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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,156 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,156 Likes: 23 |
Hi All,
I am working on a couple of projects, a lot of the things I am learning to do myself, I have a lathe and a milling machine, but one thing that I don't know how to do is weld. I want to have some military bolt handles replaced with sporter handles. If anyone has some recommendations for people that do that sort of work, I would greatly appreciate that. Alternatively if you do that kind of stuff and would like to trade work with me, I would like that even better.
Physdoc
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Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 80 Likes: 29
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 80 Likes: 29 |
Ed LaPour (edlapour@gmail.com) has done a lot of that, and he does it well. However, Ed has been slowing down recently. Matthew Roberts ( https://www.mnrcustom.com) has done some complex metal work for me recently and did excellent work. I don’t know if he does bolt handles, but I bet he does. Good luck!
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114 |
By military bolt handles, do you perhaps mean older era military BA rifles that you are sporterizing? If that is the case, knowing the metallurgy of the bolt(s) in question is an absolute must for a proper TIG welding process, FYI.. RWTF
"The field is the touchstone of the man"..
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,343 Likes: 390
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,343 Likes: 390 |
By military bolt handles, do you perhaps mean older era military BA rifles that you are sporterizing? If that is the case, knowing the metallurgy of the bolt(s) in question is an absolute must for a proper TIG welding process, FYI.. RWTF When I had easy access to a TIG welder at work, I welded bolt handles on a few bolts. Two were 98 Mausers and the other was a Siamese Mauser. I made a bolt welding jig like the one sold by Brownells to hold the new handle in the correct position. I also used the 3.5% nickel steel rod sold by Brownells. It worked very well, and the process isn't all that difficult. I did wrap the forward part of the bolt in a wet cloth to keep welding heat from the bolt lugs. My bevels were ground to permit near 100% penetration to insure a weld job that wouldn't ever fail. And I also coated the internal threads for the bolt shroud with PBC anti-scale compound. If I were going to have someone else weld one for me, I would be very specific about the protrusion of the stub, and the angle of the new bolt handle, simply because I have seen some that just weren't done right, to my eyes. I just missed a screaming deal on a nice Hobart TIG welder at a Car Parts Swap Meet I went to several weeks ago. Still kicking myself for not getting to that vendor about two minutes sooner.
A true sign of mental illness is any gun owner who would vote for an Anti-Gunner like Joe Biden.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 278 Likes: 21
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 278 Likes: 21 |
Accu-tig.com. Be specific with your requirements.
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 523 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 523 Likes: 23 |
By military bolt handles, do you perhaps mean older era military BA rifles that you are sporterizing? If that is the case, knowing the metallurgy of the bolt(s) in question is an absolute must for a proper TIG welding process, FYI.. RWTF LOL. What brand of TIG do you suppose Niedner ran in his shop and how much was a tank of argon back then? Point being TIG (& MiG) weren't around when sporterizing bolt handles was pioneered. When did Miller or Lincoln start selling TIG and MIG machines? All these classic bolts were welded by "primitive" processes. A stick or torch obviously worked just fine. I'd say just about any reasonably competent welder can do it (by TIG, MiG, stick or however) if you provide a jig and tell them not to get the lugs hot. If you go to someone local you can watch and make sure they have the alignment how you want it.
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,156 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,156 Likes: 23 |
Thanks for all the replies, I will be looking into things shortly.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114 |
Early TIG machines by Lincoln were DC either polarity- and Helium for the shielding gas- later AC and argon and 100% pure tungsten for welding aluminum were developed- I have a 30 year old Miller 300amp ac-Dc "Gold Star" on my bench- runs like a Steinway handles a Mozart concert--also a sweet stick (SMAW) process machine with any stick rod of your choice up to 1/4" r even 5/16 Dia. I use 100% pure thoria tungsten on aluminum welding, 2% on ferrous alloys--and never grind a point on a 2% thoria tungsten electrode on a shop use grinder- RWTF
"The field is the touchstone of the man"..
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 523 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 523 Likes: 23 |
RWTF: I bought an old gold star 452 from a neighbor who had bought it from a community college when they updated their machines. It's an awesome welder. Just kind of big and bulky.
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1 member likes this:
Run With The Fox |
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,156 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,156 Likes: 23 |
RWTF: I bought an old gold star 452 from a neighbor who had bought it from a community college when they updated their machines. It's an awesome welder. Just kind of big and bulky. Just out of curiosity, what did you pay for this? Maybe I should learn to weld.
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