Another Neck Expander

Gary

SE Kansas
Cut another neck expander for my 7.62 x 39 and 308. I wanted to load Lead bullets (311008 and others) for varmints, ect. This Die is .313 to allow for powder coated bullets. Fun project and only took 45 min (I'm a newbie to the metal lathe) to complete.312~ Neck Expander2.jpg312~ Neck Expander.jpg
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Looks nice. What material?
I would use some emery and oil to polish while still on the lathe. Make sure to wipe the ways clean after, don't need abrasive all over.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
we had all kinds of shops.
my senior year was wrestling 1st period, 4 auto shops, and an English class.
 

Gary

SE Kansas
I used some 600 grit wet/dry to smooth it out and a liberal dose of WD40 on the ways afterwards. I've been using Tap Magic for a cutting oil and lube for the ways. Probably should get some regular Way oil.
Used the Die on some 308 brass and it works just great. Now to case some more 311008's.
 

Gary

SE Kansas
Brad; I don't know for sure the grade of steel, but I got it from a local machine shop that makes lots of oil field parts and Ag parts. Machines fairly nice (once I got the Gibs adjusted on the cross slide).
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Looks good, Gary!
It sure is nice to just be able to make stuff.

I had a really nice backpacking tent that, sadly, came with really poor quality
fiberglass poles. The poles need to bend, and the rear, smaller hoop was too small
a radius for the poles they sent. Popped on the second or third use. Another tent
has .340 diam aluminum poles, very light, very strong, more flexible. I found a supplier
online for the pole segments but this tent is rigged with male pole alignment pins attached
at the corners. Need female sockets in the end of the poles, with a hole to hold the small
bungee cord that holds it together. No aluminum ends of the correct type available.

No sweat, I have a lathe. Turned out four pretty quickly, assembled the poles, and it works
great, and IT IS LIGHTER! This is important for hauling on your back into the mountains.

Reloading equipment, camping equipment, gun parts, whatever - very nice to be able to make
what you need!

Bill
 

Ian

Notorious member
I turned some black cherrywood beads for a teething necklace the other day on my mini-lathe. It made a mess but hey, no cutting oil required so I covered the ways with shop towels and had at it.
 

Intheshop

Banned
Kevin,that there is a bonafied Pratt&Whitney "sensitive drill". Think,tiny drills up to say .250"..... also think,the highest level of accuracy from a,"money's no object" standpoint. Google Moore jig borer..... and Moore precision in general.Moore's "daddy" is Pratt$Whitney.... from a who's who standpoint.The bearings in this cost more than whole chicom drill press goes for?

Precision and size..... had a big old craftsman DP (drill press) in the loading room for years.Gave it along with tooling to #3 son.What drilling ops that get done in loading room is more inline with the P&W. I like to keep equipment somewhat separated.Machine shop..... cabinet shop....handloading...etc. Wasn't using the P&W in the MS for years,the Cman DP was too big so,voila. BTW,got it for free.... well it was a "tip" for doing some CI(cast iron) Tig brazing on a fellows broken lathe.The only thing wrong with it was a sheared 1/16" roll pin that holds the spur gear on in the spindle feed assembly.Nobody knew what they were 15-20 years ago..... before inturdnet. My jaw hit the floor when he dug it out,knowing EXACTLY what it was,haha.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I love those little lights they are perfect for looking inside brass for 2 flash holes.
 

Intheshop

Banned
Backlighting is pretty durn handy using radius gages checking progress on nose bumpage...... maybe not as fast as a full blown optical comparator but,pretty quick. Just have to play with the light location.