Gunsmithing Keeping up with the Jone's... Barrel vice Envy.

[LRI]

A couple months ago we were down in AJ Goddard's shop loitering around like vagrants and ensuring he got nothing done that day. During the course of the conversation he showed us his bad azz barrel vice setup. Mark Chanlynn had given him some pointers on it.

"Mark showed me how to build a real barrel vice," he said. It resonated in me and it'd been smoldering in my little mind ever since. Mostly because my vice was getting quite tired. I'd built it on the fly 4 years ago and the 1/2" studs were about worn out.

John snapped a stud late last week and I decided enough was enough.

So Mr. Goddard, take that!

I used 8620 steel for the clam shells and 1" bolts. Between each of the shells is a pair of outer Pro Stock Valve Springs so that the halves will push apart on their own when you bust everything loose.

The adapter shells are 4140 pre heat treated chromoly. Those came from the old vice. My local Matco rep didn't have a 1-1/2" deep well socket on the truck, so I had to whip up a pair of REALLY thick washers

Only been a few days, but so far it's working pretty well. I was short on time and drilling a 1/2" hole through 3/4" plate with a Milwaulkee Hole shooter Magnum drill (Also known as "Rotater cuff tearing Mo-Fo") wasn't on my bucket list.

Gotta love the portable 110V wire feed welder. I wanna mount it to a back pack frame and just walk around the shop welding chit with it.

C.

 

[Hntelk]

...what cant you make in that shop...I waiting for the reality show series next... why not a rifle builder..

 

[LRI]

John's busting my sack to start offering these things. I'm considering it. Maybe another GB or std inventory item??

Thoughts encouraged.


Thanks for the kind words.

As for the tv show. . . . . . . . . .??????????????????????

 

[Hennig]

I was actually just looking at barrel vices too. Very cool.

 

[skeetlee]

I have no reason not to make one myself, but if the price is right im game!! Lee

 

[Jhnmdahl]

John's busting my sack to start offering these things. I'm considering it. Maybe another GB or std inventory item??

Thoughts encouraged.


Thanks for the kind words.

As for the tv show. . . . . . . . . .??????????????????????

I just bought a barrel vise from Brownells to work the switch barrel 308/6.5 Creedmoor you guys did for me on the group buy, but I'd definitely watch your show. After all the dumb $&!+ on Sons of Guns and the like, it would probably do your profession's reputation some good.

 

[thrusty]

I love seeing the photos from your shop. Whether they are builds in progress or not, they're cool. Love the "tested on animals" tool. lol

 

[Bradu]

Damn good idea using valve springs.

 

[BoilerUP]

Simply cranking out customer's rifleswould be WAY too boring for Discovery or any other cable channel that likes cheap to produce reality dreck.

 

[mdesign]

Neat tooling...I'm a junkie for items like that.

 

[biner626]

Simply cranking out customer's rifleswould be WAY too boring for Discovery or any other cable channel that likes cheap to produce reality dreck.

Has to be some drama. Right boiler? That thing is badass Chad.

 

[Hntelk]

Heck, just throw in some cousins, brothers and other family members in the shop and there will be all kinds of drama in between rifle builds!

 

[Hennig]

Next week on LRI

"Turns out John has been stealing reamers and is looking to start a business of his own. Ima go confront him about it"

 

[gixxer822]

+1 for price on the vice.

 

[steveptr]

Group buy?

 

[BoilerUP]

Next week on LRI

"Turns out John has been stealing reamers and is looking to start a business of his own. Ima go confront him about it"

"This new grou' buy we doin', it gon' be a game changa'"

 

[Killswitch Engage]

i would be interested in one of your super vices...

 

[Changed]

Next on Longrifles, Inc. the Series - "This new barrel vice is gonna be a Game Changer!"

 

[cmh2007]

Berry nice

 

[LRI]

Cute. . .

As for the vice. It wouldn't exactly be cheap. The vice is only part of the equation. The collets are a vital part of the whole system. Over the years I've made around a dozen or so to adapt to specific barrel contours. (the more challenging/vital ones being the short cylindered sporter contours typically fitted to factory guns) The other aspect of this is to offer it with a certain level of portability.

I zapped ours to the stand via the welder. A production version would be bolt on with the option to add a receiver hitch mount. This way a guy could test multiple barrels at the range. Barrel changes would be pretty simple with this contraption hanging off the back end of a pickup/suv.

I've not taken the time to do a time study on it to see where it would end up, but it would likely be in the $500 range. I could be way off, but that's my guess.

I'm not sure if that's cost prohibitive or not. There's a fair amount of work involved and the materials aren't exactly cheap these days.

We'll see. We never run out of ideas, the biggest challenge is packing more minutes in the day and cramming more coffee down my cake hole to make it happen.

Thanks again.

 

[biner626]

Does anyone know if they make a receiver hitch for a 2010 Civic Si? ?

 

[Bradu]

Does anyone know if they make a receiver hitch for a 2010 Civic Si?

They make a class one which would be plenty for changing a barrel

2010 Honda Civic Trailer Hitch | etrailer.com

 

[Hennig]

Would the $500 include a range of collets?

 

[Rprecision]

A couple months ago we were down in AJ Goddard's shop loitering around like vagrants and ensuring he got nothing done that day. During the course of the conversation he showed us his bad azz barrel vice setup. Mark Chanlynn had given him some pointers on it.

"Mark showed me how to build a real barrel vice," he said. It resonated in me and it'd been smoldering in my little mind ever since. Mostly because my vice was getting quite tired. I'd built it on the fly 4 years ago and the 1/2" studs were about worn out.

John snapped a stud late last week and I decided enough was enough.

So Mr. Goddard, take that!

I used 8620 steel for the clam shells and 1" bolts. Between each of the shells is a pair of outer Pro Stock Valve Springs so that the halves will push apart on their own when you bust everything loose.

The adapter shells are 4140 pre heat treated chromoly. Those came from the old vice. My local Matco rep didn't have a 1-1/2" deep well socket on the truck, so I had to whip up a pair of REALLY thick washers

Only been a few days, but so far it's working pretty well. I was short on time and drilling a 1/2" hole through 3/4" plate with a Milwaulkee Hole shooter Magnum drill (Also known as "Rotater cuff tearing Mo-Fo") wasn't on my bucket list.

Gotta love the portable 110V wire feed welder. I wanna mount it to a back pack frame and just walk around the shop welding chit with it.

C.

After spending a few hours in AJ's shop I felt like a hack.

I mean when the guy pulls out a wire EDM puzzle that he machined back in the day its insane. Basicly looks like a solid piece of steel unill you touch it and it comes apart.

I would get in trouble if I had the tools you guys do

 

[rdinak]

Cool Toys and a great minds............

 

[Wintermute]

I was short on time and drilling a 1/2" hole through 3/4" plate with a Milwaulkee Hole shooter Magnum drill (Also known as "Rotater cuff tearing Mo-Fo") wasn't on my bucket list.

Chad,

That's why I have a magdrill with annular cutters Makes drilling those holes actually fun instead of a nightmarish chore.

--Wintermute