Lazarus
26th November 2006, 13:15
Some ideas on tools, plus a little griping...
Plunger tube, a small part that can cause big headaches if not installed right. Let's not get into the bolted on tubes, or brazed on...although that method is sounding better to me for an unfinished gun.
Most of my practicing on this part has been to remove loose factory plunger tubes and replace. In the past I've ground small countersinking areas inside the frame, thinking that the staking tubes would have a better surface to grab onto. The fact that the staking tubes rarely extend all the way through the frame seems to call out for this method. Perhaps not.
Now, the tools. Currently there are 2 tools available for the job. Neither one does the job right, and neither one comes "ready to use". Gunrunners has a screw operated "smasher". The problem is twofold. First, the working point is simply pressed into the steel jaw. It backs out readily on the first try, and requires a good hand with silver solder. Also, the jaw of the tool itself is too large to work on the rear stake. Custom grinding needed.
The other tool is based on the Vice-Grip. The staking point has a shallow angle that won't do much to the stake - more custom grinding needed. The staking jaw also will not work on the rear stake (inside corner of frame) without more custom grinding. I doubt if the Vice grip really has the required force to stake the tube nice and tight.
Custom tool. Apparently once available, but no longer. This one looks alot like the tool used to stake the grip bushings. It is a long narrow bar of steel with a staking point placed about 6" from one end, and fits inside the frame. The other end gets wedged into your vice along with the frame holding fixture. Staking is accomplished by tapping the upper end of the bar, just like the grip bushing operation. This is the best tool, but you will have to make your own.
So here is the opinion section. Is the countersinking operation inside the frame really necessary? Even if the stakes do not reach all the way through the frame?
My opinion is that silver soldering the plunger tube is the way to go on a raw frame. Sure, you might have a job on your hands if it needs to be replaced. But that is a long shot. Most plunger tubes need replacing because they come loose and not because they are crushed.
-Lazarus
Plunger tube, a small part that can cause big headaches if not installed right. Let's not get into the bolted on tubes, or brazed on...although that method is sounding better to me for an unfinished gun.
Most of my practicing on this part has been to remove loose factory plunger tubes and replace. In the past I've ground small countersinking areas inside the frame, thinking that the staking tubes would have a better surface to grab onto. The fact that the staking tubes rarely extend all the way through the frame seems to call out for this method. Perhaps not.
Now, the tools. Currently there are 2 tools available for the job. Neither one does the job right, and neither one comes "ready to use". Gunrunners has a screw operated "smasher". The problem is twofold. First, the working point is simply pressed into the steel jaw. It backs out readily on the first try, and requires a good hand with silver solder. Also, the jaw of the tool itself is too large to work on the rear stake. Custom grinding needed.
The other tool is based on the Vice-Grip. The staking point has a shallow angle that won't do much to the stake - more custom grinding needed. The staking jaw also will not work on the rear stake (inside corner of frame) without more custom grinding. I doubt if the Vice grip really has the required force to stake the tube nice and tight.
Custom tool. Apparently once available, but no longer. This one looks alot like the tool used to stake the grip bushings. It is a long narrow bar of steel with a staking point placed about 6" from one end, and fits inside the frame. The other end gets wedged into your vice along with the frame holding fixture. Staking is accomplished by tapping the upper end of the bar, just like the grip bushing operation. This is the best tool, but you will have to make your own.
So here is the opinion section. Is the countersinking operation inside the frame really necessary? Even if the stakes do not reach all the way through the frame?
My opinion is that silver soldering the plunger tube is the way to go on a raw frame. Sure, you might have a job on your hands if it needs to be replaced. But that is a long shot. Most plunger tubes need replacing because they come loose and not because they are crushed.
-Lazarus