Pistol barrel metal removal question:

[G37]

Is it possible to remove metal from the Outside Diameter of a barrel in 0.1mm increments? Only 0.1mm needs to be reduced in total... so I guess that'd be 0.05mm increments. The metal is 42CrM04 Hardened.

The barrel is for a pistol and is "finished"... just a tad to tight (0.1mm)
Would this be an affordable procedure on a lathe (i.e. $50'ish)?

Thanks.

 

[2katz]

.1 mm is about .0040" or the thickness of a human hair. Kind of difficult to remove that on a lathe. A centerless grinder would have no problem doing that.

Do you need the whole lenght reduced or just a portion ie. the ends. If it's just the end, you can chuck it at use fine sand paper or polishing stick to take it down the .050 mm.

Just a thought.

 

[G37]

Thanks it is just the end... I came to that conclusion as I was going to sleep last night.

I took a small piece of tape and put it on the stock barrel in the same location where it is binding on the new barrel; the stock barrel is behaving exactly the same as the replacement barrel (same poor fit) - so I need to remove about the width of a piece of tape. heheh... very little.

I will just sand that area, then use a polishing wheel - just upset i will lose the bluing

Oh well, beats dealing with trying to return something (I'd be looking at January).

 

[dan belisle]

Go slow, remember, you will find it very difficult to put the metal back. - dan

 

[sunray]

"...would have no problem doing that..." Neither would a good machinist. Removing four thou is nothing to a good machinist.
Sanding will just polish the steel. Last I heard machining costs in the neighbourhood of $60 plus per hour. No machinist in your club?

 

[Ripstop]

"...would have no problem doing that..." Neither would a good machinist. Removing four thou is nothing to a good machinist.
Sanding will just polish the steel.

I agree. But you would need ceramic or semi-ceramic inserts to cut it. I have taken out .01mm total (5 microns a side) from bores to bring them up to bearing fit tolerance. Most of my average tolerances are .03mm. It shouldn't take a machinist one hour to do your job.

 

[G37]

Well, thanks for the replies!

I did it using sandpaper (ugh) it feels tight... the finish is now horrible though (Cold Blue just doesn't work).

To top it off the barrel shoots 3" to the right and 4" high... kinda upset. I am seeing about getting somekind of compensation from the purchaser (since it didn't fit in the first place and they suggested I remove the metal.)

Thanks for the replies, now I know it can be done for next time (heaven forbid).