Rifling cutter shape

[Dave B]

Any one here know what is the most effective cutter profile for a hand operated rifling machine? Is a  carbide cutter worth the effort? I have toyed around with getting my sign barr machine up and running and I have several squared off cutters for it one is carbide. I want to make sure I have the best thing to start off with. Once rolling I dont want to start over with a different cutter.

[halfmeasures]

Dave, if you are going to be pulling your cutter by hand, I would stick with a high speed or cobalt tool, rather than carbide. It would be a lot more durable. Avoid the temptation to make your hook too agressive. It takes a LOT of effort to pull a .001" thick chip by hand.

[Dave B]

Thanks Halfmeasures.

[Ken G]

Dave,
You might want to check out Steve Bookouts site and get his book and / or video on rifling a barrel.  I have both and they are very helpful.  Give him a call and feel free to mention my name.  I drove to Iowa in Jan. to work with him for a week.  He's a super nice guy.
http://www.iowatelecom.net/~toadhall/
Ken

[Dave B]

Ken, He's got a great web site. I will have to look into getting his book

[Larry Luck]

Dave,
Let me know if you want me to take some pictures of the cutter on the rifling machine at the CW gunsmith shop.
Larry

[Dave B]

Larry,
I would love to get a picture of the CW rifling cutter for my records. Please E-mail or post it here for me to copy off.

[Acer Saccharum]

I can photocopy both scrape and hook cutters form some of my gunsmith's books.......you may have them already.

I think steel will be more forgiving than carbide if you are pulling the cutter by hand. Scrape cutters are traditionally used for hand machine rifling. Hook cutters for power rifling.

Dave, do you have a way of grinding carbide to shape?

Oops, I gotta go, a fierce thunderstorm is making itself known.

T

[Dave B]

I have my GRS diamond hone thats about it. The cutters that came with the machine I have are single bit cutters in steel. I made a carbide cutter to try but have not yet got aroung to it.

[Acer Saccharum]

The absolute best tool steel I have used is MoMax lathe bits. It holds an edge like no other.
I would be concerned about carbide chipping under strain, but I am really a HHS kind of guy.
The carbide can be easily brazed to steel, and needs no heat treatment. Doesn't lose its temper, cause it doesn't have one.

Tom

[Daryl]

I was told that carbide breaks when it hits something - like an uneven cut of out of round stock, octagonal to round, that sort of thing.  With the rifling cutter, it's a steady pull and may not chip due to the low work load, however it might have to be a steady pull, without any stops in the pull - starting once the cutter has stopped might chip it - my own theory.

[Larry Luck]

After seeing the posts, Flintriflesmith emailed me this link to post here.  (He had a log on problem.)

Here is a link to his website

http://www.flintriflesmith.com/Tools%20&%20Techniques/barrel_making.htm

Larry Luck

[flintriflesmith]

After seeing the posts, Flintriflesmith emailed me this link to post here.  (He had a log on problem.)
Here is a link to his website
http://www.flintriflesmith.com/Tools%20&%20Techniques/barrel_making.htm

Larry Luck

Thanks Larry! By the time I tried tonight I was registered.
I pointed out that link because it has a picture of the rifling cutter on the machine at the Colonial Williamsburg gun shop. Some one had asked to see that picture. The design is based on a lot of surviving original cutters.

Gary

[Dave B]

Thanks guys for the link, I love the old looking tool stuff.  The guy in the beard must be Garry from back when? Great shots. Thanks again.