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Gunsmithing & How To Pro, Amateur & WECSOG and Tutorials, Guides & OLL Build Instructions |
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Cheapest drill and tap in the south bay?
Hi all,
Im located here in the South Bay area. Im looking to have my receiver drilled and tapped with four holes. Ive talked to a few gunsmiths and the going rate seems to be $25-$40 a hole. Are there any cheaper that you all know of? Thanks! |
#5
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Because of setup I'd expect there to be a setup cost and then a per hole cost rather than a given rate per hole.
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#8
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Have you ever noticed how bad Harbor Freight smells? It's enough to turn one's stomach...
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--------- liber -------- From my cold dead end mill...
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#9
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Ha! Wait until that cheap tap breaks off in the hole and you have to pay for an EDM house to burn it out. Or the holes and resulting threads are just a tiny bit off and the screws won't stay tight and you have to start over with a new receiver.
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#10
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but they don't have 6-48 or 8-40 but he is looking for cheep so I guess a 1/4 -20 would do Last edited by kcstott; 06-11-2015 at 1:25 PM.. |
#11
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I was thinking 10-32 but definitely along the same line of thought.
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#12
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In rare cases, one setup can do two or even three holes if they happen to be through multiple layers or the parts can be stacked together in the same setup. That's why the prices quotes are "per hole". The guy doing the quoting knows that each hole will be it's own setup.
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Randall Rausch AR work: www.ar15barrels.com Bolt actions: www.700barrels.com Foreign Semi Autos: www.akbarrels.com Barrel, sight and trigger work on most pistols and shotguns. Most work performed while-you-wait, evening and saturday appointments available. |
#13
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Not to sound arrogant but there sure is a lot of second guessing the guy doing the work these days. The insulting part is the second guessing is being done by people that have never stood in front of a machine or they haven't used one since shop class in grade school. FYI guys Brownell's prints a shop price guide, It's a survey of gunsmiths and what they actually charge, Brownell's then prints the list with the low and high price and brownell's price for scope mount drill and tap, $20 to $45 per hole. I had a local guy down here a few years ago call me and ask to do a muzzle brake install on his Remington. I never did do the work for him, Because he wanted it same day and he tried to haggle me down in price, I told him I could do it that day but to pull the job out of the machine and pissoff one of my better customers would cost him $150, He about died on the other end of the phone. Asked me why so much, I told him don't waste my time and have a nice day. To many people want something for nothing these days. Here's the deal people don't ask someone to do you a favor and then try and get them do do another favor by reducing the price. Save your money and get it done correctly or do what I did Learn how to do it yourself. I've paid one gunsmith in my life Once....everything else I've done |
#14
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Nobody would expect an auto mechanic friend to rebuild a transmission for free, but holy smokes, a machinist? I'm asked quite often to make "just this little thing, it's easy", well, if it's so easy why don't you make it yourself? Case in point: my neighbor lost the mandrel portion of his hole saw for cutting door knob holes. He actually asked me to make him one. LOL, I reached in my pocket, pulled out three bucks, handed it to him and told to go buy one at the local hardware store. Another: a biker friend asked me to make custom windshield clamps for his old Harley. I engineered the design for a nice fit, function and look, programmed them up on the CNC, cut, drilled and tapped six holes, polished them to a brilliant shine and went to the store and bought stainless bolts to complete the job. He asked how much he owed me, I asked a small favor in return. Instead of fulfilling my simple favor request, he bought me a $7 margarita. People just don't understand how long, how much work and how much skill, not to mention tools and machinery, are required to make that "simple little thing". |
#15
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You know you have a winner when the conversation starts with something like "All ya gotta do is...." .
The OP didn't come off quite like that. It's 40 bucks in California because it's California. The most expensive state to live in. If your living here and doing it for less you are cheating yourself, or doing it for love. Guys in W Virginia can do all 4 for 10 bucks because all they need is gas for the riding mower to get to the liquor barn. Last edited by kendog4570; 06-12-2015 at 5:14 AM.. |
#16
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What am I missing? I don't have a mill and don't have that much experience with one, but do have a crappy lathe at home that I've used for favors.
