User Panel
Posted: 8/31/2024 4:13:33 PM EDT
[Last Edit: bionicmonkey]
Ended up with s7 in 1/2" bar and O1 in 3/8 round due to availability. Shouldnt make a lot of difference except in the quenching.
Attached File S7 bar - rough cut to a little over 1/2x1/2. First up some milling operations to reduce to actually 1/2 by 1/2 then take the height down to 3/8. Attached File You can see here how a printed lever compares to the shaped end Attached File Next up shaping operations begin Attached File This stuff is hard on the mini mill for sure - about the same as stainless in that regard. |
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[#1]
Correct me if I'm wrong, but judging by the lever on the last photo, is it a, let's say, super safe selector?
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[Last Edit: bionicmonkey]
[#2]
Yeah. A safety selector ;)
Attached File Milling complete, coming off the bar Attached File Compararive to printed. Needs some smoothing but generally complete My design here is deliberately a bit straighter for easier milling. Next up - the selector itself |
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[#3]
Very nice. I have a couple machined from tool steel. They're fun 😬
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[Last Edit: bionicmonkey]
[#4]
Attached File
Milling the selector requires a different setup. Have some O1 tool steel here ready to go Attached File Cutting begins |
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[#5]
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[#6]
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[#7]
This ain't your daddy's safety selector. It's one of those special ones. It's one of those that isn't just safe it's super safe!
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[Last Edit: bionicmonkey]
[#8]
Attached File
The all imporant small diag cuts to make the channel shape. I found these 2mm mills with 4mm shaft which fit in a 5/32 collet just fine. Time for the 3 slots of the trigger bar Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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[Last Edit: bionicmonkey]
[#9]
Attached File
Penultimate cut then shunt left and finish it. Attached File Attached File Need some minor finish work and fitment testing and then the fun part with heat treatment. |
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[#10]
How are you planning on heat treating this?
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[Last Edit: bionicmonkey]
[#11]
Originally Posted By brownbomber: How are you planning on heat treating this? View Quote propane torch. e.g. like this guy https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=heat+treat+o1+steel+blowtorch&&mid=8F359EBFECCB81D4E98D8F359EBFECCB81D4E98D&&FORM=VRDGAR then I have some caswell black oxide and sealer once its tempered (400 in the toaster oven should be ok for both the s7 and o1) |
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[#12]
Originally Posted By bionicmonkey: propane torch. e.g. like this guy https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=heat+treat+o1+steel+blowtorch&&mid=8F359EBFECCB81D4E98D8F359EBFECCB81D4E98D&&FORM=VRDGAR then I have some caswell black oxide and sealer once its tempered (400 in the toaster oven should be ok for both the s7 and o1) View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By bionicmonkey: Originally Posted By brownbomber: How are you planning on heat treating this? propane torch. e.g. like this guy https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=heat+treat+o1+steel+blowtorch&&mid=8F359EBFECCB81D4E98D8F359EBFECCB81D4E98D&&FORM=VRDGAR then I have some caswell black oxide and sealer once its tempered (400 in the toaster oven should be ok for both the s7 and o1) I wouldn't recommend heat treating anything other than a simple carbon steel with a torch. Alloy steels and tool steels have alloy carbides that take a significant amount of time to fully dissolve (like 15 minutes for those small parts), and they are also prone to cracking when heated rapidly. Rapid heating also pushes up the AC3 temperature. S7 also decarburizes easily in air, due to the high silicon content. |
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[Last Edit: bionicmonkey]
[#13]
Attached File
All cleaned up...and as nice as it looks - willing to lose it for science since this isnt any harder than my prior 316 stainless builds until hardened, and i dont have a more controlled device (eg kiln) ETA - will admit, im a lot less concerned about the O1 than the S7. not sure how good my treatment will be, but the temper will be good and i just want to be ON the rockwell C chart. |
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[#14]
Forgive me for asking.....what firearm is this safety for ??
I'm just having a hard time envisioning it fitting into an AR lower. . |
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Occid Vel Occisus Est !!
