[Milsurplus] Source for Leather Washers ?

[J. Forster]

Hi,

Thank you very much for the detailed instructions. They are very helpful!
I'll drop you a note off-list

Best,

-John

==============


> : 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
>
>