March 16, 2014, 10:33 AM | #1 |
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Tooling for gunsmithing
Back in the day (Tm), I was big into hotrodding and fabricating my own parts from time to time. Fast forward to middle age...now I'm interested in home gunsmithing...mostly just to tinker.
I've got a decent 3-axis mini-mill and machinist lathe, but zero tooling (many moves since I last used any of it). My initial interest is around fiddling with 80% AR lowers. So far, I've ordered appropriate sized collets and end mills along with a precision vise for my mill. I already have a fairly wide assortment of higher end precision drill bits. I've been talking about doing this for a while, but now I'm actually getting off my duff and doing it. What tooling would you buy? Best, |
March 16, 2014, 10:56 AM | #2 |
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You'll need something to do boring with. A set of small boring bars is all you need, and can be used on the lathe or mill, with a boring head. Also, you will need a bar for internal threading, I bought one that uses replaceable carbide inserts, so I don't have to resharpen. You can get regular boring bars the same way, and some that will use a combination of inserts so it can be used to bore or thread.
For internal thread gauges, make your own, its much cheaper. I turn a blank, thread it, and check it with a mic and thread wires. Check Enco, as they generally have the better price over the larger houses, especially since about all tooling is imported any more. Grizzly is also carrying a good bit of tooling. |
March 18, 2014, 05:52 AM | #3 |
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Dixie, where did you get you inside thread tool? I got mine from Brownells but it wont do anything less than a inch. I tried the small ones from Little Machine shop but they have to much give in them to do steel.
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March 18, 2014, 10:13 AM | #4 |
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Roughedge,if you have the patience you can hand grind an internal boring bar out of an old large end mill or a 1/2 in lathe tool piece of high speed.
For aluminum with no anodize,I would not be afraid to grind one out of an allen wrench.Just use a fishtail thread gage and a loupe for good thread form. Bokum makes some 3/8 and 1/2 in threadform solid boring bars out of cobalt high speed.They are cam ground,so you can sharpen them by just grinding the top of the cutter,rotating the bar. A really sweet boring bar setup for a small manual lathe and gunsmith grade work is an Everede.The insert looks like a short chunk of triangle file,it clamps in a vee-groove. If you are going to have it anodized after machining,check with your anodize folks.That anodize has thickness,you must allow for it |
March 18, 2014, 05:57 PM | #5 |
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As HiBC says, the Everede is a good one. The problem is, anything smaller than a certain size will deflect if it is out very far from the tool post at all, so it has to be hard. Then, at this, you have to take a very small bite at a time.
Anything under 1/2"-3/4", and you really aught to drill and ream it, as it is much by far easier, and the inserts only go down to about 5/16" thread for the smallest threading bar anyhow. At that, 1/2" can be hard to bore/thread with a bar if it has any depth, especially steel and alloy, so it is still better to drill undersize by about 1/64" or less and ream it to size if it needs to be exact, though threads generally don't, as long as they are within 75-80% of mating thread engagement. Anything over will start becoming a tight fit. On small threads, (anything under 1"), the thread charts drill bit size is generally sized for 75% thread when used with a tap. Most of the threading bar use you will have will be on a receiver for barrels, and on the AR frames, and since the thread diameter is big enough (1-3/16" smallest), a bigger threading bar can be used. Even at this, there is a tap for the barrel and tube threads on the lower. Here, you could bore it, and tap it in the same setup. http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-to...s-prod636.aspx . |
March 19, 2014, 10:59 PM | #6 |
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I know a guy who calls himself a professional gunsmith, and sends out the actions for rebarrelling.
Except for the term "girl friend" I know of no term as loose as "gunsmith". I have used the mill at least once a week for 12 years. And I am an amateur gunsmith [except for when I charged for co-ax press mods].
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March 20, 2014, 01:20 PM | #7 |
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Edge finder.
Machinist square.
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March 21, 2014, 09:46 AM | #8 |
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can anyone recommend a good set of "gunsmithing" screwdrivers?
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March 21, 2014, 12:58 PM | #9 | |
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Quote:
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March 21, 2014, 08:19 PM | #10 |
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I have the Weaver set and it does the job for me at this time.
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March 23, 2014, 02:44 PM | #11 |
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Thanks to everyone for the bits of advice. Most of my tooling ought to be here in a few days.
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