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[Last Edit: bionicmonkey]
[#15]
Originally Posted By IdahoPCCinc: Forgive me for asking.....what firearm is this safety for ?? I'm just having a hard time envisioning it fitting into an AR lower. . View Quote Not sure if serious Attached File google up hoffman super safety. its a cross-bolt safety rather than a selector style. |
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[#16]
Originally Posted By bionicmonkey: Not sure if serious https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/56039/1000003576_jpg-3310304.JPG google up hoffman super safety. its a cross-bolt safety rather than a selector style. View Quote Thanks....now I feel dumb. I was stuck trying to figure it out as a lever, and how it would work in a lower. But in my own defense....I've never dealt with any of the cross bolt safeties on a AR lower. Nice job on the fab work. . |
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Occid Vel Occisus Est !!
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[#17]
just got to my shop to work on mine, pull the upper off and see a MBT
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[Last Edit: bionicmonkey]
[#18]
Originally Posted By jm0502: just got to my shop to work on mine, pull the upper off and see a MBT View Quote Yeah.. mbt is my next project. Heres the milling fixture i setup, was all ready to go when i heard GMR refunded their mbts due to a problem- waiting to see what their problem is and if its relevant to what i was going to do. I have the gel caswell black oxide and sealer so i can both seal my safety and also refinish the cut in the mbt. It will be interesting to see if the mbt was hardened and if so to what level tho... Attached File |
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[#19]
Originally Posted By bionicmonkey: Yeah.. mbt is my next project. Heres the milling fixture i setup, was all ready to go when i heard GMR refunded their mbts due to a problem- waiting to see what their problem is and if its relevant to what i was going to do. I have the gel caswell black oxide and sealer so i can both seal my safety and also refinish the cut in the mbt. It will be interesting to see if the mbt was hardened and if so to what level tho... https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/56039/1000003529_jpg-3310662.JPG View Quote I was just talking to him the other day and he has fixed the problem, but I don’t remember exactly what it was. I’m impressed with your ability to make that, I know I would spend exponentially more in labor and supplies than just buying one…or the many I already have! |
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[Last Edit: jm0502]
[#20]
Originally Posted By bionicmonkey: Yeah.. mbt is my next project. Heres the milling fixture i setup, was all ready to go when i heard GMR refunded their mbts due to a problem- waiting to see what their problem is and if its relevant to what i was going to do. I have the gel caswell black oxide and sealer so i can both seal my safety and also refinish the cut in the mbt. It will be interesting to see if the mbt was hardened and if so to what level tho... https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/56039/1000003529_jpg-3310662.JPG View Quote What needs to be milled on it? |
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[#21]
Originally Posted By NoImpactNoIdea: I was just talking to him the other day and he has fixed the problem, but I don’t remember exactly what it was. I’m impressed with your ability to make that, I know I would spend exponentially more in labor and supplies than just buying one…or the many I already have! View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By NoImpactNoIdea: Originally Posted By bionicmonkey: Yeah.. mbt is my next project. Heres the milling fixture i setup, was all ready to go when i heard GMR refunded their mbts due to a problem- waiting to see what their problem is and if its relevant to what i was going to do. I have the gel caswell black oxide and sealer so i can both seal my safety and also refinish the cut in the mbt. It will be interesting to see if the mbt was hardened and if so to what level tho... https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/56039/1000003529_jpg-3310662.JPG I was just talking to him the other day and he has fixed the problem, but I don’t remember exactly what it was. I’m impressed with your ability to make that, I know I would spend exponentially more in labor and supplies than just buying one…or the many I already have! yeah, i'm hoping he posts a pic at some point - curious if it was just how he cut the MBT's or something intrinsic about the MBT that didnt like being super safe or what. and yes, I could have bought 3 or 4 already with the money i've spent on milling thingamabobs - more of a learning experience than anything else. no way would anyone do this in quantity on a manual mill |
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[#22]
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[#23]
Originally Posted By bionicmonkey: yeah, i'm hoping he posts a pic at some point - curious if it was just how he cut the MBT's or something intrinsic about the MBT that didnt like being super safe or what. and yes, I could have bought 3 or 4 already with the money i've spent on milling thingamabobs - more of a learning experience than anything else. no way would anyone do this in quantity on a manual mill View Quote I have a Y axis lathe and this would still be difficult to make on it. |
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[#24]
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[Last Edit: bionicmonkey]
[#25]
well now, that's one way to solve that problem looks really nice!
