Octagonal Barrel Inletting

[bcline]

Gentleman,

I am knew to this site and I greatly appreciate being added.  I am wanting to start inletting my barrels by hand.  I have a router setup that works well, but I feel hand inletting is becoming a lost art.  I have searched and searched for videos, books, dvd's etc. on the topic with very little success. 

I would appreciate any and all advice, tutorials, etc.

Thank You

[Acer Saccharum]

Did you search the tutorial section? There are at least three or four methods builders use for hand inletting.



Hmm. I just did a search of the tutorials, and did not find one. Any authors out there that covered this subject? Member 'Long John' did a tutorial, and even did a demo one year at Dixon's Fair.

[thimble rig]

I know Peter Alexander covers it in his book.

[bob in the woods]

Mark Silver- stocking a long rifle with hand tools [ DVD]
Hershel House-  DVD-  uses a spindle cutter and chisels
Mike Miller-DVD    inlets a pistol barrel with hand tools
Lots of books detail how to do it.  I use a gouge, planes, chisels and scrapers.
I can inlet a swamped barrel in a day, working at a less than frantic pace .

[KC]

I think Mike Miller's tutorial had a good bit of information on barrel inletting. The whole tutorial is a good read for someone building a rifle.
K.C.

[KC]

Correction - Mike Brooks, don't know where Miller came from.

[Mark Elliott]

I think Mark Silver's video is your best bet if you want to learn stocking with hand tools.

You will most likely have to make a few tools.   I made a sidewall saw (very similar to a stair tread saw) that helps a lot when used with 3/8" square steel guides that you will also have to make.   I wouldn't want to try to inlet a barrel without my octagonal scraper that I made about 40 years ago out of an old file. 
 

[gwill]

There's also a good tutorial on hand inletting a barrel on Jack Brooks' website. 

[bob in the woods]

I think Mark Silver's video is your best bet if you want to learn stocking with hand tools.

You will most likely have to make a few tools.   I made a sidewall saw (very similar to a stair tread saw) that helps a lot when used with 3/8" square steel guides that you will also have to make.   I wouldn't want to try to inlet a barrel without my octagonal scraper that I made about 40 years ago out of an old file. 
 

That's why I listed that video first.  It changed how I did things overall.  Best part is, it doesn't take that much longer [ no machine set up]  , and you have infinitely more control

[Mike Brooks]

Correction - Mike Brooks, don't know where Miller came from.

I haven't inlet a barrel by hand in 30 years. Not my tutorial, probably Jack Brooks'

[Cory Joe Stewart]

You can also go to youtube and look up the Gunsmiths of Williamsburg and see a little bit of hand inletting.  It does not go into a lot of detail, but it gives you an idea.

Coryjoe

[davebozell]

I have inletted a couple barrels by hand lately, but I am not an expert.  I purchased 1/4" x 1/2" steel rectangular stock from McMaster-Carr.  I drilled holes every 3" or so and countersinked them.  I located the barrel on the stock where I wanted it and screwed the rectangular stock on each side.  Initially you will probably need washers to make sure the steel contacts the side flats of the barrel.  Once the first 1/4" or so is inletted, I took out the washers.  This works for straight and swamped barrels.  Use sharp chisels and take your time.  Once the barrel is down part way in the inlet, use your favorite inletting solution to mark the high spots.