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#17
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See what I mean? "All ya gotta do is...." There is a lot more involved getting them where you want and not damaging the part. The charge per hole is sort of like a flat rate for typical work. Get a hard one like an 03-A3 or 1917 , or one that just ain't square with nothing, and you will earn every penny. Even using a Forster jig (which costs over $400) it takes careful setup and planning for each hole. |
#18
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Maybe there aren't two, flat and parallel surfaces on the receiver to facilitate clamping in a mill vice, which would then require some tooling to be made to properly hold the receiver without damaging it. |
#19
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You are paying for it to be done right. And you only get one chance to do it correct. Again I don't want a guy that charges $10 a hole to do the job. If it was so damn easy everyone would do it Hey Ken back when I was married and had more time then money I made this. Never did use it but once after got my mill. |
#20
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I know it's not easy to get it fixtured and flat. I'm trying to figure out why you need to re-fixture it for each hole.
I guess they could be on opposite sides, then re-fixturing would make sense, so a per hole charge would make more sense than a setup charge followed by a per hole charge (although them maybe it's 2x setup cost and 2x hole cost).
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#21
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Can you guarantee that for the OP's holes? Do you know what type of receiver he has? kendog, I laughed when I read your comment... "All 'ya gotta do is..." LOL Well, it's true...All 'ya gotta do is have the proper machines, tooling and skills and it's a piece of cake...
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--------- liber -------- From my cold dead end mill...
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#22
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The OP did not mention what type of gun it was. If it was a mosin nagant I'd recommend seal welding the scope to the action, mild joke for my hate and discontent for the rifle. I get a call once a month to cut down and thread a mosin or drill and tap one. I've done two total and I'll never do them again, most of the people that own them think that because the rifle is so cheep so should the cost of the work being done to it. That's my number one reason to not work on. Mosins See junkie though it's not so much that you can't grasp the process it's more of a "if you know how to do it then why don't you" and I'm not trying to be a dick but you don't argue with you doctor over the price of the visit, you sure as hell don't tell him how to do his job, same applies here different smiths have different ways to do stuff and as long as they are doing a good job leave them alone. Now as to the set up thing. So do know where the first hole needs to go and how deep so your chamber wall is not to thin?? Or how about missing the locking lug?? So you don't weeken it? How about trimming the screws to proper length so the bolt operates correctly?? |
#23
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I've fixed more than a few, miss drilled receivers and slides, by plugging and re-drilling and tapping, much more expensive than doing it right the first time!
I've been a machinist, tool and die maker, and part time gun smith for over 40 years, ya, I've fixed a lot of "simple jobs"
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Mike M. Dayton, NV NRA Life member Front Sight DG CRPA, USPSA, AOPA, EAA, CCW: NV, CA & AZ Yes, I'm related to Texas Jack |
#25
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Just remember if it's so easy do it your self. If it's not that easy pay up. Think of the price of a good tap and die set. I used my cheap harbor freight drill press I turn the chuck by hand. With the tap in. I'm not talented enough to start it by hand.
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#26
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Just drilled and taped my brother inlaws mosin receiver for a rail. The holes are almost perfect. Almost. We are both happy with the results. If you are really picky or have a question on how perfect the hole needs to be just pay for it. If you want to do the work your self get a good tap and handle. Make sure to use the correct drill bit
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#27
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#28
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__________________
Randall Rausch AR work: www.ar15barrels.com Bolt actions: www.700barrels.com Foreign Semi Autos: www.akbarrels.com Barrel, sight and trigger work on most pistols and shotguns. Most work performed while-you-wait, evening and saturday appointments available. |
#29
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My boss bought 8 rubber wheels for 2 carts.After they sat in the shop a day or two,the whole shop smelled bad! |
#30
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Sorry I can't stand Mosins well no, really it's just a handfull of owners that have left a bad feeling about them. And the only guy that I willingly did Mosin work for had no issue paying full bore and didn't once try to bargain with me on price.
I usually get a guy that wants a scope mounted or a bolt handle installed. or the occasional screw ball thats want me to restock one for him using a wood blank?? some peoples children??? I quote the price and they ask if I can do it for half You can see where that conversation went Last edited by kcstott; 06-24-2015 at 12:25 PM.. |
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