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Builders Report &
Manufacture Guide
for the Laser Cut
This is where it
ends.
This is where
it begins:
A set of prints is
recommended.
-
Double rolled
and pickled
steel is .063
thick – 4130
Steel
yielding a
very strong
and “rigid”
construction
needing
little or no
heat treating
on the base
receiver.
Rails require
heat
treating.
-
There will be
some
oxidation on
the surface
from a post
production
practice to
allow welding
without seam
hardening and
reduce the
potential of
seam cracks.
-
Pre-manufacture
Preparation:
Remove any
oxidation
with steel
wool or emery
cloth and
wipe with a
dry absorbent
cloth.
After Preparation:
A good vice and
‘straight’
hardwood blocks
are needed to act
as ‘soft’ holding
fixtures.
-
Laser Cuts
are very
straight &
interrupted
in specific
points to
allow bending
with common
tools.
-
Each cut is
done at a
different
angle for
maximum
geometric
strength.
-
Each cut has
a
‘pre-softening
process’
applied to
allow bending
without
breakage.
Both fixture
blocks should be
straight, flat and
set at 90 degree
angles.
Narrow top rails
should be done
first.
Note: the interior
block is cut to
the interior
dimensions of the
receiver
Bending can be
done with wood
bending fixtures
along the laser
cuts and soft
tools such as a
wooden or rubber
hammers.
A wooden or metal
spacer should be
set into the
receiver to hold
dimension and
clamped for
welding. “ONE BEAD
IS THE RECOMMENDED
PROCEDURE” A light
series of ‘tack’
can be used to
establish
dimensional
stability
Ready to weld
Note: It is
better to only
weld the top rails
first, leaving the
bottom edges alone
until after the
trunnion and tang
are both mounted.
This will ensure
that the final
dimensions of the
bend fit to them.
Grind clean with
orbital sander,
wire brush wheel,
finish with emery
cloth.
The best results
seem to come from
using button head
cap screws. The
quality of rivets,
rivet tools and
individual
expertise vary
from one builder
to another
depending on
source of supply
and equipment.
The button head
cap screws are all
heat treated alloy
steel and the
button head allows
a high torque over
a larger fastening
area.
Final clean and
coat to
preference.
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