Gunsmithing Need help setting up and operating a barrel vise.

[bm11]

Ok- so I have a new barrel on order for my AW. The new barrel is a 20" fluted barrel of a heavier contour than the current 26" barrel. I bought this vise here: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=350470 from another board member for a decent price. Overkill I am sure for a non-gunsmith hack like me, but the price was right and it looks like a quality piece of equipment for my barrel changing needs.

In any case, I am familiar with the basic operation of a vise. I need to know more details though on how to set it up so as to now mar the finish of the barrel. I know to wrap the barrel in a piece of paper, and I believe that I will need to use lead shims to fit the barrel inside of the vise, yes? I would like any advice that could be given, and I would appreciate it. Also- it looks like it may be possible to over torque a barrel in this vise, so any advice in that department would be appreciated.I know that undertorqueing will have negative repercussions on the finish, so I can't just start low and work up.

Thanks,

-Bob

 

[Jkob]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

If you are familiar with the operation of a "VICE" surely you must know you will need girls or at least pretty boys.

 

[MinorDamage]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

Use a couple pieces of leather instead of the paper to line the contact points. Rosin is a must to keep the barrel from slipping.

Josh

 

[bm11]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MinorDamage</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Use a couple pieces of leather instead of the paper to line the contact points. Rosin is a must to keep the barrel from slipping.

Josh </div></div>Rather than lead?

 

[MinorDamage]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

What I mean is you can use thin leather strips to wrap the barrel instead of the paper. Put the rosin on the inside of each strip and torque it down. the lead inserts will probably do the trick, but if they are not perfectly contoured to the barrel you will desire something else.

Josh

 

[bm11]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

Thank you Josh. Will I need additional shims to get the diameter of the vise contact surface down to the outside diameter of the barrel? The barrel should be about .8"-.9", and the vise is 1.2".

 

[MinorDamage]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

Check it when the new barrel gets there. Just be prudent about your setup and you should be good to go. Youtube "Barrel change/swap" or something of the like. I know there is at least one video out there.

Josh

 

[pappy42]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

Good advice that you have received so far. For sure the rosen.

If you are removing a barrel from an action; you most likely should use an action wrench to prevent springing the action.

If you mating a precision machined barrel to a quality machined action; you probably would'nt need either a barrel vice or action wrench. The better quality smiths just screw them in by hand two or three times and at the end of that process it requires a barrel vice and action wrench to remove the barrel.

 

[bm11]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Pappy42</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Good advice that you have received so far. For sure the rosen.

If you are removing a barrel from an action; you most likely should use an action wrench to prevent springing the action.

If you mating a precision machined barrel to a quality machined action; you probably would'nt need either a barrel vice or action wrench. The better quality smiths just screw them in by hand two or three times and at the end of that process it requires a barrel vice and action wrench to remove the barrel. </div></div>Yes I will be using an action wrench.

 

[border_reiver]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

grip the barrel as close to the action as you can get, I used to use emery tape, the backside holds a little dust and gives gription.

 

[bm11]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

This is my vise, it just came in today:

The split clamping block is 1.25 inch aluminum, and it can be replaced. Should I get some wood blocks that they sell, to more closely match the profile of my two barrels?

Thanks,

-Bob

 

[pappy42]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bm11</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is my vice, it just came in today:

The split clamping block is 1.25 inch aluminum, and it can be replaced. Should I get some wood blocks that they sell, to more closely match the profile of my two barrels?

Thanks,

-Bob </div></div>

If you have some good clear (no knots) hardwood, you can drill appropriate size holes and then split with a fine tooth saw. A lot cheaper.

 

[bm11]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

Yeah, I don't. I would rather buy some actually. I know midway sells them, and I think they would fit this vise.

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

hey bm. they sell some nice ones at SSS. nice hardwood with a hole. a machine shop can open those up or lead strips will fill the difference. try a hobby shop in the stained glass area.

 

[bm11]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

Thanks Axe.

For all the spelling Nazi's, I went back and altered "vice" to "vise."

 

[Jkob]

Re: Need help setting up and operating a barrel vice.

Congrats, maybe you learned something here.