
Chamois, Elk, Deer and Moose for you.  Shoot me a mailing address privately.

Kurt