is there a small ramp somewhere for safe or is it super safe all the time? |
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[#26]
Originally Posted By bionicmonkey: well now, that's one way to solve that problem looks really nice! is there a small ramp somewhere for safe or is it super safe all the time? View Quote That I'm not sure of yet. This is the 2 position one, I made the slot bigger to account for the ball nose endmill |
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[Last Edit: bionicmonkey]
[#27]
also.. make sure you have a low shelf lower - the lever can bump into the shelf if high shelf.
ETA. if that occurs during your installation testing you'll find when you pull the bolt fully to the rear it wedges there and needs a tap to release. no bueno. |
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[Last Edit: bionicmonkey]
[#28]
Sorry, no exciting 'in progress' pics or fire in the can pics (although i will say it was cool)
Heres the general setup. Screwdriver in the back has a magnet tip so its the tester. heat source is a small propane torch. Tried a smaller butane torch but with the breeze it just wasnt happening. Attached File Attached File Here is the part after the quench. Attached File And the lever doing its air quench.. (s7) waiting for 150 Everything is in the toaster over now baking up at 400 |
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[Last Edit: j3_]
[#29]
Is there some info or video on the actual mechanical function of this selector design? Thanks. It looks like it would need a lot of fitting for function because of the so many tolerances of an AR.
What oil was used for quenching? |
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[Last Edit: bionicmonkey]
[#30]
I think hoffman has a vid on function. Its much like the rare breed in effect.
I used Canola for the quench based on yoo toob vids i watched to become an expert of metallurgy this morning. Final result after temper, wire wheel and then caswell oxide coating and sealer Attached File Attached File Nice and matte black. Rockwell C s/b around 58- 60 but i cant validate. |
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[Last Edit: jm0502]
[#31]
Originally Posted By bionicmonkey: I think hoffman has a vid on function. Its much like the rare breed in effect. I used Canola for the quench based on yoo toob vids i watched to become an expert of metallurgy this morning. Final result after temper, wire wheel and then caswell oxide coating and sealer https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/56039/1000003592_jpg-3311797.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/56039/1000003593_jpg-3311800.JPG Nice and matte black. Rockwell s/b around 58- 60 but i cant validate. View Quote Turned out great. Just got mine finished. Safety does work. Functions perfectly. I'm just going to nitride this one. Fixture for the trigger |
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[#32]
Originally Posted By jm0502: Turned out great. Just got mine finished. Safety does work. Functions perfectly. I'm just going to nitride this one. Fixture for the trigger https://i.imgur.com/nuTUzYe.jpg View Quote JM you are a mad man, that's awesome! |
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[#33]
Originally Posted By bionicmonkey: JM you are a mad man, that's awesome! View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By bionicmonkey: Originally Posted By jm0502: Turned out great. Just got mine finished. Safety does work. Functions perfectly. I'm just going to nitride this one. Fixture for the trigger https://i.imgur.com/nuTUzYe.jpg JM you are a mad man, that's awesome! What I've done is simple compared to you. |
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[#34]
Did you test fire yours?
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[#35]
I never had any desire to make one, but I do like a challenge.
Nice work guys. I love seeing the different approaches to the same problem with different options available. |
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A firearm is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again. IG @jimstagramguns
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[#36]
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[#37]
Originally Posted By j3_: Is there some info or video on the actual mechanical function of this selector design? Thanks. It looks like it would need a lot of fitting for function because of the so many tolerances of an AR. What oil was used for quenching? View Quote @j3_ Hoffman Super Safety Function |
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