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Yandersen

Thu Feb 07 2013, 02:16AM

Registered Member #6944 Joined: Fri Sept 28 2012, 04:54PM
Location: Canada
Posts: 340

Let's share our experience of bullet manufacturing - from a material to the equipment involved in the process. What we use to make a projectile out from and how we shape it into a bullet for our high-end electromagnetic mass accelerators?

I use an iron rods as raw material - it's a welding rods one can buy at Home Depot or Canadian Tire. At the beginning I was just cutting pieces of desired length, making cylindrical bullets with flat front side. Now, as I'm going to higher speed I need a better shape. Rounded tip also required for reloading mechanism as bullet has to go from clip into barrel and not jamm. Using a file on a small piece of rod rotating in a drill I was able to come close to the desired shape:

Howhether, dimensions come to be pretty random, file got flat, noise level was horrible - I'm afraid my neighbours were about to call the police...
So I'm looking for a small metalworking lathe machine under $500 which will simplify my life on bullet making - does anybody know where I can buy one?

Maxwell

Thu Feb 07 2013, 03:50AM

Registered Member #8497 Joined: Tue Dec 04 2012, 06:24PM
Location:
Posts: 74

Yandersen wrote ...

So I'm looking for a small metalworking lathe machine under $500 which will simplify my life on bullet making - does anybody know where I can buy one?

I found my local university's machine shop clears out 'antique' equipment bi-yearly. Craigslist is a good option (If they even have that in Canadia ;) )

Otherwise - a simple wood lathe would work for these purposes.

For mine, I put the stock in a rotating drill and press the tip against a rotating grinding wheel to obtain rough desired shape... then mount the drill in a vice and use a file then sand paper.

Yandersen

Thu Feb 07 2013, 04:02AM

Registered Member #6944 Joined: Fri Sept 28 2012, 04:54PM
Location: Canada
Posts: 340

Well, for the lathing option, here is what I found so far:

Still it is over $700 which is a too much...
And:

Not too much less though...
Here is the price I'm looking for, but I'm unsure if this one can do the job:

Very close in price and size, but not for canada, unfortunately - maybe anyone in US wants:

Turkey9

Thu Feb 07 2013, 08:20AM

Registered Member #1451 Joined: Wed Apr 23 2008, 03:48AM
Location: Boulder, Co
Posts: 661

I have the last one you linked to. I've done a fair bit of machining with it including cutting threads. I don't think a beginner could get .001" tollerances but .005" is doable. Anyway, for what you need it for it will more than suffice. I got mine off of harbor freight, do Canadians have access to them?

Yandersen

Thu Feb 07 2013, 11:34AM

Registered Member #6944 Joined: Fri Sept 28 2012, 04:54PM
Location: Canada
Posts: 340

No, and they do not ship to Canada either. Pretty sad...

Ash Small

Thu Feb 07 2013, 04:22PM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

It's not easy to machine a rounded end with a lathe, unless it is CNC.

I hold an angle grinder in one hand, and the workpiece in the other, and get excellent results.

You can also hold or clamp the grinder to the bench, which is even easier.

You just 'twist' the workpiece in your fingers.

Yandersen

Thu Feb 07 2013, 10:00PM

Registered Member #6944 Joined: Fri Sept 28 2012, 04:54PM
Location: Canada
Posts: 340

Oh, and how about that then:

ZakWolf

Thu Feb 07 2013, 10:42PM

Registered Member #3114 Joined: Sat Aug 14 2010, 08:33AM
Location:
Posts: 608

I use a cordless drill and a bench grinder to get the rough shape. The drill holds the projectile and as it spins it makes everything even and i just grind away. Then i use a drill press and a file+sand paper. Bench grinders are like 80$us

Yandersen

Thu Feb 07 2013, 11:51PM

Registered Member #6944 Joined: Fri Sept 28 2012, 04:54PM
Location: Canada
Posts: 340

So, bench grinder and a drill is a pretty common technique, I see (well, considering $700 option - no doubt it is).
But how long would it take to make a dozen of projectiles all of equal dimensions? And btw, if bench grinder will be used inside a regular appartment in a block building - is the noise level acceptable to not cause problems with neighbours?

Ash Small

Thu Feb 07 2013, 11:58PM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

Another option is to mount a grinding wheel in an electric drill, and clamp it in a vice (vise), or whatever, then turn the 'bullet' between your fingers.

I wouldn't do any of these in an apartment block at night, though.

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