Gunsmithing Ion Bond Questions....

[Dennis_in_VA]

I have a new rifle build in progress and I am going to have Ion Bond applied to the receiver and bolt.

My questions are:

Would it be better to do the barrel work <span style="font-style: italic">after</span> I get the receiver back from Ion Bond?

I am curious as to whether or not the Ion Bond could cause some clearance issues with thread fit or bolt to receiver fit?

Would the Ion Bond require a thread locking compound on the barrel tenon threads to keep the barrel from loosening up during use (due to the lubricity of the Ion Bond)?

Those of you that have Ion Bond experience, please feel free to comment.

Thanks,

Dennis

 

[LR-WSM]

Re: Ion Bond Questions....

Not trying to be a smart ass but, have you asked your smith thats building the rifle?

 

[jacq220]

Re: Ion Bond Questions....

get all the work done, then send the complete barreled action and bolt off to get ion bonded. that way the smith doesnt have to work around your finish.

 

[Dennis_in_VA]

Re: Ion Bond Questions....

Did you ever stop to think that I'M THE ONE DOING THE WORK????

Not trying to be an ass though.

Do you "have Ion Bond experience" ?

 

[jacq220]

Re: Ion Bond Questions....

I do not have experience w/ ion bond, but it seems like you will be refinishing the rifle in it when its all said and done, so it would only make sence to do all the machine work first, and refinishing being the last thing you do.

 

[Dennis_in_VA]

Re: Ion Bond Questions....

I don't want to have the barrel done.

I need it done to the action.

It's not worth the money and you don't gain nothing by having it done to the barrel unless you're after the latest Tacti-cool badge of honor / bragging rights.

From what I've been told, Ion Bond don't work on/in the bore like a Salt Bath would (but they're working the bugs out of that aspect).

So, back to my original questions.

Just how slippery would Ion Bond be pertaining to the Receiver to barrel threads and just how much if any interference would it create?

Does it build up enough to cause the bolt to become tight in the receiver?

I work for a manufacturer of benchrest shooting and reloading products and I do all of my own machine work.

 

[The Animal]

Re: Ion Bond Questions....

You will have no issues with Ion Bonding on anything fitting before or after you Ion Bond with respect to clearance. It would be the equivalent of bluing a barrel; which adds virtually nothing to the overall dimension.

Maybe a few microns.

FYI - I have a few surgeon actions that are completely ion bonded.

No issues with the Ion Bonding being too slippery or your barrel coming loose. Your bolt will operate like it's on roller bearings after a very short period of time.

 

[turbo54]

Re: Ion Bond Questions....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JACQ</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I do not have experience w/ ion bond, but it seems like you will be refinishing the rifle in it when its all said and done, so it would only make sence to do all the machine work first, and refinishing being the last thing you do. </div></div>

It doesn't "only make sense". Different coatings and treatments have different thicknesses and sometimes you have to allow for it during machining.

That said, ion bond thickness is ~.00015. So in the pin/hole scenario:

The pin will finish .0003 bigger in diameter, and the hole will finish .0003 smaller.

That means you will have .0006" less radial clearance after finishing.

A tick over 1/2 thou is not going to mean zip.shit for bolt/reciever fit....but could potentially affect your tennon/receiver fit - if you REALLY REALLY fit it tight...provided you do barrel/receiver separately.

 

[buckey]

Re: Ion Bond Questions....

Ion Bond only comes in black, correct?? Heard some things about this stuff & am curious about it!!

 

[Wolf22]

Re: Ion Bond Questions....

Correct. black it is. Prolly be the 'next big thing'.......Bond colors.

 

[Dennis_in_VA]

Re: Ion Bond Questions....

Mark @ SAC sent me this:


Ion Bond

 

[RingSteel]

Re: Ion Bond Questions....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: The Animal</div><div class="ubbcode-body">FYI - I have a few surgeon actions that are completely ion bonded.

No issues with the Ion Bonding being too slippery or your barrel coming loose. Your bolt will operate like it's on roller bearings after a very short period of time.
</div></div>

That last part, about the bolt operating like it's on roller bearings... very interesting! I'll look at Ion Bonding an action really soon. Thanks for the input.

 

[The Animal]

Re: Ion Bond Questions....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RingSteel</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: The Animal</div><div class="ubbcode-body">FYI - I have a few surgeon actions that are completely ion bonded.

No issues with the Ion Bonding being too slippery or your barrel coming loose. Your bolt will operate like it's on roller bearings after a very short period of time.
</div></div>

That last part, about the bolt operating like it's on roller bearings... very interesting! I'll look at Ion Bonding an action really soon. Thanks for the input.</div></div>

That may be part to almost any bolt being worked forward and back a few hundred times get smoother with time, but I've felt other bolts on competitors receivers, that have their action & bolt coated with something else and mine is noticeably smoother with the Ion Bond.