BudP
Jr. Member
- #1
Thread Owner
I have two (2) commercially made pendulums with screw-tops and chambers. They are Mermet and modified Mermet. I started thinking my results (responses) might be better if I made my own......sort of a 'personal touch'.
I took a fired cartridge case (257, Roberts) and punched out the primer. I used 12" of 80lb Spectra fishing line for the cord. I tied a half-dozen overhand knots in the end of it and threaded it inside and out through the primer hole then pulled it up tight in the hole with the tag-end hanging out the back. I poured a glob of five-minute epoxy in the neck and let it harden and lock the knot from the inside. Ten inches of cord was hanging out the back.
I filled the empty case with alcohol and 20 grains of gold flakes. I then seated a 120 grain Barnes X (pure copper) hollow-point in the neck. Finally, knowing my 'hang length' is six or so inches, I slid a plastic bead down the line and tied a couple overhand knots at the six inch mark. Then I slid the bead back up until the knot was tight inside it. I tied a small loop in the excess end to finish.
This thing works great. It swings freely as I 'pinch' the bead. I do not know if it is because I made it.....or what, but it responds far better than my 'commercial' toys and it is my 'go-to' pendulum for maps. It spends it's 'off-work' time in my pocket. BTW, a fella in one of the other threads talked about turning a....'known-used' map face down to get a 'true' read. I find it works for me to work the map face-up with my eyes closed and my wife working the straight-edge. I work bottom corners, left and right then try for a third intersecting line from the side-center. The three lines have converged enough times to keep my heart beating.
Bud
I took a fired cartridge case (257, Roberts) and punched out the primer. I used 12" of 80lb Spectra fishing line for the cord. I tied a half-dozen overhand knots in the end of it and threaded it inside and out through the primer hole then pulled it up tight in the hole with the tag-end hanging out the back. I poured a glob of five-minute epoxy in the neck and let it harden and lock the knot from the inside. Ten inches of cord was hanging out the back.
I filled the empty case with alcohol and 20 grains of gold flakes. I then seated a 120 grain Barnes X (pure copper) hollow-point in the neck. Finally, knowing my 'hang length' is six or so inches, I slid a plastic bead down the line and tied a couple overhand knots at the six inch mark. Then I slid the bead back up until the knot was tight inside it. I tied a small loop in the excess end to finish.
This thing works great. It swings freely as I 'pinch' the bead. I do not know if it is because I made it.....or what, but it responds far better than my 'commercial' toys and it is my 'go-to' pendulum for maps. It spends it's 'off-work' time in my pocket. BTW, a fella in one of the other threads talked about turning a....'known-used' map face down to get a 'true' read. I find it works for me to work the map face-up with my eyes closed and my wife working the straight-edge. I work bottom corners, left and right then try for a third intersecting line from the side-center. The three lines have converged enough times to keep my heart beating.
Bud