Very nice piece of equipment, but what's the price.
Most average smiths can't afford something like that, a 6 jaw chuck with independent jaws will do just fine. If the bore is not concentric with the outside of the barrel on a custom barrel, I'm sending the barrel back to the manufacturer.
By checking front and rear of a stock barrel and adjusting the spider and chuck, you can get most barrels that are a little out back in, a few shims may be required.
I'll agree, far less stress with this system and it's one heck of a great idea, but is it at all affordable, precise machine work costs money and just a hunk of steel for the main parts costs a lot these days with steel going up daily.
For a smith who does production work or has the money, it's a great solution to a problem as far as stress, but everything else can be handled with a little set up time.
Not trying to give the OP a hard time, it's a beautiful piece of equipment and will help to turn out a perfect job in less time, but how many can afford it ?
I doubt I could of when I was smithing. I always had a back log of work, but a single smith can only make so much money, so it's not something I could have afforded for my work, something I would have loved to have had.
The problem is, most shooters are not willing to pay for top notch work, there are those who will spare no expense, they want the best, but they are very much in the minority, most want something for nothing.
You spend the time to give them a barrel or other work, as precise as you can make it because you care about your work and reputation, but in most cases, people don't want to pay for that kind of work, you do it anyway, but you have to draw the line somewhere as to equipment costs and spend more time, make less money for your time, but unless the volume is there, expensive pieces of equipment are hard to justify and still be able to put food on the table.
A one man operation, as most are today, just have to balance equipment cost vs. return, one man can only do so much. A larger operation could sure take advantage of this, it is a beautiful piece of work.
Just my 2 cents.
My Best, John K
