Welding info needed (update 12/25)

[Walt Krafft]

A man has to know his limitations. Find a good welder. That will be a simple job that won't cost much.

 

[Fast14riot]

I also wouldn't learn anything either. I plan on cutting it long enough to have room to cut behind it if it needs proper professional attention after I attempt it.

 

[Riesel]

You would think, but he wouldn't give me the time of day once I told him it was a 788 bolt.

YUP

 

[butchlambert]

A man has to know his limitations. Find a good welder. That will be a simple job that won't cost much.

Guys, no one better than Dan Armstrong! accu-tig.com

 

[Fast14riot]

Guys, no one better than Dan Armstrong! accu-tig.com

He was my first contact. Once he heard 788, he never responded to me again.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

The reason I asked the question is because he sounds like a novice welder. Some welders have duty cycles, as low as 20%. Which is 2 minutes in real time if the welder is a brand name. I understand the size of the bolt handle. If someone who doesn't weld a lot might not understand AMP drop if they keep trying to run a continuous bead.

That’s interesting, I did not know this.

 

[butchlambert]

He was my first contact. Once he heard 788, he never responded to me again.

Well Dan is pretty strong in his beliefs. Over the years he has done around 20+ for me. I can't offer anything to you except I have had a good relationship with him and his work is very top notch and he turns them very quickly.

 

[Fast14riot]

Well, I guess a year and a half of "getting roundtuit" is enough. Bit of cabin fever and just a bit burnt out on loading, so decided to just jump in and tackle this thing.

I cut it at about 1/2 away from the body, straightened out the piece I cut off. Made my angle I wanted for the handle and proceeded to fail at my first pass with trying to weld it, lol! Once I got the settings figured out on the machine (which doesn't have numbered scales for voltage or feed, just tick marks) I recut some deep grooves to eliminate the pores and laid down much better passes. I did just kind of long tacks until the wet rag began to sizzle and then let it cool a few minutes. Bolt body never got too hot to touch. I'll post a couple more pics in the next post.

 

[Fast14riot]

Here is the bolt shaped and a first quick pass at 240 grit to find any rough file marks and the second time welding which went much better and had proper penetration. The sweep angle matches factory 788 bolt, now I just need to thread it for the knob and then more sanding and blue it.

 

[ELR LVR]

Not bad man, i just caught this thread today, The end result looks fabulous
I was a certified structural welder for many years
One thing about using gasless fluxed MIG wire is, it is usually only rated for 1 pass
making multiple passes with flux core made for small MIG welders makes the weld more brittle and compromises strength
MIG results in a quick heat, quick quench process
---
Anyone remember when that bay area overpass collapsed (Cypress structure) on a bunch of people and cars underneath?
That was from using the incorrect rated gasless flux core and/or
making multiple passes on the rebar
I was working for a Structural shop at the time when we were all given a harsh warning over what we use out in the field
especially if its a hurry to wrap up a job, which is when a lot of short cuts get taken nobody knows about.
The boss did not want this kind of thing happening to us since we did a lot of multi story buildings and hospitals etc
(I would suggest post heat to relieve stresses but, the rear lugs is a critical area so maybe not)
Just try it out as it is, if it breaks no big deal, have it Tig welded next if it does.
Something like that will likely not receive a whole lot of pounding anyway

 

[Fast14riot]

Thanks! I was feeling a bit defeated after that first pass with what my grandfather called "chicken shit welds" (like the pile under the perch) but then double checked the machine and I had the voltage about 50%. Cranked it all the way up and upped the wire feed to about 40% and all of a sudden it could make a puddle. Cool feature of this welder, it has a slow start wire feed so you don't get a ton of push back while establishing the puddle.

Will get this threaded in the next few days, had to order another thread die since my 5/16-24 has gone MIA. Good time to finish smoothing it out and getting it ready for blue. Then to finish converting the 700 stock to fit this 788. I try to keep several gun projects going so I don't get too burned out with just my match shooting. At least that's what I tell myself the reason is, lol!

 

[AlNyhus]

Good job! -Al

 

[Fast14riot]

Got it cut to length, went with a length close to a Panda bolt. I wanted a little extra length for possibly gloved hands and a more deliberate bolt throw since its only a 60° throw. Threaded so I can put whatever knob I want on there, but had these smooth tear drop ones in stock.

I'm pretty happy with the final product. Will get it cleaned up and blued soon. New FP spring on order as well as magazine parts, then to finish the stock.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Dont be surprised if bluing it makes it look worse. The dis-similar base and weld metals will blue differently. Looks good to me as is.

 

[ble16]

practice on some scrap round stock same diameter till you get the right settings and v out

 

[Fast14riot]

Dont be surprised if bluing it makes it look worse. The dis-similar base and weld metals will blue differently. Looks good to me as is.

Yep, I'm expecting it. Cerakote is my second option. Need some sort of rust protection.

 

[Fast14riot]

Good job! -Al

Coming from you Al, that means a lot, thank you. Same to everyone else who gave me solid advice. I know the (second time) weld will hold just fine and I'm happy with the outcome for a hunting rifle I bought unfinished from my shooting partner/gunsmith for cheap and being able to keep it cheap. He knows I like the 788s!

On a related note, Dave Kiff at Pacific Grinding & machining has new manufactured 788 bolts on his site and has said they will be making new 788 actions again, soon. Might just pick one of those up.