Little project I’ve been working on!

[skeetlee]

I needed a way to dial a Remington bolt in on two spots before I machined the surfaces. All other jigs and set ups just didn’t satisfy me. I got to thinking what I could do with what I had and not wrap up two weeks worth of time. Well here is what I came up with. I used my steady rest that I never use otherwise. I machined a few parts the best I could, and I purchased a high precision bearing.
The housing I machined out of a piece of stainless I had here. The cat head part of the set up is just regular steel but it’s thick walled and it supports the jacking bolts well.
now I can easily indicate in front of the bolt handle and just behind the lugs before I machine. Works pretty slick.
I will say that this isn’t the easiest set up to indicate true. Using points and sets, all 60 degree . the three post on the steady rest are tricky to make the bearing run true. Four post would have been much nicer lol ! This is Very doable but tricky none the less. Now that I am all set up I’ll never remove my jig. Repeatability should prove to be very close I hope while taking the rest on and off my machine. Time will tell! If you have any questions just ask, I’d be glad to help out. Lee

 

[skeetlee]

Here is another picture

sorry about the last picture. That my long range 22 in case anyone was wondering. Lol

 

[skeetlee]

I would like to purchase a nice HSS face cutting tool if any of you old tool grinders care to help me out. I’ve never really been shown much about grinding bits and angles and such. I’d really like to have a good tool
I purchased one from ptg and it’s ok but it’s not perfect by any means. The angles on the tool are not correct in all areas. I don’t feel anyway

 

[JasonT]

Super cool design - I think the ability to zero everything independently is great for home shop/super precision versatility. If you don’t want to spend a bunch on dedicated bolt fixtures, this looks like a really good option.

I admit that I rarely use my steady rest either, especially since I’m gifted with a 1.5” spindle bore.

 

[skeetlee]

jason
if i thought one of those other bolt fixtures was the better tool, id buy or make one in a heart beat. actually i have made a few though the years. i was never satisfied with them. i strongly believe you need to dial a bolt in at two locations.. in front of the bolt handle and just behind the lugs. i haven't seen any other jig or method that allows this to happen. I have big lathes and little lathes so i probably wont use this for much else. I did have a contender barrel in the shop once that i couldn't help the guy with. he wanted the barrel cut down to 16.5 inches and recrowned with the big block action hinge on the back of the barrel, i couldnt get it in my machine far enough. with this set up that job wont be an issue.. so yes this will prove to have many uses. my main goal for now was/is bolts!

 

[WSnyder]

I've done something very similar but not for bolts. We used a spherical bearing so it self centers in the axial direction. That might have helped eliminate some of your tricky alignment issues in the beginning. I've also seen many steady fixtures with flange bearings and pillow block bearings for all sorts of steady rest setups.

 

[AccelR8]

Nice. I like it. I've been kicking around similar ideas for a couple of years now, but have never managed to get a round tuit. Maybe this winter...

 

[hoz53]

Here is another picture View attachment 1196196View attachment 1196197

sorry about the last picture. That my long range 22 in case anyone was wondering. Lol

Thank You for sharing that. I never use my steady rests either

 

[WayneShaw]

Lee, how long did it take you to clean your lathe before taking the pictures?

 

[skeetlee]

Wayne. How would you have ever guessed a thing like that? Lol. Actually I do keep a pretty tight ship n I’m messy by nature so I work double hard keeping my work area clean!

 

[skeetlee]

Do they make extra high precision spherical bearings? I’d guess they do. I do like the thought! Lee

 

[Stan Taylor]

Thank You for sharing that. I never use my steady rests either

I use my steady rest religiously.

 

[ridgeway]

I use my steady rest religiously.View attachment 1196293

Looks like you need to clean that chip pan out once in awhile, lol. That's alot of stubs...

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Very nice work lee. I have the bolt/barrel fixtures and they aint worth much. This would work well with a short barrel if you think about it

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Looks like you need to clean that chip pan out once in awhile, lol. That's alot of stubs...

Keep em out of the pan!!

 

[Stan Taylor]

Looks like you need to clean that chip pan out once in awhile, lol. That's alot of stubs...

We did last Friday. LOL

 

[Stan Taylor]

I would like to purchase a nice HSS face cutting tool if any of you old tool grinders care to help me out. I’ve never really been shown much about grinding bits and angles and such. I’d really like to have a good tool
I purchased one from ptg and it’s ok but it’s not perfect by any means. The angles on the tool are not correct in all areas. I don’t feel anyway

If you could p.m. me some pics I would be more than glad to make a specialty tool out of 1/4 or 5/16ths.Hss an let me know what the purpose of the tool example tool shown is for getting in the corner of a bolt face an facing off the face.
This one is 1/4 inch diameter.

 

[skeetlee]

stan
i will send you a pm basically i need a tool that will cut a remington bolt face without hitting the extractor a hook so to speak. Lee

 

[epc308]

I made a similar setup for my steady rest a few years back. I agree, getting it to run true in all planes with the 60 degree spacing of adjustment was the toughest part.

 

[Stan Taylor]

I went an started grinding you one out of 5/16 th tool steel let me know where it needs more relief or more hook. hook.
Well I'm getting there on final finish on a tool to get in the corner for ya.