An open offer

[texaswoodworker]

Why bother making it out of drill rod? Get on ebay and buy a 7/8-14 grade 8 bolt and be ahead by a long shot.

You can get 10 of them for $35 shipped. (maybe less if you shop around)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-8-14-x-6-G...item33941eada6

[DeanWinchester]

You can get 10 of them for $25 shipped. (maybe less if you shop around)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-8-14-x-6-G...item33941eada6

Ive been there, done that with a lathe. Damn if I'd chase 10 sets of threads for $25.

[country gent]

Unless the threads are something special ( acme, square, buttress, or multiple leads) chasing threads isnt a big deal. And for a new machinist it is good practice and learning experience. I have cut many threads over my carrer all the above along with shallow narrow forms to allow for grinding after heat treat. Its not a big deal once you get used to it.

[drinks]

Go to one of the metal supply sites and order a 3' or 6' length of cold rolled all thread in 7/8 - 14.
Really cuts down on the time required.
A set of # and letter drill bits is also very useful for this.
You CAN harden and temper the dies, but it is not necessary unless you expect to do several thousand bullets.

[stephenj]

Gentleman
Id be very happy to build a few mini sharps along with full size rifles .

All i'd need is a milling machine a rifling machine and $10,000 or so to buy some basic tooling .

Matter of fact i will up the ante .. send the tools and tooling and i will send the sharps and a matched set of single action armies with it .

Lead time shouldnt be much over ten years

[stephenj]

I am using drill rod for a couple reasons .. the biggest is because i have it on hand and it is fairly hard and it machines very easily .

Mild steel and bolts just plain suck to machine
Threading isnt difficult and honestly practice makes perfect and i need some perfecting .

And to boot drill rod is not all that much more money then plain old cold rolled mild steel and is close to threaded shaft .

[bangerjim]

If you are talking about lee push through bullet sizers then, no, they are not carbide and can be easily lapped larger

They are NOT carbide but are heat treated steel and are very hard. I have never put one in my RC tester to check it, but you will NOT touch it with HSS lathe tools and very roughly with carbide. Lapping with diamond compuond very slowly can be done successfully.

You can soften the steel in a HeatTreat oven and then work it and the re-harden in the same oven, but you need a pro HT oven to heat & soak it. I would not even attempt it with a torch flame.....not even enough heating all the way thru.

Lapping Lee dies close to the size is the easiest way.

banger

[bangerjim]

Cutting threads on a lathe (I have 5 of them) is relatively easy, but I have found if it is available commercially......buy it.....don't waste your time making it.

Practice is one thing.......drudgery and wasted time is totally another!

I only cut lathe threads when I cannot find that thread form and size/material from my local metal mongers. A quick-change lathe is a god-send for cutting threads. Change gears are thing of my distant dim past.

bangerjim

[Cowboy_Dan]

Here's an interestng one of you're up to it. A muzzle brake for my Mosin-Nagant 91/30 that clamps on securely, somehow. Either like the bayonette or if you have some other idea. I don't want to thread it.

[sparky45]

stevenj;
Please remove my request from your list of sizing dies. I'll simply buy from Lee. Put petroid's name in place of mine.
Very nice of you to offer your service, and I commend you for your efforts.

[DeanWinchester]

Mild steel and bolts just plain suck to machine
.

Not with the proper tool and grade 8 bolts machine pretty well.
People get hung up on carbide cutters a little too much IMO. A REX AAA with the right relief angle will cut like a mad man and leave a great finish.

[Bonz]

We could always use an additional source for swaging dies

[stephenj]

I havent ever tried cutting on grade 8 bolts ... might be a good idea if i see some at the salvage yard .

But in simple economy .. drill rod is a good bit cheaper then grade 8 bolts .
I understand quite well that once you factor in the same saved it isnt .
But time i have ... extra cash not so much of .

If i hadnt of won some lotto money i wouldnt have the lathe .

And my best personal arguement ... the lathe is just a new hobby for me .. i do not or will not go out to the shop and worry about the time it takes to make something .

I just go out relax and enjoy myself ... if it takes me 4-5 hours to make something that only cost $20-$25 bucks to buy ... who cares
I am doing it for pleasure ... i enjoy tinkering and making things .

[Bonz]

I havent ever tried cutting on grade 8 bolts ... might be a good idea if i see some at the salvage yard .

But in simple economy .. drill rod is a good bit cheaper then grade 8 bolts .
I understand quite well that once you factor in the same saved it isnt .
But time i have ... extra cash not so much of .

If i hadnt of won some lotto money i wouldnt have the lathe .

And my best personal arguement ... the lathe is just a new hobby for me .. i do not or will not go out to the shop and worry about the time it takes to make something .

I just go out relax and enjoy myself ... if it takes me 4-5 hours to make something that only cost $20-$25 bucks to buy ... who cares
I am doing it for pleasure ... i enjoy tinkering and making things .

Absolutely the same reason that I reload my own ammo, just to 'relax and enjoy myself'

[Bullshop]

Gentleman
Id be very happy to build a few mini sharps along with full size rifles .

All i'd need is a milling machine a rifling machine and $10,000 or so to buy some basic tooling .

Matter of fact i will up the ante .. send the tools and tooling and i will send the sharps and a matched set of single action armies with it .

Lead time shouldnt be much over ten years

OH OK let me have a little time to think on it first.

[stephenj]

Bullshop

Would it help any if i was to cut the lead time back to 8 years instead of 10

[petroid]

A fellow member kindly made be a powder thru expander plug for my Lee 40SW dies. It works like a charm and expands bigger and deeper which is what I needed. They are a very simple piece and make a world of difference when loading cast boolits in Lee dies. This may be something that you might want to try out. Shouldn't be too difficult or expensive and helps a lot. I hear the 38 Super plug works great for 9mm. I wonder what other Lee PTE dies would benefit from an enlarged expander plug. Great Job!

[Handloader109]

Sounds like you have a lot of ideas and plenty of other things to keep you busy. Would never expect you to copy other member's gas check maker. Link was from a member that from what I can see designed a different maker and posted the drawing. Thanks anyway.

[stephenj]

First sizer is finished .. i have plans both friday and most of sat .. sunday morning if i am feeling ambitios ill draw two more names out of my hat and make a couple more sizers .

Once my batteries charge up ill post a couple pics .

[stephenj]

Oops i meant to put this up this morning and it slipped my mind ... brstevens sizer done and going out in the mail sat morning .

The push rod is still in the chuck so i didnt take a pic of it