Bolt handle Welding

straightwalls said:
not trying to be an a$$, but what are ken's welding credentials? i have seen a so-called professional welding job on a bolt handle done by a gunsmith that is well known on this site that was less than par. not casting stones, just stating that gunsmithing is one thing, welding something completely different, and i do know what i speak of.
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You actually have a very valid point. I don't expect my mechanic to be able to weld; but it's assumed that a gunsmith ( who really is...lets face it; a firearms mechanic) is capable with a TIG...
 
Slavex said:
$54 is a steal. Even more so if he refinishes it after.
Timing is not an issue if its a cut and weld. If you are removing the entire old handle and welding a one piece on, expect to pay more.
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I beg to differ. Many of the remingtons need to be timed right from the factory. I got one where the handle even touched the back of the handle recess so it absorbed some recoil instead of the lugs.
 
It not that difficult to do. Sending it across the border for a small job as that is a bad ideal To start of.
 
GunBoy said:
spend couple of hundred of dollar at CanadianTire, and get you self a welding kit, cheaper long run, learn to do it yourself.
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Not particularly. Any decent TIG/MIG/SMAW rig is going to run you $500 at absolute minimum, plus the cost of consumables (electrode and gas depending on process), plus the cost of mask and gloves ($160 or so if you want an auto darkening mask). Then throw in the cost of practice metals to become proficient with that particular process; a good welder can charge what he does usually for a good reason.

An oxy-fuel rig from Canadian tire.... maybe. The Oxy-MAPP brazing kit they sell is $74 and brazing itself doesn't take as much practice to become proficient with brazing (don't get me wrong, it still takes a good deal of practice). And I think unless you're really reefing on the bolt handle then brazing should be strong enough but it's still requires a good deal of prep work, even more so then welding to achieve a high quality braze.
 
I agree with you totally, don't even bother doing it you self unless , wanting to know and how to do is important, setting up gig and fixture is require, also practice.


Is not the cost for the work, but there shipping bolt across theborder is the problem(homeland security). I know Ken ferral does one of the best out there and also one of the best people in the business to deal with, over the year , I must of got over 10set of base from the guy, and I will continue buying base from him. But when come to bolt for the rifle(serialized) be very careful, they might just keep it there at custom for ever, I HOPE I Am wrong, but be careful.
I wouldn't want to be the first to find out.
 
I have well over $10k invested in TIG,MIG, plasma cutters etc... and do you know what this enables me to do? I can make metal into some very pretty globs by several different processes! :redface:
 
Gunboy, I know a very good tig welder. I asked him for advise to get set up for tig welding. He said unless I spend a lot of money and a lot of time practicing, I would not be happy because I am fussy. He knows that I am a good arc and mig welder already. I normally make tools for myself and learn different skills as needed but this one I did not venture into.

$54 for a GOOD tig job is a deal.
 
Forgot to mention a story. A shooter brought his bolt to a professional welder and got it tig welded on. It was a disaster.

I installed it in my lathe and turned the handle off to clean it up. I located a new handle for my tig welder guy and he made a good job.

My guy knows next to nothing about firearms but LISTENS to me and understands what I want. Taking a gun part to a guy that doesn't fix gun parts is a BAD idea.
 
PEI ROB said:
Gunboy, I know a very good tig welder. I asked him for advise to get set up for tig welding. He said unless I spend a lot of money and a lot of time practicing, I would not be happy because I am fussy. He knows that I am a good arc and mig welder already. I normally make tools for myself and learn different skills as needed but this one I did not venture into.

$54 for a GOOD tig job is a deal.
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$54 is a good deal agree, even $100 is even a good deal, and I did mention that Ken Ferral does Good work from the Product That I see he made, but sending bolt across the border, for a small job as such is quite risky, better off finding some that do that here in Canada, shipping is not bad, but if they decide to keep it due to being gun part and all, well I wouldn't wanted to find out I need another bolt, take to gunsmith and do some head spacing, But if I find out that some one actually got their bolt back, no problem, I might just do the same.
 
Well, here we have it... the armchair experts have spoken. If it isn't a good deal to you, do it yourself, or send it to the "aww.... it ait that hard" experts.
 
Armchair experts is way better than a retard, No where in my post I said it wasn't a good deal, in fact it is a good deal, but cross the border, hay go ahead, no skin of my back, maybe you get away with it, maybe you won't. As a Matter fact I do stuff myself.
 
GunBoy said:
Armchair experts is way better than a retard, No where in my post I said it wasn't a good deal, in fact it is a good deal, but cross the border, hay go ahead, no skin of my back, maybe you get away with it, maybe you won't. As a Matter fact I do stuff myself.
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Does the term "Robertsonian translocation" make you feel conspicous and uncomfortable?
 
Population of Canada is 33,739,900 as of 2009
and you can't even find some body to weld bolt handle, that you had to suggested sending it to the US, for a good price.
You really smart.
 
IMHO you get what you payfor......

I once had a bolt handle welded back on to a bolt. Now in fairness to the guy who did the welding he wasn't a 'firearms mechanic' he was a welder and no he wasn't a shooter. But his price was cheaper by a bunch than a qualified g-smiths price.

Fast forward about 300 rnds.

Bolt is screwed, I had to source a used one.

Personally I would send it to someone in Canada, with the action, who knows what they are doing...... Sending stuff to the states (no matter the credentials of the guy doing the work) is a bit risky as customs is fully in their right to sieze your firarms related part and not return it......

My $.02
 
I'm with Gunboy on this. We have guys in Canada MAKING complete actions, surely we can find someone competent enough to time and weld on a bolt handle, it's really not that difficult of a task. Sending it to someone in the US is a little risky and not worth it in my opinion.
 
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