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Posted: 12/11/2020 10:35:08 PM EDT
[#1]
If you do this, hold the barrel properly. Live center in the muzzle. If you are worried about the crown use something like this. You can even turn them yourself. Make the tool to make the tool to do the job, the beauty of machining
 Or just make sure your live center is clean, smooth and inserted into the muzzle correctly. Joat |
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Posted: 12/12/2020 11:57:42 AM EDT
[#2]
Just about the easiest thing to do on a lathe; make something round smaller.
I’d do it! |
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Posted: 12/12/2020 12:30:39 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted: If you do this, hold the barrel properly. Live center in the muzzle. If you are worried about the crown use something like this. You can even turn them yourself. Make the tool to make the tool to do the job, the beauty of machining Or just make sure your live center is clean, smooth and inserted into the muzzle correctly. Joat Well, I do have some brass so I could make those...but I also have a decent live center. Thanks for the replies, this is just the reassurance I need to get in there and mangle a barrel. 
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Posted: 12/12/2020 3:23:34 PM EDT
[#4]
The first few barrels I ever took from a blank to a profiled and threaded barrel - chambered and ready to screw into the receiver - were done on a $200 mini-lathe with plastic gears and frankly scary setups.
Do your part and it will work just fine. The machine is powerful enough to do what you want with light cuts. ETA: You'll be better off with HSS than carbide with how flexible the little ways are. I found that out the hard way. You just can't take a heavy enough cut on the mini/desktop machines to make carbide do its job properly. |
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Posted: 12/12/2020 5:39:31 PM EDT
[#5]
Yeah, I’d actually rather use HSS for just about everything on the lathe, but I don’t have a bench grinder. That’s how I ended up going with carbide.
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Posted: 12/13/2020 4:45:30 PM EDT
[#6]
Make light cuts so you don't stress the lathe's limits. I always thought a decent mini lathe with a 1.2"+ through hole would sell in the USA for home gunsmiths. Grizzly's smallest gunsmith lathes are perfect for home use, the problem is most people can't justify the expense just to be able to do it themselves.
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Posted: 12/14/2020 2:02:44 AM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Yeah, I’d actually rather use HSS for just about everything on the lathe, but I don’t have a bench grinder. That’s how I ended up going with carbide. Any cheap bench grinder will work fine. HSS blanks are cheap enough on eBay. I really suggest you go that route - carbide will cause more headaches than it saves will how light each pass needs to be on the tiny lathes. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 9:58:13 AM EDT
[#8]
I was doing .025” cuts in steel this weekend and the lathe was doing fine; it was actually getting to the point where it was making good chips. Crappy surface finish, although it cleaned up easily enough with a file. I should just bite the bullet and get a grinder, though.
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Posted: 12/14/2020 10:56:37 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I was doing .025” cuts in steel this weekend and the lathe was doing fine; it was actually getting to the point where it was making good chips. Crappy surface finish, although it cleaned up easily enough with a file. I should just bite the bullet and get a grinder, though. The surface finish being awful is because of the flex in the machine - and of course the vibration! Twenty five thou total right? There's no way the mini-lathe I used to use would be able to take off twenty five a side. Maybe in plastic - but nothing else. HSS cutting 416R or whatever stainless your barrel is will be a breeze. I like to use Tap Magic for fluid but even something like WD40 works a trick. Just don't try to cut it dry with HSS as nearly all stainless is gummy and wants to grab the bit. On a mini-lathe that can ruin the plastic gears in a heartbeat so unlike with larger machinery where you can safely brute-force it you do need to play it safe as possible. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 11:03:05 AM EDT
[#10]
I chopped, threaded and did some minor profiling on a few barrels on a mini before i finally picked up my used ATrump several years ago.
Slow and tedious but it can be done. Surface finish likely won't be great. Stiffness and inertia are your friend and the minis have neither. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 11:38:59 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The surface finish being awful is because of the flex in the machine - and of course the vibration! Twenty five thou total right? There's no way the mini-lathe I used to use would be able to take off twenty five a side. Maybe in plastic - but nothing else. No, 25 a side. About 900 rpm, .004" feed rate. It's a Grizzly 7x14. I'm still working on getting it mounted to a solid surface and squaring everything up properly, and the gibs need some tweaking - seems like they're always loosening up which isn't helping rigidity. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 12:10:29 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: No, 25 a side. About 900 rpm, .004" feed rate. It's a Grizzly 7x14. I'm still working on getting it mounted to a solid surface and squaring everything up properly, and the gibs need some tweaking - seems like they're always loosening up which isn't helping rigidity. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: The surface finish being awful is because of the flex in the machine - and of course the vibration! Twenty five thou total right? There's no way the mini-lathe I used to use would be able to take off twenty five a side. Maybe in plastic - but nothing else. No, 25 a side. About 900 rpm, .004" feed rate. It's a Grizzly 7x14. I'm still working on getting it mounted to a solid surface and squaring everything up properly, and the gibs need some tweaking - seems like they're always loosening up which isn't helping rigidity. You're cutting twenty five thou a side in steel in a 7x14 lathe and you wonder why the gibs keep coming loose. Unless Grizzly really upped the quality dramatically - you're going to shake that thing to pieces. No wonder you've been getting chatter. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 12:18:44 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You're cutting twenty five thou a side in steel in a 7x14 lathe and you wonder why the gibs keep coming loose. Unless Grizzly really upped the quality dramatically - you're going to shake that thing to pieces. No wonder you've been getting chatter. Well, when you put it that way... 
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Posted: 12/14/2020 1:41:26 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Well, when you put it that way... Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: You're cutting twenty five thou a side in steel in a 7x14 lathe and you wonder why the gibs keep coming loose. Unless Grizzly really upped the quality dramatically - you're going to shake that thing to pieces. No wonder you've been getting chatter. Well, when you put it that way... Don't get me wrong. As long as you're not cutting to a particular spec - other than threads where you should be taking light passes - then you'll be fine. You might unintentionally be cutting tapers. You may not be getting what size you're aiming for. If all you want is the barrel to be lighter and look alright and be functional then by all means - blaze away! Just don't expect that machine to be particularly accurate or able to properly turn a cylinder if you keep hammering it. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 1:43:44 PM EDT
[#15]
Whatever you do....don't chuck on the barrel extension.
Don't ask..... 
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Posted: 12/14/2020 1:49:17 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Whatever you do....don't chuck on the barrel extension. Don't ask..... That's a learning experience for sure! In general I agree. If the threads are concentric - and the extension itself is well-made - you can get away with it. If you're not indicating it with a bore rod you're just asking for trouble though. The easiest solution I've found is to turn a little center for the spindle and shape it so that it can reach right through the lugs and ride on the chamber. I use a chunk of 17-4 that I had laying around and drilled a hole to accept brass round rod. Turned to a cone it works great and can be replaced without difficulty. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 2:03:09 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted: That's a learning experience for sure! In general I agree. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Whatever you do....don't chuck on the barrel extension. Don't ask..... That's a learning experience for sure! In general I agree. It was. Taught me to stay with welding, pay a smith for such things. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 2:04:48 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: That's a learning experience for sure! In general I agree. If the threads are concentric - and the extension itself is well-made - you can get away with it. If you're not indicating it with a bore rod you're just asking for trouble though. The easiest solution I've found is to turn a little center for the spindle and shape it so that it can reach right through the lugs and ride on the chamber. I use a chunk of 17-4 that I had laying around and drilled a hole to accept brass round rod. Turned to a cone it works great and can be replaced without difficulty. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Whatever you do....don't chuck on the barrel extension. Don't ask..... That's a learning experience for sure! In general I agree. If the threads are concentric - and the extension itself is well-made - you can get away with it. If you're not indicating it with a bore rod you're just asking for trouble though. The easiest solution I've found is to turn a little center for the spindle and shape it so that it can reach right through the lugs and ride on the chamber. I use a chunk of 17-4 that I had laying around and drilled a hole to accept brass round rod. Turned to a cone it works great and can be replaced without difficulty. I don't think I'd chuck it on the extension for anything where concentricity with the bore was critical. Turning down the profile...not so critical. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 2:10:14 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I don't think I'd chuck it on the extension for anything where concentricity with the bore was critical. Turning down the profile...not so critical. I didn't even get the jaws fully tight, the hardened extension split like glass. Had to shit can a new barrel. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 2:15:49 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I didn't even get the jaws fully tight, the hardened extension split like glass. Had to shit can a new barrel. What brand, and how much elbow grease If it can't take being chucked in a lathe, i wouldn't trust it to contain an explosion 8" from my face. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 2:19:26 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted: What brand, and how much elbow grease If it can't take being chucked in a lathe, i wouldn't trust it to contain an explosion 8" from my face. RRA. I'll not claim that I didn't overdo it as far as elbow grease. It did not feel excessive but then again, I am no machinist. Eta: Just pointing it out as a word of caution. I'm sure qualified individuals do it every day without borking their bbls. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 3:06:49 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I didn't even get the jaws fully tight, the hardened extension split like glass. Had to shit can a new barrel. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: I don't think I'd chuck it on the extension for anything where concentricity with the bore was critical. Turning down the profile...not so critical. I didn't even get the jaws fully tight, the hardened extension split like glass. Had to shit can a new barrel. Wow. I'm glad that particular extension broke in a chuck - because it was going to give up the ghost at any point. Best case scenario it was going to lose lugs on the next shot. ETA: Wait - you junked a barrel due to the barrel extension breaking? At that point you could have just replaced the extension. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 3:09:42 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Wow. I'm glad that particular extension broke in a chuck - because it was going to give up the ghost at any point. Best case scenario it was going to lose lugs on the next shot. ETA: Wait - you junked a barrel due to the barrel extension breaking? At that point you could have just replaced the extension. Timing an extension on a lined barrel would likely require plugging and re-drilling the gas port. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 3:13:50 PM EDT
[#24]
Isn't machining stainless a whole nother level of difficulty? Especially with DIY level equipment?
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Posted: 12/14/2020 3:22:06 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Wow. I'm glad that particular extension broke in a chuck - because it was going to give up the ghost at any point. Best case scenario it was going to lose lugs on the next shot. ETA: Wait - you junked a barrel due to the barrel extension breaking? At that point you could have just replaced the extension. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: I don't think I'd chuck it on the extension for anything where concentricity with the bore was critical. Turning down the profile...not so critical. I didn't even get the jaws fully tight, the hardened extension split like glass. Had to shit can a new barrel. Wow. I'm glad that particular extension broke in a chuck - because it was going to give up the ghost at any point. Best case scenario it was going to lose lugs on the next shot. ETA: Wait - you junked a barrel due to the barrel extension breaking? At that point you could have just replaced the extension. Yes, scrapped it. No amount of heat/torque would loosen the extension. Even chucked the bbl up and used a cheater on the driver. My intent at that point was to plug the GP and redrill once a new extension was torqued. The bbl was new/unfiired. It was a waste and a learning experience on my part. I stay in my own lane these days. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 3:23:10 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Timing an extension on a lined barrel would likely require plugging and re-drilling the gas port. Exactly my plan at one point. