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Re: 1911 Project

Posted: Mon May 25, 2020 4:21 pm
by GlennW
Today's mission was to put the dimple in the slide stop for the plunger using a 1/8" ball end mill and install the plunger tube. Next will be to install the sight rail when it arrives.
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Running out of things to do...

I guess I need to start thinking about the finish. Probably just Black Oxide. Perhaps Black Nitride on either the frame or slide, but more research required.

Re: 1911 Project

Posted: Sun May 31, 2020 12:19 pm
by GlennW
The Jon Eulette rail arrived, so the slide got drilled and tapped to accept it after mapping out the hole locations.
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I lined the rail up with the foreword edge of the ejection port and that made it match nicely with the rear of the slide and back about .050" from the front.
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I put about fifty rounds of 230 LRN through it this morning and it seems to be doing well so far, but still a bit tight. That was done with a heavier main spring and no optic. After disassembly and inspection everything looks real good with the upper and lower barrel lugs.

I'm still not changing anything until I have a bunch more rounds through it and it has a chance for everything to seat in. The barrel bushing is still a bit tight on the barrel, as it doesn't really slide freely, so I may work on that a bit though.

Re: 1911 Project

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2020 4:01 pm
by GlennW
The slide was set up in the vise at seven degrees for the "Marvel Cut".
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Milled the slot with a carbide .010" corner radius end mill, as I don't really care for sharp inside corners.
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The minor cutter marks were cleaned up with a few strokes with a small stone.
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Re: 1911 Project

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 4:36 am
by Harold_V
Nice, Glenn!
What does that slot do? Last time I handled a 1911 was when I was in the National Guard. I was discharged in 1962. :-)

H

Re: 1911 Project

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 7:19 am
by GlennW
It depresses the disconnector smoothly when the slide is closing rather the "clunk" normally felt. Basically smooths out the slide cycling a bit.

Re: 1911 Project

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 4:09 pm
by Harold_V
Thanks! ;-)

Re: 1911 Project

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:18 am
by RSG
Very impressive work Glenn!

Not many could do that level of delicate precision (including me without saying :roll: ). I also admire your "stick-to-it-ive" work habits (if there was ever such a word). Many years ago I started a big project (to big for me at the time) and never finished it, I vowed never to leave a project unfinished again, no matter how much work now, it gets done.

I noticed you installed a rail on top. I just bought a small red dot Vortex sight that I want to install on my shotgun for Turkey hunting and have a Picatinny rail I need to install as well.

Re: 1911 Project

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 4:29 pm
by BadDog
Your work reminds me just how little skill I possess. Beautiful work.

Re: 1911 Project

Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 7:36 am
by GlennW
Thanks for the comments!

Re: 1911 Project

Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2020 8:39 pm
by GlennW
Well, I managed to launch the recoil spring cap...

It ricocheted around the shop a few times and then disappeared, so I punished myself by making a new one. 304 Stainless
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It will turn up at some point and then I will have a spare!

Re: 1911 Project

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 12:53 am
by Harold_V
It won't be as pretty as the new one. From the description of the launch, I strongly suspect it's going to be well dinged.
Nice looking replacement! You sure do pretty work, Glenn.

H

Re: 1911 Project

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2020 4:55 pm
by GlennW
Finally had some time to tinker.

Plugged the lathe spindle and turned the plug to just slide into the barrel.
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Took a boring bar holder and indicated parallel to the Z axis and plugged it with round bar. Then indicated the round bar in so that it was concentric with the spindle bore and drilled and reamed it to size to accept a floating reamer holder. At this point I could have just sized it to the chamber and rigid reamed it, but whatever…
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The barrel was then slid onto the aluminum plug and then the four jaw chuck was installed over it.
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At this point a single wrap of soft aluminum wire was wrapped around the chamber so that the only contact the chuck jaws would have would be the wire so that the jaw surfaces would not influence the barrel alignment.
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