Harry Bonar
New member
Shooters:
I hadn't broken a 6X48 tap for 35 years - but that record ended today!
SS. Ruger 22-45 undid me.
A respected shooter/guntinkerer brought it to me because he'd broken 5 drill bits trying to get a hole - no hole but one chewed out! The holes were out of line and after center-punching I drilled with a 39 drill and reamed with the 31. Then tapped the front hole - no trouble! Tap broke on second hole.
So, I drilled and counterbored for new screw location and everything worked out well. (He brought it to me "glued" on with RTV).
Getting to the cause; Ruger SS. WAS very hard! but my tap which I'd used several times just "crumbled." I'm throwing out my used taps - I think metal-fatigue did the job.
Be careful of this new Ruger SS - it's HARD! I had to re-grind the drills several times and of course used the best drilling, milling and machining oil that I mix myself.
Thought this might help.
Harry B.
I hadn't broken a 6X48 tap for 35 years - but that record ended today!
SS. Ruger 22-45 undid me.
A respected shooter/guntinkerer brought it to me because he'd broken 5 drill bits trying to get a hole - no hole but one chewed out! The holes were out of line and after center-punching I drilled with a 39 drill and reamed with the 31. Then tapped the front hole - no trouble! Tap broke on second hole.
So, I drilled and counterbored for new screw location and everything worked out well. (He brought it to me "glued" on with RTV).
Getting to the cause; Ruger SS. WAS very hard! but my tap which I'd used several times just "crumbled." I'm throwing out my used taps - I think metal-fatigue did the job.
Be careful of this new Ruger SS - it's HARD! I had to re-grind the drills several times and of course used the best drilling, milling and machining oil that I mix myself.
Thought this might help.
Harry B.