Double rifle

[mark brier]

Gentleman, I wanted to share pictures of barrel turning and more importantly a fix for people that do not have a taper attachment for their lathe. Turning a taper by offsetting the tail stock will not allow one to use the follower rest. I was having a problem with vibration and chatter in the middle six inches of the barrel. A solution I came up with that works great was to drill and tap the follower rest fingers and using shoulder bolts that fit the inner race of some small bearings I installed the bearings on the finders and put springs behind the fingers to allow them to push inwards while going up the taper of the barrel. Works great.
Mark Brier

[jerrywh]

 That is a pretty good looking setup. I have another method for very thin barrels. Doesn't this setup effect the depth of your cut? Just asking. Vibration is a big factor in turning barrels especially thin ones.

[mark brier]

I did not have that problem. The springs are not that strong, just enough pressure to make the bearings turn. But enough contact to get rid of vibration.
Mark Brier

[Randall Steffy]

Jerry,
If you are willing to share your trick method of turning a thin barrel such that chatter is minimized, I for one would be most grateful to learn. I suspect others have their ear turned your way as well. Thanks!

[Goo]

Would you post the supplier and part numbers for the bearings?   it looks like the adjusting screws are touching the fingers,  I was thinking to try this with some heavier springs between the adjusting screws and bearing fingers.

[Hudnut]

A friend who makes barrels uses a follow rest with pneumatic fingers.  Maintains damping pressure, but adjusts automatically for changing barrel diameter.

[jerrywh]

 I fill the barrels with cerrosafe and then it is like turning a solid bar but there is still some vibration problem. any long thin bar presents a problem.  I will probably never do anymore barrels but if I did I would make a follower rest like the one shown in this post. I have seen other similar setups before without the rollers. Notice the very fine turnings in Mark's last photo.  No matter what you do the cut must be a very fine cut.  Mark knows what he's doing that's for sure.

[Scota4570]

I use the steady rest in the middle of the barrel.  For really long barrels it might need to be moved. It is a pain to have to move the steady for saddle travel but it works,  I don't have a follower anyway.   I had thought of making a dampened articulated follower but never got around to it.   I've never used my taper attachment for this.  Always between offset centers with a lathe dog.     

[Craig Wilcox]

That is so great!  Really appreciate you sharing.

I had a "gunsmith" vice for quite a while.  It turned replacement screws for almost anything, but got rid of it after trying to taper a few barrels.

Again- really appreciate you bring your idea to us.  Good luck on that double!

Craigo

[Brinch]

Great Work! It looks very frightening!