Please Help Me With Some Market Research RE: Custom Bolt Knobs

[Kerplow]

I just picked up an SSG-69 PII last week and it has a knob similar to your "D" - the first thing I thought is that I would prefer something more egg or ball-shaped, no angles, not cylindrical or drum shaped, and no edges.

Something more or egg ball-shaped hangs up on stuff less when you are carrying it, and no matter form which direction you go to catch it, it's a grab; angled/cylindrical bolt handles always have felt odd to me. I like my hand to roll onto and roll off of the bolt handle easily with out having to adjust the position of my palm/hand/thumb.

I definitely would like to get something curved in the design library, so stay tuned.

Thanks for your input!

[jsipe007]

Nice work!

If I may add my .02...

Only other thing to consider is that raw aluminum will oxidize in a sense (not visible) and anything that touches it will get an oily black substance on it. Not a deal breaker, but definitely one reason gun parts are usually anodized.

[Kerplow]

Nice work!

If I may add my .02...

Only other thing to consider is that raw aluminum will oxidize in a sense (not visible) and anything that touches it will get an oily black substance on it. Not a deal breaker, but definitely one reason gun parts are usually anodized.

your $.02 are greatly appreciated, sir!

Oxidation is definitely an issue with aluminium and it is my intention to have them anodized, I just haven't gotten that far yet. There is a minimum price at the anodizer and I'd prefer to get a whole bunch of them done rather than add $25 each to the cost of my prototype knobs.

Thanks again for the input!

[jsipe007]

No worries! I just wasnt sure if you were planning to anodize or not since you were talking about leaving it as raw aluminum. My bad

Keep up the great work! Its too bad my rifle bolt isnt threaded... LOL

[wjc]

Thanks all for the input!



The sharp edge on C may well be easy to ding on an aluminum knob, I don't think it would be a big issue with a stainless knob, though. I thought the pointed edge was part of what made it look neat. It will be interesting to see how much durability anodizing will add or if I need to make those in stainless only.



A and B are the most finished ones, as C-E are all unfinished aluminum and should have some sort of protective/aesthetic coating.

Just to be clear, when you say you prefer chamfering, are you saying you prefer hard angles on the end vs. a radius?

Thanks again for the input, everyone!

What I call "Chamfering" is the rounded or radius of the edge.

[Fjold]

Probably E but they all look to large in diameter for me.

[Whiterabbit]

B>A>C, and I cant like D though I suspect it will sell better than A B or C.

I think your best market potential is with E, and it's one I would personally buy also.

[Kerplow]

Probably E but they all look to large in diameter for me.

Thanks for your input!

Does E even look too fat to you? The widest part is .760" (derp, I thought it was .750")

For me, it seems like anything much slimmer than .750" would be getting too thing.

[Kerplow]

B>A>C, and I cant like D though I suspect it will sell better than A B or C.

I think your best market potential is with E, and it's one I would personally buy also.

Thanks for the input!

[wjc]

Hey Kerplow, this just popped into my head.

Would bead-blasting/sand-blasting the knobs instead of a smooth finish aid in giving the operator a more positive grip on the bold handle during operation?

[Kerplow]

Hey Kerplow, this just popped into my head.

Would bead-blasting/sand-blasting the knobs instead of a smooth finish aid in giving the operator a more positive grip on the bold handle during operation?

I would think it would to some extent. my only issue with a bead blasted finish is that it tends to trap dirt/grease very easily. I know there are people who would like a bead blasted finish, though, and a blasting cabinet is in the works. Honestly, though, in the thousands of times I've rapidly cycled these knobs at home I have never had an issue with grip. I should try it with really sweaty hands, too, that would probably be the most definitive test.

Thanks again for your input!

[Whiterabbit]

sand blsting would not leave an attractive finish, thats for sure!

[CobraRed]

+1 on the bead blasting not being a good idea. It gets dirty instantly.

[SCZ]

Out of curiosity...

For "D" could you do tightly packed concentric rings across 3/4 of the face?
Also could you give it a curved profile (from the photos yours looks more linear) that starts off gradual and gets steeper the farther outward it goes?
Finally could you give it a massive detent/bowl in the end?

[Kerplow]

Out of curiosity...

For "D" could you do tightly packed concentric rings across 3/4 of the face?
Also could you give it a curved profile (from the photos yours looks more linear) that starts off gradual and gets steeper the farther outward it goes?
Finally could you give it a massive detent/bowl in the end?

All of those things are possible, but I lack a proper radius tool, at the moment. Though, I think giving it a curved profile would pretty much make it a completely different knob.In the future, I do intend to do some knobs that use radii rather than straight angles.