Turning and Threading a Powder Horn Tip

[davec2]

I haven't had much time to work muzzleloading stuff as of late....very busy with making a living.  However, I needed to prepare a couple of raw horns for screw tips.  I wanted to get the tips nice and round quickly but without the trauma of trying to set up a lathe to turn just the tip of a horn as if flies around like the "fan blade of death".  I had what I will call a "box tool" that I had made some time ago for use on a lathe.  The tool had a couple of tool bits mounted in it and a drill in the center.  It was used in a tail stock and would drill a center hole and turn two different diameters on the work piece in just one plunge.  I thought, if I replace the 1/4 drill in the center with just a pilot and set up just one cutting bit at the appropriate diameter, I could probably hand turn the tool and cut a nice round nose on the horn to thread later.

I started by cutting the tip off the horn and drilling through to the inside with a 3/16 inch bit and then a 1/4 inch.  I adjusted the tool bit in the box tool to cut a 5/8 inch nose, inserted the pilot in the hole and turned the tool by hand.  It cut beautifully & here are some photos.......







After getting the nose nice and round, I made a brass pilot to help with getting the threads straight.  It is 1/4 inch diameter on one end and the thread root diameter (0.560) on the other.  Turing to the thread root diameter allows the die (5/8-18) to slide over the pilot but not engage it.  The die is then run onto the horn tip easily by hand. Took about 15 minutes to turn and thread two horn tips nice and straight.  More photos......













I'm going to make up a better, brass body box tool that will be easier to adjust for cut diameter and easier to use... and then a set of pilots for various nose diameters and thread pitches.  Wow.....you would think I had some free time on my hands or something.  Anyway, I just thought these ideas might be helpful to some of you.

[Dan Herda]

Thank you for sharing once again, I always enjoy your work and seeing another way to "skin the cat"!
Screw tips are next on my list after doing several applied tip horns.
Great little tutorial.

[skillman]

A little over developed but nicely done. Second, thread the mandrel into the tip of the horn and thread the mandrel for the die and it will drive the die onto the horn making clean threads.  Well, at least if the horn isn't too dry. Finally, I don't care what threads you use but a 5/8 NC die is closer to the original threads than a fine. Well done.

Steve

[P.W.Berkuta]

VERY nice Dave - in true engineering fashion you made a scary job into an easy safe job . I will try this "new tool" in the future -- thanks .

[WadePatton]

Good work, great pics.

That first tool really got my attention.  Believe I have it figgered out now.  Drilled, then milled for cutting insert?  thanks.

[The Original Griz]

thread the mandrel into the tip of the horn and thread the mandrel for the die and it will drive the die onto the horn making clean threads.  Well, at least if the horn isn't too dry. Finally, I don't care what threads you use but a 5/8 NC die is closer to the original threads than a fine.

I agree Steve,
I turn my horns on a lathe, I find you tool interesting. But old habits are hard to break:)

[Ky-Flinter]

Here's my tooling for horn threading.  Not as nice as Dave's but on the same principal.  I don't have a mill or metal lathe.  The hole-saw is a 3/4" OD, with an ID of 5/8" which is perfect for threading to 5/8-11.  The hole-saw pilot drill is 1/4".  I filed the die guide out of a 5/8" bolt.  I use about the same process as Dave.  Cut off horn tip, drill horn to 1/4", use the hole-saw to cut the horn OD to 5/8" down to the marker line.  I think the guide being threaded helps start the die on to the horn.  I heat the horn tip up some with a heat gun and also use some thread cutting oil, seems to make the threads cut easier/smoother.



-Ron

[J Henry]

  On this site, go to the" Tutorials" accoutrement's, count down ten subjects  Tim Crosby has a tool there,,same idea just a little less work ,,,and Pictures !!!! for us type 3 learners,,,,

[P.W.Berkuta]

Look at all these neat ideas -- how clever are we all!

[David Rase]

A little over developed

Steve, I think not, at least by my standards. 

Dave, Love the term "fan blade of death".  You could not be more spot on.
David   

[Mark Elliott]

Dave,  You are true engineer.       I tend to think things through, but I am much lazier than you.   You spare no effort to make a better mouse trap.


I should note that I turn my horns on a lathe.   I use a tool similar to yours for threading.  In my case,  I just took a bolt and turned the pilot on it.  I don't usually spend more time on my tools than I have to.   Of course,  "have to" is entirely relative.