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Author Topic: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel  (Read 1498 times)

Offline flatsguide

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Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« on: July 12, 2023, 05:55:16 AM »
I’m starting on Rod Alexander’s superb kit for a Alexander Henry Percussion target rifle. Curtis did a fabulous build of that same rifle here so I’m not going to document my building of it. I will document from time to time some of the more unique or helpful hints such as this one.
These are a couple of simple fixtures to fit the breech plug to the barrel. As you most likely know the inner and out face of the breech blockshould contact the appropriate sections of the barrel at the same time. These fixtures allow you to machine the mating surfaces of the breech block in your lathe. I’m sure there are many other ways of doing the same thing and if anyone has any other ideas please post ‘em.
Thanks, Richard














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Offline Curtis

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2023, 07:40:46 AM »
What an excellent idea, Richard!  Those should speed up the process considerably.  Otherwise it takes a LOT of careful, time consuming filing.


Curtis
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Curtis Allinson
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Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline Hank01

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2023, 10:13:44 AM »
This will save some time. Great idea! Thanks for sharing Richard.

Hank
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2023, 02:12:41 PM »
A file always works pretty good for me. Usually takes an hour or so.
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Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2023, 04:50:19 PM »
That's a good process.  Wonder why it wasn't machined to the correct dimensions to start with?

Jim
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Offline flatsguide

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2023, 11:52:40 PM »
“Wonder why it wasn't machined to the correct dimensions to start with?“
That’s one of life’s great mysteries Jim.
Cheers Richard
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Offline T*O*F

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #6 on: July 13, 2023, 12:50:44 AM »
Quote
Wonder why it wasn't machined to the correct dimensions to start with?
Barrels and breeches come machined from two different sources.
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Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #7 on: July 13, 2023, 01:12:24 AM »
Quote from: T*O*F on July 13, 2023, 12:50:44 AM
Quote
Wonder why it wasn't machined to the correct dimensions to start with?
Barrels and breeches come machined from two different sources.

This happens all the time today.  Just takes a little coordination and a perhaps a little more advanced machining practices.

Jim
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Offline oldtravler61

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #8 on: July 13, 2023, 02:05:08 AM »
   When I worked in quality control we had this thought when checking parts that were made.
   Monday : the crew was recovering from the weekend part might be good might not.
  Tuesday :  yep good chance the majority of parts will be made to print.
   Wednesday :  all's good weekend behind everyone.
   Thursday :  could be rough...weekend is looming a head.
   Friday : good luck the workers are planning their weekend...50/50
   chance.
   Just thought you might get a chuckle out of this....
    of a good part..
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Offline flatsguide

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #9 on: July 13, 2023, 06:59:46 AM »
“This happens all the time today.  Just takes a little coordination and a perhaps a little more advanced machining practices.
Jim”
As I’m sure you’re aware, it is much easier to control when everything is done “in house”. In the case of barrel and breech plug fitting,  tolerance would need to be plus or minus a thou and crush would make up the difference. When one is discussing a high temperature high pressure gas seal there is no wiggle room. Better to have too long a breech plug than too short.
Cheers Richard
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Offline Curtis

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #10 on: July 13, 2023, 07:48:56 AM »
Quote from: Jim Kibler on July 12, 2023, 04:50:19 PM
That's a good process.  Wonder why it wasn't machined to the correct dimensions to start with?

Jim

Jim, the breech in the photos looks like one of the "gumaker kit" plugs - the ones with Rod's regular kits come fitted and installed.

Curtis
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Curtis Allinson
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Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline Bob Roller

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #11 on: July 13, 2023, 04:19:44 PM »
Quote from: Curtis on July 13, 2023, 07:48:56 AM
Quote from: Jim Kibler on July 12, 2023, 04:50:19 PM
That's a good process.  Wonder why it wasn't machined to the correct dimensions to start with?

Jim

Jim, the breech in the photos looks like one of the "gumaker kit" plugs - the ones with Rod's regular kits come fitted and installed.

Curtis
That's what I thought also.I used a Don Brown plug and a GM barrel and then threaded the barrel to match the length of the plug threads.
Bob Roller
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Offline T*O*F

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #12 on: July 13, 2023, 06:26:26 PM »
Quote
the breech in the photos looks like one of the "gumaker kit" plugs - the ones with Rod's regular kits come fitted and installed.
I had thought that was the case.  Snapper and I bought the last of Don Brown's parts from his widow and there was only one breeched Badger barrel left.  All subsequent builds I did required that I fit the breeches.  Both the barrels I got from Rod came unbreeched, however I already had the plugs.
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If religion is opium for the masses, the internet is a crack, pixel-huffing orgy that deafens the brain, numbs the senses and scrambles our peer list to include every anonymous loser, twisted deviant, and freak as well as people we normally wouldn't give the time of day.
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Offline HSmithTX

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #13 on: July 13, 2023, 06:28:03 PM »
Holding .001" on the length of a breechplug is not hard at all in a production environment, even with tired equipment. Holding half that should be dead easy and a quarter of that is very realistic all day every day with decent equipment and people.  Timing the flats is also not hard if you are threading the barrels, barrel and plug right out of the machine torqued down and done.
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Offline Bob Roller

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #14 on: July 13, 2023, 11:50:32 PM »
Quote from: flatsguide on July 13, 2023, 06:59:46 AM
“This happens all the time today.  Just takes a little coordination and a perhaps a little more advanced machining practices.
Jim”
As I’m sure you’re aware, it is much easier to control when everything is done “in house”. In the case of barrel and breech plug fitting,  tolerance would need to be plus or minus a thou and crush would make up the difference. When one is discussing a high temperature high pressure gas seal there is no wiggle room. Better to have too long a breech plug than too short.
Cheers Richard
I was going to suggest an interrupted thread ;D.One fourth of a turn and it's out and powder fouling can stop leaks after a while.
Bob Roller
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Offline Bob Roller

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Re: Fixtures for fitting breech plug to barrel
« Reply #15 on: July 14, 2023, 02:40:32 AM »
Leaving farce out of the equation that simple thing is a K_I_S_S gauge.Keep It Simply Simple.
Bob Roller
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