Tipping Rings

[Dave Nelson]

i have searched the forum with no success.  I am looking to replace a couple of missing tipping rings.  The pieces that I have with the original rings have a fairly small gauge but more importantly, the rings appear to have some temper -- almost like spring steel.  Has anyone had success in making, or found a source for a reasonably close to authentic replacements?

[Roger Muse]

I used 1/8" steel welding rod to replace the bail handle and the ring on my #7 flat bottom kettle. 
It is impossible to bend until you heat it to a slight glow with a propane torch.  You will also need an appropriate sized piece of pipe to bend the rod around.  Take a long piece (they are sold in about 2 1/2 foot lengths) and heat about a 4" length in the middle.  Bend the heated section around the pipe by holding the long ends on either side.  Once cooled, take a hacksaw and cut off the excess.  The resulting piece will have the two ends slightly offset so you can slip it onto the pot.  Once on the pot, heat the side opposite the open end and close the opening. 

[Dave Nelson]

Thanks for the response and idea Roger.  After 140 or so views and no response (until now) I was left to assume that this is a common problem with few good answers. 
Just yesterday I found what looks (so far) to be a pretty darn close match and relatively easy fix. If I am right I will post pix and description.

[Dave Nelson]

Okay, I have finished with my tipping ring project and am happy with the way it turned out -- cheep and  relatively easy...
Here are a couple of originals to compare to my replacement:

[Dave Nelson]

My solution is pretty cheep and easy.  The ring I started with came from a 5/16 inch "lynch pin" from the hardware / farm store:

[Dave Nelson]

This ring is really close to the right diameter and gauge of the originals but more important to me was that it has some spring and tensile strength.  With the ring is removed from the pin, I slightly ground each of the ring ends to shorten the ring and clean up the rough ends. I buffed the ring with a wire wheel to remove the gold colored rust inhibitor.  Since the ring has a slight offset it takes a little heating and tweaking to straighten the ring.  I used a vice and propane torch but a stove top and a couple pair of pliers would  also work.

Thanks again Roger for your idea.

I hope these solutions help someone else!

[Dwayne Henson]

That's a great idea

[Raymond Dube]

They turned out great!  Thanks for sharing your project! :=)

[Jim Glatthaar]

Nice job, Dave.  Practical and easy ... except for me.

[Dave Nelson]

Nice job, Dave.  Practical and easy ... except for me.

Jim,
I'm not sure what you mean by "except for me" but if you need a ring or two I would be happy to help.  It takes me longer to buy the lynch pins than it does to modify them for rings -- Just shoot me a PM

[Jim Glatthaar]

Thanks, Dave, I don't need any rings.  I just meant I am bad at home improvement type things.