Slippery material?

[cardiffrob]

Strange question...

I need to make a slightly tapered 'mandrel' to use as a former for cigarette paper so I can make slightly conical, closed at one end, cups to put gunpowder in. It is for a .44 black powder revolver. The idea is to make a Vase shape, fill it with powder and then cap it off with a .44 ball. The paper cone makes it easier to load instead of the general faff of pouring powder from a plastic test tube into each cylinder.

Now, what material would be machineable on the lathe to a smooth finish and be unsticky enough that fag paper and glue would not stick to it. Melted down milk bottles?

Bang....bang.

http://www.gascolt.pl/gascolt_foto/fotod_n/1141_2.jpg One like this.

 

[grim_d]

Delrin/acetal is pretty slippy.

PTFE/Teflon can also be bought in bar form.

 

[Hopefuldave]

How big a piece do you need, I think I've some PTFE bar within rummaging distance - if it' big enough (and I can find it) I could post a piece?

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[WorkshopChris]

PTFE Bar
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/plastic-rods/1969893/
25mm x 500mm £20.00

 

[Keith 66]

Other option would be UHMWPE, Heres a useful link, https://www.directplastics.co.uk/#, I just bought some delrin & uhmwpe from them for bearings & it was quite reasonable.

 

[fixerupper]

Can you just hand roll the blackpowder with the ball at one end and a "spliff "style twist at the other ,how much powder in each cartridge? I have done that with small "effect "charges (without the ball) maybe a teaspoon full in each , linked with pipe match or fast plastic fuse ..

 

[Shox Dr]

Your local head/indy shop will sell joint cones. Ready made for the job

 

[500e]

I new this site had a expert for every eventuality
Have some ptfe I think if any help

 

[brightspark]

Can you just hand roll the blackpowder with the ball at one end and a "spliff "style twist at the other ,how much powder in each cartridge? I have done that with small "effect "charges (without the ball) maybe a teaspoon full in each , linked with pipe match or fast plastic fuse ..

a teaspoon each its a pistol not a cannon a .50 cal only takes 20 grains

 

[fixerupper]

[QUOTE="brightspark its a pistol not a cannon a .50 cal only takes 20 grains[/QUOTE]


Yeah but this was just effect powder cut with chaff or all show and no go ...

 

[MattF]

Make it out of anything and then just coat it with beeswax. Reapply if/when necessary.

 

[Brad93]

UHMWPE

Ultra High Molecular Weight Poly Etheylene

Slipperiest strong plastic going .

 

[cocker]

a teaspoon each its a pistol not a cannon a .50 cal only takes 20 grains

40 grains in a ruger old army .44 !
O.P. can use a bit of dowel , if you need it slippery polish with bees wax .
Or use a powder flask .

 

[8ob]

I am not so sure a "slippery" surface is the answer. Like the difference between water running down glass vs a sheet of sandpaper, the surface tension hangs onto the water but it will zip down a sheet of sandpaper. Would the fag paper get stuck to the slippery surface with surface tension

Bob

 

[FergalFarty]

I've tried machining some UHMWPE on my mini lathe and it's horrible stuff. The swarf just wraps around the work and ends up like a birds nest. I've tried HSS and carbide insert tools.

I've also turned some HDPE (recycled milk bottles) and that was much nicer and gave a pretty slick finish which may be suitable for your purposes. Fabric conditioner bottles are also made from HDPE, but it's different from the milk bottle stuff and it's easier to melt down and make billets out of. I made billets by chopping it up into little pieces and sticking them in an old deodorant can with the top chopped off. Then two hours in the oven at 180C.

 

[Keith 66]

I just made some bearings for a hurdy gurdy out of uhmwpe & tis true its fun to machine. I used a sharp HSS tool with lots of top & side rake & it machined ok, Its best if you take a pecking action at it. Finish was good though.
Tends to leave a fine ring of swarf on outside corners.

 

[mrsbruce]

I am not so sure a "slippery" surface is the answer. Like the difference between water running down glass vs a sheet of sandpaper, the surface tension hangs onto the water but it will zip down a sheet of sandpaper. Would the fag paper get stuck to the slippery surface with surface tension

Bob

I thought the same thing.

You could make life easy, by buying a plastic funnel, and cut a length off the narrow cone bit (the bit that would go into container). This bit.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Friend had an Adams .45 percussion cap boxed with spare cylinder, powder horn with measuring nozzle, bullit casting pliers for round or conventional rounds (with spike to hold them into the wadding) and wadding cutter. Mint condition, it had belonged to a family army member in India, who used for real.
Natch, we tried it out a few times, quite a kick! He later sold it to help with Uni fees, along with his Churchill 12 bore.

Bit later, I was wandering round the Feira de Ladra (Thieves Market) in Lisbon. So called, because if you lost something during the week, you could buy it back on Saturday.... Anyway, notice a nice case by a guys foot. Asked and it was a Colt Navy Model, all the bits, including spare cylinder and loading kit. I can't remember what the exchange rate would have made it in £s, but it was dirt cheap. I just didn't have the cash on me.
Life is full of missed opportunites

Anyway, not a lot of help to the OP.. But was interesting for me!

Just done an envelope calc.. It was under £60

Used directplasticsonline for several types of plastics. Good service.

 

[Shox Dr]

Friend had an Adams .45 percussion cap boxed with spare cylinder, powder horn with measuring nozzle, bullit casting pliers for round or conventional rounds (with spike to hold them into the wadding) and wadding cutter. Mint condition, it had belonged to a family army member in India, who used for real.
Natch, we tried it out a few times, quite a kick! He later sold it to help with Uni fees, along with his Churchill 12 bore.

Bit later, I was wandering round the Feira de Ladra (Thieves Market) in Lisbon. So called, because if you lost something during the week, you could buy it back on Saturday.... Anyway, notice a nice case by a guys foot. Asked and it was a Colt Navy Model, all the bits, including spare cylinder and loading kit. I can't remember what the exchange rate would have made it in £s, but it was dirt cheap. I just didn't have the cash on me.
Life is full of missed opportunites

Anyway, not a lot of help to the OP.. But was interesting for me!

Just done an envelope calc.. It was under £60

Used directplasticsonline for several types of plastics. Good service.

I shot a Adams .45 when I was 14. Never forget the sights were fixed and stamped 70yds.

 

[mrsbruce]

Because I make leather holsters, I have several Denix replica guns I use for size purposes.

I confess, I have been known to go out into the back garden with a replica, pull the trigger, and shout “BANG!”.




But it’s not the same......