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 3:30:43 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Yes, scrapped it. No amount of heat/torque would loosen the extension. Even chucked the bbl up and used a cheater on the driver. My intent at that point was to plug the GP and redrill once a new extension was torqued. The bbl was new/unfiired. It was a waste and a learning experience on my part. I stay in my own lane these days. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I don't think I'd chuck it on the extension for anything where concentricity with the bore was critical. Turning down the profile...not so critical. I didn't even get the jaws fully tight, the hardened extension split like glass. Had to shit can a new barrel. Wow. I'm glad that particular extension broke in a chuck - because it was going to give up the ghost at any point. Best case scenario it was going to lose lugs on the next shot. ETA: Wait - you junked a barrel due to the barrel extension breaking? At that point you could have just replaced the extension. Yes, scrapped it. No amount of heat/torque would loosen the extension. Even chucked the bbl up and used a cheater on the driver. My intent at that point was to plug the GP and redrill once a new extension was torqued. The bbl was new/unfiired. It was a waste and a learning experience on my part. I stay in my own lane these days. That's crazy QC from the manufacturer. I'm really glad you didn't fire that barrel - it sounds like it would have ended poorly. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 3:38:14 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: That's crazy QC from the manufacturer. I'm really glad you didn't fire that barrel - it sounds like it would have ended poorly. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I don't think I'd chuck it on the extension for anything where concentricity with the bore was critical. Turning down the profile...not so critical. I didn't even get the jaws fully tight, the hardened extension split like glass. Had to shit can a new barrel. Wow. I'm glad that particular extension broke in a chuck - because it was going to give up the ghost at any point. Best case scenario it was going to lose lugs on the next shot. ETA: Wait - you junked a barrel due to the barrel extension breaking? At that point you could have just replaced the extension. Yes, scrapped it. No amount of heat/torque would loosen the extension. Even chucked the bbl up and used a cheater on the driver. My intent at that point was to plug the GP and redrill once a new extension was torqued. The bbl was new/unfiired. It was a waste and a learning experience on my part. I stay in my own lane these days. That's crazy QC from the manufacturer. I'm really glad you didn't fire that barrel - it sounds like it would have ended poorly. Possibly. Hard to know. FWIW, I've had nothing but great performance out of 2 other identical bbls, still shooting above average for a couple of family members. All bought within the same calendar year. I just had to be different and attempt to mod the HBAR profile. 
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Posted: 12/14/2020 3:58:35 PM EDT
[#29]
will a barrel fit through the chuck?
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Posted: 12/14/2020 4:21:56 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted: will a barrel fit through the chuck? Through the chuck, yes. I upgraded the chuck to a 4-jaw with a larger through-hole. The spindle bore is .78, so I think it'd fit. |
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Posted: 12/15/2020 11:41:08 AM EDT
[#31]
since we are talking about the mini lathe I have the 7x10. Has anybody here extended the bed. I always run out of room and would really like more length to work, maybe 2 feet or so.
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Posted: 12/20/2020 10:04:28 PM EDT
[#32]
I have one of the harbor freight 8x12 (really 14" between centers)
I have done what you are trying. I just put 2 pieces of electrical tape over the crown of the muzzle and put it between centers. I had a cheap aluminum scope ring that I clamped onto the barrel and used it as a dog and the jaws of the 4 jaw chuck is what drove the dog. I'm not a fan of carbide tooling unless it's insert tooling. Then just profile your final OD to desired thickness. then you can come back and use the compound to clean up the transition points then a final blend with crocus cloth w/oil. (make sure to cover your ways) If you want a brushed finish use some grey scotch brite pads and strop it one direction till the finish looks even. Or you can blast it, if you have the means to do so. before to long you'll be making your own barrels from scratch. It's a fun hobby. If you haven't already figured it out. the machine is the cheapest part Tooling, chucks, PMI's, ect are where all of the money ends up.
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Posted: 12/29/2020 4:29:54 PM EDT
[#33]
I did it to my ban era bushmaster heavy barrel. It certainly did reduce weight. I primed and painted with bbq paint. Looked fine and handled better.
ETA: I used hss-cobalt cutting tools. I’m seeing now a stainless barrel that you have. Take light passes. I used a steady rest and three jaw chuck. I didn’t want to recrown the barrel end. I wasn’t too concerned about exact barrel concentric. |
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