What to do with some old pistons

[Neilma]

Perhaps a strange request Anyway, I restored an old Honda 400/4 a few years back and just this week sold it. Whilst going through the old boxes of bits I came across the original pistons that I replaced (engine needed a rebore due to #1 being scratched by a badly inserted ring wihich also melted the top of the piston).

Anyway, I don't want to chuck them as they hold a somewhat sentimental value however I would like to do something with them. Woodworking is not my forte so a nice plinth is out of the question.

Just looking for ideas on a) how to display them or b) put them to some practical use in the garage. They are roughly 50mm in diameter and I have 4 of them....

Thanks for the ideas

 

[JimVonBaden]

Polish them up and use them as paper weights or pencil holders.

 

[gungatim]

a lot of guys on the chopper/bobber forums I frequent turn them into tail lights for motorcycle builds. find a cheap light or lense and fabricate from there...

 

[IOWNJUNK]

I used one to hang my helmet on. They make good coat hangers too.

Don't know how those pics will show up, but thats pretty much what I did. A little spot weld to hold rod in place so piston no longer moves, a hammer and punch will also work to booger it up enough to keep from moving, some JB weld could also hold it. Mount one, or all 4, to a board and hang it on the wall.

Maybe replace a door knob with one?
Faucet knobs?
Drawer pulls?
Dremel the insides out of a piston and epoxy it over pretty much anything.

Pistons polish up nice too.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Restore another Honda

 

[Hesketh]

Polish them up and use them as paper weights or pencil holders.

Or they can make cracking good phone holders for your desk.

 

[BFBOB]

Faucet handles for your garage sink! What a great idea - why didn't I think of that!?

 

[kbs2244]

beer tapper handles??

 

[A**holes Garage]

I have two of these;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SBC-Small-B...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a7d86be0a&vxp=mtr

 

[Mooniac]

Cut/grind an angle into the bottom, and put a clock element into the face for a desktop paperweight clock.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Ashtray?

Tommy

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

Bedside jar to hold condoms or false teeth, depending on how old you are.

 

[NewEdgePerf]

Ashtray?

Tommy

Seen many a piston used as an ashtray. Some people used them on their desk to hold paperclips.

Paperweight?

 

[chtudor]

I cut old pistons in 1/2(It's not in half but you get the idea) where the pin goes and give them to cigar smoking buddies. My cigar ashtray is out of a 42 Willy's L-134.

I mounted one of the original heads and pair of conrods and pistons (My son's first car is a '73 vw super beetle.) on one of those boards you put deer heads on and gave it to my son.

Keep all that kinda stuff, they don't take up too much space, there is always something awesome to do with them.

 

[KRB52]

I've seen some people use them as a macho "trucknutz" type of ornament.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Perhaps a strange request Anyway, I restored an old Honda 400/4 a few years back and just this week sold it. Whilst going through the old boxes of bits I came across the original pistons that I replaced (engine needed a rebore due to #1 being scratched by a badly inserted ring wihich also melted the top of the piston).

Anyway, I don't want to chuck them as they hold a somewhat sentimental value however I would like to do something with them. Woodworking is not my forte so a nice plinth is out of the question.

Just looking for ideas on a) how to display them or b) put them to some practical use in the garage. They are roughly 50mm in diameter and I have 4 of them....

Thanks for the ideas

Bronze em, get them mounted to a plaque, then hang it on the wall! No really, that'd look cool.

 

[Mike Miller]

There's always the old standby.

 

[Neilma]

Thanks chaps - The pistons are only small so ashtrays wont work (plus I don't smoke ) - I am liking the coat hangers or door pullers. May even look into the gearknob idea too (Stick shift you guys call them I think )

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Seen many a piston used as an ashtray.

AFAIC, any used slug too big to be a shift knob is an ashtray or scrap aluminum. If I had all the pistons I ever replaced I'd need another cabinet to put them in...

Tommy

 

[RV77]

Can also make a paper towel holder

 

[benwah]

beer tapper handles??

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[48RON54]

I chromed one. I use it as a door stop, but i guess it could do other jobs as well

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

These are technically "new" but ended up in my possession for one reason or another, related to quality / operations .. A door stop / trinket collection (NTA855 piston / rod, and a B5.9 piston), a set of NTA855 book ends, and a B5.9 "piston lump" trinket..

 

[TractorJeff]

50mm would be around 2 inches, I'm guessing?
Definitely make a real nice shift knob for a hotrod car or tough truck!