Hilarious

D

Doc Hoy

New member
Perhaps you all remember that I like to be able to get the nipples out of my revolvers. I take them out every time I shoot the pistols. I know there are some who think this is excessive but it is just my way.

I got hold of an old pistol in which the nipples were all but welded in place. I ruined two nipple wrenches trying to get them out. The nipples are in good shape but as always I just thought it was very important to be able to get them out.

I thought about it for a while and decided that if I had a nipple wrench fitting for an Impact Wrench I might get them loosened up. So I went to Harbor Fright and picked one up for 6.99. Obviously the Impact Wrench did not come with a nipple wrench bit so I had to make one.

In photo 1, I turned down the half inch stock so that it would fit in a 7/16 socket.

In photo 2, the partially completed bit is inserted in the socket.

In photo 3, I am beginning the operations which would complete the nipple bit.
 

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Hilarious part 2

Okay now we are on the way.

The first photo is the milling of the slot that would engage the shoulders of the nipple.

Photo 2 is the opertion which reduced the diameter of the bit so it would no interfere with any part of the cylinder

Photo 3 is the completd bit sitting in the socket.
 

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Hilarious part 3

This photo Shows the bit brazed into the socket and the brazement turned down a bit to make it look nice.

ALL READY TO GO!

I put the cylinder in a vice (Plastic jaws protect the finish)
Put my source of pride on the Impact Wrench
Seated the bit over the first nipple.
Smacked the Impact Wrench with a hammer

And Blooooie....

...with the first and only hammer blow, the newly completed bit splayed out almost into two pieces.

What I had not understood is how soft steel gets when it is raised to a temperature that will melt brass and then not properly heat treated. It was about the hardness of aluminum.

I am glad I can laugh about stuff like this.
 

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I am on my second attempt at building a nipple wrench. None of the stores in my area seem to have them. I don't mind paying $6-$10 but $6-$10 plus shipping and handling is a bit much for such a little tool. So on my first attempt I got out an allen wrench and my dremel and went to town. I was able to get out all six nipples on my two 1858s and got out 5 0f 6 from my very old 1851 before I ran into a really tough one that sprung the wrench.

On my second attempt I used the smallest socket, from a dollar store socket set, That would fit over the end of the nipple, and I got out the dremel again. After I got the opening wide enough, I discovered that the hole down the middle of the socket was not deep enough so I took a drill and drilled it out from the back side. The whole job took about 15 minutes and that cheap socket set cost me $4. I'm pretty happy with it. I suspect it might even hold up to a few taps from an impact wrench.

mail
 
Del,

My impact wrench came with a few extra bits. I will be trying to shape those into the right size.

I am getting rid of the only cylinder I have in which the nipples are tight.

I had it on the eBay but as I learned, they do not permit cylinders to be listed. eBay wheenies are not even certain about their own rules. They are arbitrary, illogical, applied in a haphazard manner and not well publicized.

It is clear to me that the people with the most power at eBay are the low down, good for nothing, crawl in the dirt, commie, pinko, scared crapless, bloodsucker, useless, piece of crap lawyers.
 
It is clear to me that the people with the most power at eBay are the low down, good for nothing, crawl in the dirt, commie, pinko, scared crapless, bloodsucker, useless, piece of crap lawyers.
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You forgot to mention bed wetting. ;)
 
My impact wrench came with a few extra bits. I will be trying to shape those into the right size.
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The bit I used was 5/32 if that helps. I think you could go + or - 1/16.

It is clear to me that the people with the most power at eBay are the low down, good for nothing, crawl in the dirt, commie, pinko, scared crapless, bloodsucker, useless, piece of crap lawyers.
Click to expand...
Dude, I wish you would come out and say what you think.
 
Doc and Clem, thanks for telling us how you really feel about E-Bay. I was banned after being linked to my employer after he stiffed them or did something else that offended them.
Back on topic, I think I need a lathe and a mill. Cheaper than therapy, may even be cheaper than a dog. A basic understanding of metallurgy will be helpful, tho. Thanks for the giggles, Doc.
 
Every time I read one of these lathe threads it really gets my goat that I don't have a room or place for something like that in my citified house on my citified lot!

Good reading and keep at it!

Oly
 
Every time I read one of these lathe threads it really gets my goat that I don't have a room or place for something like that in my citified house on my citified lot!
Click to expand...

You can do it with a Dremel it's just not as pretty.
 
Every time I read one of these lathe threads it really gets my goat that I don't have a room or place for something like that in my citified house on my citified lot!
Click to expand...

Those 7X14 lathes at horrible freight don't take up much room at all, run on 110v. Both the mini lathe and mini mill well handle anything you may encounter on a revolver. Barrel diameter can limit what you do with rifle barrels.



Hey Doc, didn't I send you a DVD on heat treating?:D
 
MCB + 1

I have developed a special relationship with Harbor Freight. Their machines represent an acceptable compromise between quality and price. (I define acceptable as "acceptable to me"). It is probably important to mention that there is a store about eight miles from my door.

I was looking at HF when I bought my 10X22 and wound up with a Grizzly at 400.00 more money (and an inch more lathe) because HF simply could not tell me when they would be getting a lathe in the store. (The deal was only on store stock and not mail ordered stuff.)

I think the jury is still out on whether there is much difference in quality between Chinese machines.

I have the big HF drill press which I love. But I have the biggest Grizzly bench mill which I also love. I haven't used the lathe enough yet to have formed an opinion but so far, I like it.

I have a HF horizontal Band Saw and it works fine. I have a Jet vertical band saw and it is no better than Grizzly or HF for significantly more money. It just looks prettier. (At least it did when it was new.)
 
well doc what you got is a very good idea i think dgw has something along those lines. When i first started to read the post i was hopeing for a sucess but inproper heat treatment wil cause failure. I realy like the idea you had and kudos for your thinking outside the box. I have this problem with my rifle and have looked at a ratchet wrench to do the job.
 
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