Build it yourself....Priceless

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  • customcutter
    Warrior
    • Dec 2014
    • 452

    Build it yourself....Priceless

    I used to make custom knives as a hobby. So I've collected a 14X40 lathe, 9X42 mill, 6X28 mill, 6X18 surface grinder, a couple of bandsaws, belt sanders, and disc sanders, and a few other odds and ends. I've thought that when I retire in a few years I'll learn how to operate the equipment and do some hobby gunsmithing for myself, and jobs I feel confident I can handle, or maybe make parts or accessories.

    Today I ordered a Manson reamer, floating reamer holder, go and no-go gauges. I've ordered an ER-40 collet holder, so I need to order the backplate, collets, and a couple of barrels.

    I've already got a couple of 80% lowers, so it all finally begins. I've been wanting to do this for years. I'll post up some pics when parts and tooling starts coming in.
    CC
  • montana
    Chieftain
    • Jun 2011
    • 3209

    #2
    Now that is a retirement plan, looking forward to your projects. Please keep us up-dated with pictures.

    Comment

    • cory
      Chieftain
      • Jun 2012
      • 2985

      #3
      This is why I'll never be able to retire. I'll never be able to afford to retire, I'd find expensive hobbies like this. haha
      "Those who sacrifice liberty for security, deserve neither." Benjamin Franklin

      Comment

      • am4966
        Chieftain
        • Jul 2014
        • 1036

        #4
        Well you started out right, Manson Reamer looking forward to some finished parts!
        12.5" SBR Grendel - Need Barrel
        Surge - Rugged Suppressor
        Been a fan of the Grendel from the very beginning and haven't second guessed that choice one time.

        Aim small, miss small!

        Comment

        • customcutter
          Warrior
          • Dec 2014
          • 452

          #5
          Originally posted by cory View Post
          This is why I'll never be able to retire. I'll never be able to afford to retire, I'd find expensive hobbies like this. haha
          I think of retirement as doing what I want to do, when I want to do it. LOL. By the time I'm finished buying the tooling I could have made a nice down payment on one of PF uppers, but I'd still have all that equipment in the garage gathering dust, and I still wouldn't know diddly about learning how to use it.

          I've tried to locate trade schools, high schools, etc. in the area to take machining classes. The closest ones are over an hour away and want 5-6K a year for attendance. I figure I can make a lot of chips and buy a lot of tooling, even make a few mistakes for that kind of money.

          Comment

          • usmc1371
            Warrior
            • Aug 2011
            • 335

            #6
            I will give you first lesson on using you machines. Remember speeds and feeds. When working with aluminum faster is better. Use lots of wd-40 or equivalent oil.

            Comment

            • ricsmall
              Warrior
              • Sep 2014
              • 987

              #7
              Originally posted by customcutter View Post
              I used to make custom knives as a hobby. So I've collected a 14X40 lathe, 9X42 mill, 6X28 mill, 6X18 surface grinder, a couple of bandsaws, belt sanders, and disc sanders, and a few other odds and ends. I've thought that when I retire in a few years I'll learn how to operate the equipment and do some hobby gunsmithing for myself, and jobs I feel confident I can handle, or maybe make parts or accessories.

              Today I ordered a Manson reamer, floating reamer holder, go and no-go gauges. I've ordered an ER-40 collet holder, so I need to order the backplate, collets, and a couple of barrels.

              I've already got a couple of 80% lowers, so it all finally begins. I've been wanting to do this for years. I'll post up some pics when parts and tooling starts coming in.
              CC

              CC

              I would start out with the south bend book on how to run a lathe if you don't have any experience. Watch a lot of tubalcain videos on YouTube. He's mrpete 222 on there I think. He's a retired shop teacher that really takes his time explaining the simple things. The most helpful video I've seen on chamberinv a barrel is by the guy that makes viper venom chambering/cutting oil. That is a great cutting oil too. If you didn't get one, get a Manson floating reamer holder, it's an invaluable tool to have especially for us rookies. Some folks use a four jaw to chamber barrels, but depending on the length through your headstock, your better off having both an inboard and outboard spider to dial in both ends of barrel. You can make both of these with the equipment you have for probably $80, whereas buying them would be close to $400. The biggest plus is the practice you get on your machines while making a valuable part. If u need any pics or have questions I and many others here will help as much as possible. Oh, and don't think you're gonna save money by building your own guns, you'll spend the same but have more of em!! Lol.

