Homemade Lathe

[slamfire51]

I made this lathe a few years ago and use it when $$ is tight and can't afford to have machine work done.

It's made from 1/4" drill rod welded to a pedestal. It will accommodate most all pistol barrel lengths. The pedestal is screwed to the work bench, and the other end is secured in a vise.
A brass bushing is used and tapered to the caliber diameter at the muzzle, and a cut off brass case AK rd. is used to secure the chamber.

To turn the barrel and remove material, a Dremel w/ a 1/2" sanding drum is used.

This process takes about 1-1/2 hours to complete turning the barrel. When done the
diameter is within .002". I just finished up a 5-1/2" barrel. Gas port is drilled, now to drill the gas block pins and thread the muzzle.

Here are some picks of my high-tech lathe.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c80/Canis-latrans/lathe.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c80/Canis-latrans/turned.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c80/Canis-latrans/turned2.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c80/Canis-latrans/turned3.jpg

[Schuetzenman]

Wow that's impressive. Just shows there really is more than one way to skin a cat.

[deth502]

wow, excellent!

:thumbsup:

[AKTexas]

Looks good!

[Tx Dogblaster]

I see a new guide rod pistol build coming!!!

[awp101]

First off, I'm impressed! Now, I'm a machining idiot so I'm easily impressed anyway when someone builds their own stuff.:bigsmilebounce:

Now for the machining idiot questions:



To turn the barrel and remove material, a Dremel w/ a 1/2" sanding drum is used.
The Dremel is used to turn the barrel AND remove the material? Or is the Dremel just to turn it and another tool is used to actually remove the material?



http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c80/Canis-latrans/lathe.jpg

Are you turning the barrel with the gas block in place? If I'm understanding the way you're doing this, it seems like the gas block spinning around has the potential to create problems if things get out of balance.

Remember, I'm a machining idiot...:lool:

[slamfire51]

First off, I'm impressed! Now, I'm a machining idiot so I'm easily impressed anyway when someone builds their own stuff.:bigsmilebounce:

Now for the machining idiot questions:


The Dremel is used to turn the barrel AND remove the material? Or is the Dremel just to turn it and another tool is used to actually remove the material?



Are you turning the barrel with the gas block in place? If I'm understanding the way you're doing this, it seems like the gas block spinning around has the potential to create problems if things get out of balance.

Remember, I'm a machining idiot...:lool:

Thanks guys.
Needs are the Mother of doing with almost nothing.

#1 The Dremel is 2 tools in 1. Does both.

#2 No, the barrel is stripped.
I have turned down 2 barrels with the rear sight block in place (they were impossible to remove) and the results were NO different. As long as both the vise and pedestal are secured solid, there's no wobble.

[awp101]

Any chance we can get a pic of the whole set up in operation? I'm just having a hard time getting my head around how it all works...:crazy:

[slamfire51]

Hopefully this will explain it.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c80/Canis-latrans/lathejpg3.jpg

[blobman]

i think wp101 is wondering whats spinning the barrel?(I KNOW I AM?)

[slamfire51]

i think wp101 is wondering whats spinning the barrel?(I KNOW I AM?)

The friction of the Dremel on the steel keeps the barrel turning.

[awp101]

OK, so the vise is simply holding the other end up to keep it level and the friction is helping spin the barrel.

Other than keeping it moving and "frequent measuring", do you have a method to keep the object from getting out of round?

[slamfire51]

OK, so the vise is simply holding the other end up to keep it level and the friction is helping spin the barrel.

Other than keeping it moving and "frequent measuring", do you have a method to keep the object from getting out of round?

I measure where the gasblock and threads will be located, then take a Dremel cut-off disc and scribe (cut) a circle around the barrel to the depth of the approx. amount of metal that needs to be removed. This gives an indication of how much you have removed.

When setting up the lathe, it is important to have a pretty close fit between the rod, bushing and shell casing.

If you keep pressure on the barrel with the drum, it will be round within 1 or 2 thousandths. Move the drum side to side as the barrel spins.

I've never had a barrel out of round more than what was mentioned.

[awp101]

Ah, got it!:thumbsup:

[Toxic]

And here I was searching the yellow pages for a machine shop. Excellent work slamfire. :)

[slamfire51]

And here I was searching the yellow pages for a machine shop. Excellent work slamfire. :)

Toxic!!!
Great to see ya back!
How are you and the family?

Stick around and enjoy.

[a-kmanator]

That's fuckin Slamtastic!:thumbspbig: