Well it all started when I found a 300mm length of 100mm (4'') copper pipe in a pawn shop. over the next few months I collected various spun copper plates from different pawn shops. The problem was the length of the copper pipe and time. Then I found a 340mm length of stainless steel pipe with close the same inside diameter of the copper pipe. And in October I had 2 weeks of Sundays and access to my brothers workshop...
First pic the ss pipe on a beer keg top that I scored from a brewer. The pipe was welded to the keg top. After welding the excess was trimmed an cleaned. Maybe I will try to copper plate it one day.
- ss pipe on beer keg top
Then I started on the plates, first plate was cit with a bi metal hole saw.
- plates
Then we realised there should be an easier way. A metal snip.
- snips
Stack the plates and form with grinder an flap disc. The forming is easier not in the drill press.
- forming the plates
Then I decided to do perf plates. All discussions read suggested holes of around 1.6mm. There is no way I could see a 1.6mm drill bit in the press, that bit is needle thin. So I opted for 2mm holes on around a 6mm grid pattern. I have stacked the plates punched the top and drilled all 142 holes through all 5 plates in just more than an hour. Broke 4 bits. The open area works out to 5.6%.
- perfs
Plates drilled - will get 22mm (3/4") downcommers 22mm above plates.
- plates drilled
Will finish the rest of the pics later.
....LOL got me that way too
....nice 