              Richard
              Member since 2011, data lost in last hack attack

              Comment

              • customcutter
                Warrior
                • Dec 2014
                • 452

                #8
                usmc1371: thanks, speeds and feeds are the hardest. I keep forgetting that aluminum likes higher speeds.

                Richard: Thanks, I've watched a ton of videos over the last 10 years, only trouble is I don't get to use it so I don't retain a lot of it. Last year I got started on a project making swaging dies for .223. Using fired 22lr brass to make .223 bullets. I got everything made but the pointing die. Now I know why they charge $1200+ for a set of dies to do it. Haven't given up on the pointing die yet. My philosophy sometimes is why buy it, if I can make it for 3x the cost, and learn something doing it. The extra tooling comes in handy for other jobs down the road. I'm making a spider for the outboard and buying a set of ER-40 collets to hold the barrel for chambering. I've ordered and received the ER-40 collet holder, now I need to order a D1-4 backplate and machine it to mount it to.

                Any machinist in west central Fl area?

                Comment

                • ricsmall
                  Warrior
                  • Sep 2014
                  • 987

                  #9
                  CC

                  if u don't mind send me a pic or part # on the er40 collet holder so I can get an idea of what you have planned. I might use for future reference. I started to get a 5c chuck but would only hold up to 1-1/8" so a no go on chamber end of barrels. So I decided to build an inboard spider.

                  Thanks
                  Richard
                  Member since 2011, data lost in last hack attack

                  Comment

                  • customcutter
                    Warrior
                    • Dec 2014
                    • 452

                    #10
                    Richard, here's a link to the ER 40 collet holder.



                    I looked every where for a US or Canadian source and couldn't find one. The shipping, was half the price of the holder. But it's Fedex next day. I didn't realize it. I don't know if there is another shipping option or not.

                    Comment

                    • am4966
                      Chieftain
                      • Jul 2014
                      • 1036

                      #11
                      This time next year, you'll have members begging you to do Manson Chamber and barrel! I'm first and with the equipment you have id do a Form 1 Surpressor, it'll probably be quieter than what you can buy. Jealous of you mechanical guys, I was born to crack heads 6'6"
                      12.5" SBR Grendel - Need Barrel
                      Surge - Rugged Suppressor
                      Been a fan of the Grendel from the very beginning and haven't second guessed that choice one time.

                      Aim small, miss small!

                      Comment

                      • customcutter
                        Warrior
                        • Dec 2014
                        • 452

                        #12
                        Originally posted by am4966 View Post
                        This time next year, you'll have members begging you to do Manson Chamber and barrel! I'm first and with the equipment you have id do a Form 1 Surpressor, it'll probably be quieter than what you can buy. Jealous of you mechanical guys, I was born to crack heads 6'6"
                        Yes, I've been thinking about a can for several years. Actually talked to a shop locally that sells them, and they do a lot of parts machining. He took several apart and showed me the cores. There's really not much too them at all. I'm not sure the "solvent trap" cans aren't almost as quiet?

                        Hey, 6'6" just means you can move and collect bigger equipment.

                        Comment

                        • customcutter
                          Warrior
                          • Dec 2014
                          • 452

                          #13
                          Finally got started on some of the machining of parts. I had to turn down a register/spigot for the ER40 collet holder to fit on to. This is the original backplate.



                          here is what it looked like after I finished turning it down to size +.001" for shrink to fit.



                          After heating the ER40 collet holder in the oven at 250* for :30 and putting the backplate in the refridgerator, I put the 2 halves together and let them come to room temperature while maintaining pressure by using the tailstock.



                          After it cooled I pilot drilled from the front, because the collet holder is tapped. Then flipped it over and clearance drilled for the threads and caps and bolted it tight from the rear.

                          Runout is .0005" on a Weldon 1" milling cutter at the face of the ER40 coller holder.
                          Last edited by customcutter; 11-01-2015, 01:33 AM.

                          Comment

                          • ricsmall
                            Warrior
                            • Sep 2014
                            • 987

                            #14
                            I looked at as much as I could linking thru photobucket, but i never can get it to work right thru the I phone. What I saw looks good, what's the max bore on the collets ur gonna use?
                            Member since 2011, data lost in last hack attack

                            Comment

                            • customcutter
                              Warrior
                              • Dec 2014
                              • 452

                              #15
                              Maximum size for the ER40's is 1". I also received the Manson reamer and reamer holder this week. I need to get some barrels ordered this coming week.

                              Comment

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