ramrod groove

[yip]

  looking for a 5/16 box core router bit to cut a ramrod groove for a 40cal. anyone know where one can be found?

[mjm46@bellsouth.net]

I would just use a 1/4" bit and open it to 5/16" with a dowel wrapped with sandpaper or a sanding board wrapped with sandpaper. I used a chisel on my last ram rod channel.

[fastfrankie]

Try one of theWoodcraft stores, or Whiteside router bits

[James Rogers]

I think one would need a custom made bit for 5/16.

What I do now is use a 1/4" bit and then in a snap take it to 5/16 with one of the 5/16 ramrod planes Tom Snyder makes.

[Pete G.]

I made a scraper from an old file, which also makes it very easy to thin the web to proper thickness. Grind the end of the file to the profile that you want the groove, then bevel the cutting edge. Heat and bend to about a 75 degree angle, quench and sharpen.

Be careful using a router; they can will destroy a stock in the blink of an eye.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Pete, I have to agree 100 % with you.  I think I can chisel out the rough groove, and scrape it to finish depth and width at least as fast as setting up a router and guides, and with much less risk of disaster.  I made my scraper just as you have described.  It cuts very fast, or as gently as you want.

[Eric Smith]

I layed out my lines to follow, then used a gouge to rough out the trench, followed with Tom Snyder's ramrod groove plane. Took all of 45 minutes to an hour.

[brobb]

I use a 5/16 ball end mill in my router to cut 5/16 ramrod grooves.  I bought an adapter to step down the 1/2 router collet to 5/16.  I believe that I paid about five dollars for the adapter.  I have a jig that holds the stock upside down and allows the router to move parallel to the barrel inlet.  All of this is much simpler than it sounds and it works great!

Bruce Robb

[David Rase]

I pretty much did the same as Bruce Robb has.  I turned down the shafts on 5/16", 3/8" and 7/16" ball end mills to 1/4" and now they fit in my 1/4" collet in my duplicator. 
David 

[yip]

My ole friend hank from WV said he used a end mill, he even gave me a web site that sells it, guess i'll give er a try. thanks
'

[sdilts]

There is a company called Jamisons in Roanoke, Va that made a 5/16 router bit for me. They were very reasonable.
You can reach them at 540-989-2744