School me on wood barrel blocks

[Usmc0844spare]

OK so I've tried to make these before but they either cracked or the barrel still spun in them anyway.

Want to give it one more try... every time I install a muzzle device using the upper in a clamshell I am waiting for the upper to crack (I DO try to apply some "counter torque" to the barrel using padded channel locks to relieve some stress on the upper but don't think I am accomplishing much).

So...
What type of wood?
Drill hole with or against grain?
How big of a hole if the barrel diameter is .750?
Any gunk to put on them to prevent slippage?

I also hear of references to using leather or wet newspapers somehow, not sure what to make of that.

The barrel is nitrided so it is very slippery, FYI.

[hermosabeach]

5”-6” bench vice

Thinner wood with a cut out

Bicycle inertube

[Usmc0844spare]

Yeah, tried the inner tube thing on one of my blocks, was not successful. My vise I think is only 4 inches, maybe I am just not getting enough clamping force along enough barrel length.

[God Bless America]

Oak.

Grain should be parallel with the halves. Typically horizontal. Buy them from Midway.

0.750"

Powdered sugar. It's like water-soluble rosin.

[Barang]

Try the one above (eBay) and it also help when you jerk the wrench when removing FH.

[Usmc0844spare]

Oak.

Grain should be parallel with the halves. Typically horizontal. Buy them from Midway.

0.750"

Powdered sugar. It's like water-soluble rosin.

Got it, something like this:

https://media.mwstatic.com/product-images/880x660/Primary/248/248002.jpg

I see a possible issue with my last attempts, I was drilling with the grain, not across it.

Will see what Home Depot has for oak bits and pieces this weekend.

[baih777]

You are not suppose to use the clamshell to install a muzzle.device.
Your suppose to clamp the barrel.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-M-A-R-4-Multi-Purpose-Magnetic-Vise-V-Groove-Soft-Jaw-Pad-Gun-Barrel-Blocks/123629908169?hash=item1cc8eab0c9:g:asEAAOSw3ydVkb2k:sc:USPSFirstClass!90504!US!-1

I have used mine on numerous barrels to install muzzle brakes.
A lot more reliable than wood.

Those wood blocks are inserts for a really big barrel clamp.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/226100/wheeler-engineering-barrel-vise-with-3-wood-bushings

This clamp is made out of 1/2 inch plate.
The reason they sell replacements is because they crack.

[Usmc0844spare]

You are not suppose to use the clamshell to install a muzzle.device.
Your suppose to clamp the barrel.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-M-A-R-4-Multi-Purpose-Magnetic-Vise-V-Groove-Soft-Jaw-Pad-Gun-Barrel-Blocks/123629908169?hash=item1cc8eab0c9:g:asEAAOSw3ydVkb2k:sc:USPSFirstClass!90504!US!-1

I have used mine on numerous barrels to install muzzle brakes.
A lot more reliable than wood.

Those wood blocks are inserts for a really big barrel clamp.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/226100/wheeler-engineering-barrel-vise-with-3-wood-bushings

This clamp is made out of 1/2 inch plate.
The reason they sell replacements is because they crack.

Thanks, saw those NoMARs referenced elsewhere, I'll buy a set if the wood ones I make don't work out.

Yeah, was aware that those blocks are for a clamp used for bolt actions and the like, just posted as an example of proper hole orientation relative to grain.

And yeah, am ware that using the clamshell is a no-no, hence the reason for this entire thread.

[ar15barrels]

OK so I've tried to make these before but they either cracked or the barrel still spun in them anyway.

Want to give it one more try... every time I install a muzzle device using the upper in a clamshell I am waiting for the upper to crack (I DO try to apply some "counter torque" to the barrel using padded channel locks to relieve some stress on the upper but don't think I am accomplishing much).

So...
What type of wood?
Drill hole with or against grain?
How big of a hole if the barrel diameter is .750?
Any gunk to put on them to prevent slippage?

I also hear of references to using leather or wet newspapers somehow, not sure what to make of that.

If your barrel has an A2 front sight base, wrap a heavy piece of leather around the fsb and clamp that in the vise.

For slippery barrels, you go to an aluminum set of blocks that match the barrel diameter and then lots of clamping force.
My milling machine vise supposedly will make 8000lbs of clamping force.
I rarely slip a barrel in it but when I do, I move over to my 25 ton press.

[Usmc0844spare]

If your barrel has an A2 front sight base, wrap a heavy piece of leather around the fsb and clamp that in the vise.

For slippery barrels, you go to an aluminum set of blocks that match the barrel diameter and then lots of clamping force.
My milling machine vise supposedly will make 8000lbs of clamping force.
I rarely slip a barrel in it but when I do, I move over to my 25 ton press.

Yeah, no FSB, that would be the easiest thing.

Well, if you ever need some help clamping something, I can offer this:

https://images.homedepot-static.com/productImages/103dd423-6b14-4cae-9561-f51b7ac7b317/svn/yost-specialty-hand-tools-lv-4-64_1000.jpg

Just FedEx me the part in question and I'll warm up my dremel and my $13 Brownells gunsmithing hammer. Take care of it lickity split.

[1911su16b870]

FWIW if you use hard wood for a barrel block, use powdered rosin to get a good non-marring lockup of the barrel/action in the block/clamp system. Brownells sells powered rosin.

[-hanko]

OK so I've tried to make these before but they either cracked or the barrel still spun in them anyway.

Want to give it one more try... every time I install a muzzle device using the upper in a clamshell I am waiting for the upper to crack (I DO try to apply some "counter torque" to the barrel using padded channel locks to relieve some stress on the upper but don't think I am accomplishing much).

So...
What type of wood?
Oak

Drill hole with or against grain?
Against

How big of a hole if the barrel diameter is .750?
Drill 0.75" and rip the block down the centerline. Mark the block so it goes back together as it was before you ripped it.

Any gunk to put on them to prevent slippage?
Pick up some baseball rosin at a sporting goods store. You can also use thin chamois with powdered rosin.

All the above worked for me with FAL barrels...much harder to torque than AR's.

[Usmc0844spare]

All, many thanks... the powdered sugar idea worked awesome.

Couldn't find any usable Oak so plane old pine 2x4s worked just fine. Nice to be able to put on a muzzle brake w/o worrying that I am going to destroy an upper or dislodge an index pin.