-
Welcome back Guest! Did you know you can mentor other members here at H-M? If not, please check out our Relaunch of Hobby Machinist Mentoring Program!
2021 POTD Thread Archive
- Thread starter Gaffer
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2014
- Messages
- 2,846
I added a Z axis power lift to the Bridgeport clone awhile ago. This is a terrific enhancement, with only one slight issue, that to make a small fine adjustment, you need to use the crank, and then remember to remove it or you kill your arm or leg accidentally.
The lift comes with a splined coupler that has a spring so that you can’t keep the crank on unattended. You can imagine how much fun that is. So I spent minimal time, perhaps too little cosmetically, to make a hand wheel that is now permanent, I can adjust for exact positioning, and will not break any bones. I used the eBay dividing head lots of us are buying to index and mill the grooves in the Delrin wheel. Maybe some day I will substitute a real hand wheel, but for now, it works great.
The lift comes with a splined coupler that has a spring so that you can’t keep the crank on unattended. You can imagine how much fun that is. So I spent minimal time, perhaps too little cosmetically, to make a hand wheel that is now permanent, I can adjust for exact positioning, and will not break any bones. I used the eBay dividing head lots of us are buying to index and mill the grooves in the Delrin wheel. Maybe some day I will substitute a real hand wheel, but for now, it works great.
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2018
- Messages
- 1,400
Wow, no where near as ambitious as you guys tonight.
I am making a sizing die for 9mm cast polymer coated bullets. I am copying the Lee design.
I got to practice my single point threading fu.
My goal is to make a die that will size my bullets to .355-.356. I have no idea how much smaller to make the hole, so I will shoot for .354, then polish to final dimension.
I have this .357 die, but have no way to measure the business part of the hole because it is tapered so much. I don't have a .354 reamer, but I did find a nice tapered reamer that will make a nice gentle lead in for the bullet before it is forced down to size.
I guess tomorrow night will be boring.
I am making a sizing die for 9mm cast polymer coated bullets. I am copying the Lee design.
I got to practice my single point threading fu.
My goal is to make a die that will size my bullets to .355-.356. I have no idea how much smaller to make the hole, so I will shoot for .354, then polish to final dimension.
I have this .357 die, but have no way to measure the business part of the hole because it is tapered so much. I don't have a .354 reamer, but I did find a nice tapered reamer that will make a nice gentle lead in for the bullet before it is forced down to size.
I guess tomorrow night will be boring.
Shooty,here's wishing you the best of luck. I spend inordinant amts of time messing around with cast bullets. Mine are mainly high velocity,varmint loads.
Have bought a bunch of over the counter,tapered reamers over the years. Along with decent results,making them.
Not giving up on them,by any stretch. Just started moving in the direction of internal grinding. Kinda shuffling around a little making decisions on,adapting existing machines vs just making something more dedicated.
Anyway,thanks for the pics,enjoying your post. BW
Have bought a bunch of over the counter,tapered reamers over the years. Along with decent results,making them.
Not giving up on them,by any stretch. Just started moving in the direction of internal grinding. Kinda shuffling around a little making decisions on,adapting existing machines vs just making something more dedicated.
Anyway,thanks for the pics,enjoying your post. BW
Struggling with a bow form yesterday.... had to walk away(we make trad bows).
Gonna mess around with it this a.m. And am fully prepared to "walk away" again if need be. It's in the butt end/wedge area. Nice form I made years ago.... wasn't quite finished. I should take pics but they won't mean much because it's extremely difficult to show the complexity of tiny little nuisances. So,you'd just be looking at big chunks of wood forms.
Get a little flustered these days,"stuff" just isn't as easy as it was when younger? But got grass to mow which is just durn relaxing.
Gonna mess around with it this a.m. And am fully prepared to "walk away" again if need be. It's in the butt end/wedge area. Nice form I made years ago.... wasn't quite finished. I should take pics but they won't mean much because it's extremely difficult to show the complexity of tiny little nuisances. So,you'd just be looking at big chunks of wood forms.
Get a little flustered these days,"stuff" just isn't as easy as it was when younger? But got grass to mow which is just durn relaxing.
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2018
- Messages
- 1,400
There aren't many people that have had success with high velocity cast bullets, but I know some that have. When I was shooting cast bullet silhouettes back in the 90's, 7×57, 8×57, 45-70, and .458 Win Mag were my calibers. I always kept my velocities around 1600-1700 fps for trouble free easy living.
I bet you are familiar with the grey streak of vaporized lead all the way to the target.
Enjoy that tractor!
John
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2013
- Messages
- 3,793
I run into the term “cast bullets” a lot but I’m not sure I know what you really mean. Aren’t all bullets cast, or does it refer to bullets that a person casts at home rather than, say, commercially made bullets? I’m obviously not a gun person although I have a sister who shoots. They just don’t mess around making their own ammunition though.
-frank
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2018
- Messages
- 1,400
Yes, home cast bullets. You can easily and inexpensively make cast bullets for just about any handgun caliber and low velocity rifle loads (under 2000fps). Lead is sourced from a variety of places. Wheel weights have been one of the best sources, but are increasingly harder to find due to the shift towards more environmentally friendly materials.
You can also buy commercially available cast bullets that are already sized and lubed. Lube, which is usually a waxy, or greasy substance, is needed to coat the inside of the barrel for the next bullet to glide down. This prevents lead build up inside the barrel.
Casting your own bullets cuts shooting costs by abiut 50%.
