AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Justin on November 04, 2017, 07:26:55 AM

Title: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: Justin on November 04, 2017, 07:26:55 AM
So I finally got my barrel inlet to a point where I am satisfied (my touch hole location is marked and lines up nicely). My plan was to install the breach plug next and then inlet the tang. However, it may be more convenient to install the touch hole liner before putting the breach plug back in.

Should I wait to do the touch hole until after I have inlet the tang just in case something gets messed up and I need to move the barrel back?
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: Goo on November 04, 2017, 10:24:03 AM
I like to wait until the gun is pretty much finished to drill the touch hole then if the charge doesn't ignite well I will install a touch hole liner.
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: Dennis Glazener on November 04, 2017, 12:42:49 PM
Yes, I would.
Dennis
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: Mike Brooks on November 04, 2017, 03:42:48 PM
Vent liner is the last thing I put in. I do it just before final assembly before the customer gets it.
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: ltdann on November 04, 2017, 04:03:17 PM
What Mr. brooks said. +1.  Things can go wrong and it's hard to move a hole in steel once it's drilled.
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: B.Habermehl on November 04, 2017, 04:48:19 PM
I install mine at the end of the project just before I dove tail for sights. Or immediately after the sights. The gun is essentially finished in the white ready to draw file, blue, brown etc.
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: n stephenson on November 04, 2017, 04:50:20 PM
I`m in the Brooks club also. When laying out the rifle , I locate the touch hole. I don`t drill it till last.  Nate
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: David Rase on November 04, 2017, 05:39:28 PM
I`m in the Brooks club also. Nate
I did not know there was a "Brooks" club.  Is it a secret society or can anybody join?  ;D
David
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: n stephenson on November 04, 2017, 05:58:03 PM
David, Not a secret society , a society of secrets. Membership has it`s privledges!!! :o :o :o ::)
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: Eric Krewson on November 04, 2017, 06:06:38 PM
If you get your barrel in and pinned, your lock completely inletted and installed with lock bolts in it is OK to drill for your touch hole, not before.
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: SingleMalt on November 05, 2017, 02:38:16 AM
I`m in the Brooks club also. Nate
I did not know there was a "Brooks" club.  Is it a secret society or can anybody join?  ;D
David

I wonder if there's a secret handshake?
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: Mr. Bubbles on November 07, 2017, 02:52:15 AM
I would wait till the very end as well. Get your top 5 barrel flats all nice and smooth, and then drill it an install it.  With some guns, like Lehighs and Bucks, the TH is located pretty high on the barrel flat (as is the lock).  If you are bumping up against the smallest of extra steel margin on the flat for the TH liner, and then you file the upper quarter flat  flat some more, you may expose the edge of the liner on on the upper quarter flat.  It's probably not a safety issue, but it would certainly look like a building error. 

If you're planning on engraving the top 3 flats, you may wish to even wait till you have smoothed down that engraving.  I've yet to see a gun with engraving on the side flat(s), but I suppose some might be done, but certainly away from the lock area.
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: David Rase on November 07, 2017, 03:22:58 AM
If you get your barrel in and pinned, your lock completely inletted and installed with lock bolts in it is OK to drill for your touch hole, not before.
I am of the same mind as Eric.  I also like to test fire my guns before final finish to make sure everything functions properly and get the sights adjusted some what close.  It is way easier to make minor adjusts "in the white" vs. a finished gun. 
David 
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: Mike Brooks on November 07, 2017, 03:45:03 PM
I`m in the Brooks club also. Nate
I did not know there was a "Brooks" club.  Is it a secret society or can anybody join?  ;D
David

I wonder if there's a secret handshake?
No, but you have to be able to do the "fish slap dance".
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: Mike Brooks on November 07, 2017, 03:46:41 PM
I would wait till the very end as well. Get your top 5 barrel flats all nice and smooth, and then drill it an install it.  With some guns, like Lehighs and Bucks, the TH is located pretty high on the barrel flat (as is the lock).  If you are bumping up against the smallest of extra steel margin on the flat for the TH liner, and then you file the upper quarter flat  flat some more, you may expose the edge of the liner on on the upper quarter flat.  It's probably not a safety issue, but it would certainly look like a building error. 

If you're planning on engraving the top 3 flats, you may wish to even wait till you have smoothed down that engraving.  I've yet to see a gun with engraving on the side flat(s), but I suppose some might be done, but certainly away from the lock area.
MR. BUBBLES? Is there a reason for a name like that? What's wrong with Joe or Bill? ???
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: Bob Roller on November 07, 2017, 03:56:17 PM
Be sure to drill the flash hole before loading the gun.Works better that way.

Bob Roller
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: 54ball on November 07, 2017, 04:46:02 PM
 Justin,
 You do know that you do not have to have a liner? What I do with my personal rifles is layout as if I was going to use a liner but drill a simple vent. That way I can add a liner in the future if so desired. So far I have been more than satisfied with just a simple drilled vent.
 A good sparking lock has just as much or more to do with reliability as the vent.
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: t.caster on November 07, 2017, 06:40:03 PM
I mark the target location early on, but don't drill for liner until near the end of the build. You need to get your barrel pinned, breech plug inletted, lock installed and bolted in...then the trigger and tang bolt through the tang & into the trigger plate...before drilling vent hole. Otherwise that hole can move in relation to the pan. I know :'(
Guess that puts me in the "Brooks club" 8)
Title: Re: When to install touch hole liner?
Post by: Justin on November 07, 2017, 06:53:46 PM
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I've marked it with a light center punch for now.