Gunsmithing Barrel Polishing Tool

[STR]

For a long time now I have been looking for this tool. Ever since S&S Precision put that video out on the 6.5x47 Lapua bench gun to be exact. I couldn't find it anywhere because I was calling it all the wrong names. I saw it being used for it's original intended purpose on a TV car show. They were polishing a crankshaft with it. I thought, "great"!!!! I found it. Well, when I found out that it cost $699.99, that was it. I took a look at the pictues of it, and tried making my own. For under $180.00, I made one. I remembered someone asking about this on this site before, so here is a short video of what I did, and a pic of the barrel I polished with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxKdLA50h54&feature=share&list=UUyikBF6Tklx_dP8ENRFhRYg

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: Barrel Polishing Tool

We use a lot of those in the field I am in - although the first one I saw was when I learned to grind crankshafts also. Yours looks like it will work great!

If anyone NEEDS to buy one - we have found the best ( not the cheapest ) are from this guy:

Stephen Bader & Co., Inc.

P.O. Box 297
10 Charles Street
Valley Falls, NY 12185

Phone:
(518) 753-4456.

When using one around the shop, it is referred to as a Bader, and the operation as "badering".

Little tip - buy the wavy edge belts for it, and you will rarely catch an edge, and make an ugly divot. Easy to do with the straight edge belts.

 

[x ring accuracy]

Re: Barrel Polishing Tool

Sumtin' wrong with doing it by hand? Just askin'

 

[STR]

Re: Barrel Polishing Tool

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: X Ring Accuracy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sumtin' wrong with doing it by hand? Just askin'

</div></div>

Heck no!!! I'm just getting old and need to find easier ways to get the same results. Kind of like the old bull, young bull kind of thing, LOL.

 

[LRI]

Re: Barrel Polishing Tool

Square wheel polisher is another name for it.

A great belt is a 3M Trizact. It'll last and last. It'll also bring it to the luster your finished barrel has in short order.

Belts run between 5 and 12 bucks a piece typically depending on grit/length.

Another route is to buy a barrel spinner and do it off the lathe. This way you don't run the risk of abrasive falling onto well oiled ways and turning into lapping compound that is pure hell on a machine. Even if you cover up the bed you WILL eventually damage your machine. There's a reason why surface grinders are built the way they are and often put in a deep/dark hole in the shop far far far away from mills/lathes and inspection equipment. The dust/particulate is a great way to ruin other machines.

The grizzly knife sander/polisher with a modified mast shortened to take 48" belts will save you lots of time/aggravation when polishing barrels.

Nice tricked out tool. Hope it gives you a lifetime of service.

C.

 

[STR]

Re: Barrel Polishing Tool

I agree with not doing it on the lathe idea too. I didn't feel all that good about it while, and after I was done. That sparked a new way with the same tool. Just doesn't include my lathe. Thanks Chad. BTW, where can I get that particular belt you mentioned?

 

[300sniper]

Re: Barrel Polishing Tool

Sounds like you may be a bit real estate limited in your "shop" these days but I could see gearing down a garage sale wood lathe for this op.

 

[STR]

Re: Barrel Polishing Tool

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 300sniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sounds like you may be a bit real estate limited in your "shop" these days but I could see gearing down a garage sale wood lathe for this op. </div></div>

That was the initial idea, but I already have to walk sideways to get to certain things in my shop. Example, I have to move the bed on my mill all the way right to get to the parts washer. I'm going to build a bench top contraption that wil hold the barrel center to center. It will mount temporarily on my mobile bench, and the I can do this outside. I only have one more to polish for now anyways, and I don't know when I'll get to it. Seems my hobby has taken a turn towards more shooting, and less building. Thanks for the ideas guys.

 

[xs hedspace]

Re: Barrel Polishing Tool

I use my old Atlas POS lathe for this stuff. BTW, I did an interesting finish for a SS barrel, by running the lathe in back gear, slow, and running an orbital Makita sander with NEW 220 grit slowly up the barrel, one pass. The barrel comes out with this almost Damascus pattern satin finish. Cool looking, semi-gloss.

 

[Gray]

Re: Barrel Polishing Tool

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: xs hedspace</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use my old Atlas POS lathe for this stuff. BTW, I did an interesting finish for a SS barrel, by running the lathe in back gear, slow, and running an orbital Makita sander with NEW 220 grit slowly up the barrel, one pass. The barrel comes out with this almost Damascus pattern satin finish. Cool looking, semi-gloss.</div></div>

I would like to see this, sounds pretty cool!

 

[STR]

Re: Barrel Polishing Tool

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Special Delivery</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: xs hedspace</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use my old Atlas POS lathe for this stuff. BTW, I did an interesting finish for a SS barrel, by running the lathe in back gear, slow, and running an orbital Makita sander with NEW 220 grit slowly up the barrel, one pass. The barrel comes out with this almost Damascus pattern satin finish. Cool looking, semi-gloss.</div></div>

I would like to see this, sounds pretty cool! </div></div>

Come on now!!! Show us some close up pics of this finish. I'm also interested in seeing it. Always looking for something different. Thanks

 

[xs hedspace]

Re: Barrel Polishing Tool

Well, it's probably easier for you to do a trial run on a junk barrel,than for me to find this rifle, take a pic, put it on bucket. RPM was about 100 on the lathe. Keep pad sander moving to fresh paper as you go down the barrel. Besides, I'm hard(ly) at work elsewhere 3 days a week, like right now.

 

[jrm850]

Re: Barrel Polishing Tool

I would try that bad boy with your barrel spinner. I used one of the Scott Murray rubber sanding drums with that same spinner for a super quick finish on anything that wasn't getting rust blued. It did a decent job so your rig should work a lot better if for no other reason than less point loading.