Barrel (gunsmithing) Spider for Heavy 10

sbrmike · Nov 21, 2010

OK I have posted this in the Gunsmithing Forum and have no responses. There is one pictured in the What Have You Made forum, but no specifics.

I was wondering what guys were using as barrel spiders on their South Bend Heavy 10.

My Heavy 10 has the 2-1/4" - 8 TPI Headstock Spindle with the 1-3/8" through hole.

I guess I will rephrase my query as to is it possible/practical to drill and tap 4 holes 90 degrees apart on the outboard side of the Headstock Spindle? I am wondering how hard the Spindle actually is. I am not opposed to using a new carbide bit and a new carbide tap for each hole as it will be a one time investment, but if others have tried and failed, I would not attempt it either.

Let me know what others have done for this situation. I knew one guy who used rubber sleeves around the barrel to stabilize them in the headstock spindle.

old-ld · Nov 21, 2010

spider

I think Grizzly has a chuck mounting plate with a spider mount in it. Grizzly is really into gunsmithing because the owner competes internationly. Check it out.

promacjoe · Nov 21, 2010

I don't have a heavy 10, but most of the ones I've seen used a separate spider that was held on to the end of this spindle with set screws or such.

I don't think you should try to drill the spindle.

I don't do gunsmithing work so I don't need the accuracy that a spider would give but there are times that I do need to support a long part. I have used two methods, the first simply wrapped tape around the part being worked on until you build up enough to be tight in the spindle. I have also used brass tubes "available at your local hobby shop" to take up the difference. These brass tubes fit snugly inside each other and can be a bit more accurate than tape. Both of these methods work well for general turning, but not accurate enough for gunsmithing work.

promacjoe

Pete Wass · Nov 21, 2010

Another solution - - -

Is to make a spider for the tail of the spindle like the one Grizzly has on their Gunsmith Lathe to be used along with your 4 jaw or whatever holding device you are using. I made one for mine but made it too short; would have had to use it with the gear guard off, I didn't want to do that. There certainly are a few good reasons to have support at the rear of a spindle. The Spider I made slips over that nice flat surface on the tail of the spindle. I had 4 set screws accurately installed to be sure it would stay there.

My Spider was made by a friend in Michigan. He uses one on his much bigger lathe for the oposite reason, his spindle is too long. I could have made an extension for the spider I had but being able to do all the adjusting in my tracks was appealing. He didn't charge me much to make the spider and I think is is first class.

What would be nice is some sort of electronic device to do the zeroing for one, eh?

Of course, there are people who only zero the piece of the barrel facing them in the four jaw and depend on the barrel doing the rest. Both seem to work but then there are those AR folks among us and I ain't talking about the rifle!

Pete Wass · Nov 21, 2010

There are Spiders and then there are SPIDERS

And here is a SPIDER :drool5:

gunsmithing1 · Nov 21, 2010

The way I do gun barrel is use a 4J and steady rest
Works faster than playing with a out board 4 J (Spider)

sicero · Nov 21, 2010

I have sold hundreds of these for the SB 10-L Kenny

knudsen · Nov 21, 2010

Pete Wass said:
And here is a SPIDER

Nice SPIDER, Pete. Do you know who made that indicator stand shown in the pic? It looks a lot like one I have, of unknown manufacturer. It has green crinkle finish. Mags are weak on mine, thought I'd add some rare earths.

coyotechet · Nov 21, 2010

I just bought a 3 inch piece of thick wall steel tubing 2.250 OD/ 1.500 $11.00. Did all the drilling and tapping on a drill press. Scribed a ring around the out side .375 from end on both ends using a bit and tool post. Then used a piece of steel under one of the jaws of a four jaw chuck scibed a cross line. Did this at all four jaws at both ends. Used 1/2-13 set screws on barrel end and 3/8-16 set screws on the spindle end. Then when to the drill press and finnish up the job. Turned Perfect and works great.
Chet

coyotechet · Nov 21, 2010

Here is my little home built Drill Press. Completely worked over with adjustable bed height and indexable table. If you look real hard you will see a SBL 9 inch thust bearing for the hieght adjustment.
Chet

twowheelinjim · Nov 21, 2010

Hello sbrmike, hobby gunsmithing is what brought me to PM. Please don't attempt to modify your actual spindle. I also have a heavy 10 with the same spindle you have. I made this (spider) adaptor to turn crowns and for chambering. The adaptor is about four inches long and I spaced the rear set of screws to be 1/32" from the threads of the spindle. I will probably make a second adaptor since I think I made the threads a little looser than a classification B fit, and the adaptor is about 1/2" longer than I wanted. I got the idea for making this adaptor by chance. I stopped by a a machine shop to ask a few questions about something or other. I got into a conversation with the owner about match shooting and he became excited that I had an interest in that sport. He briefly explained the actions but mostly fucused on his barrels. he explained that it takes him the better part of two hours to set up a barrel blank for chambering. I took a good look at his set-up and he suddenly had a few other things to do. I understand these guys work hard at what they do. It takes alot of work for a little gain. They don't like to give up secrets they spent years developing. I patterned my adaptor after his because it worked. The design was modified so I can use it as a chuck in the 10L. With little practice you can copy this simple idea. I used 5/8-18 X 1" set screws drilled with a 1/4" hole in the middle and a piece of brass pressed into them. Here's a picture of my freshly painted lathe with the adaptor installed.

This picture reveals how cavernous the adaptor is. More than enough for just about every barrel I have ever seen.

In case anyone wonders, I purposely left the belt cover unfinished to show what the machine looked like when I aquired it.

Pete Wass · Nov 21, 2010

sicero said:
I have sold hundreds of these for the SB 10-L Kenny

The gear cover on my 10L is a lot different from yours. I would have had to cut mine away for the adjusting screws to clear OR have made the Spider longer in the first place OR made a sleve- extender tube. The technology isn't very unique.

The fixture ahead of the spindle, however, to me seemed the perfect solution for my particular problem. I like it. I think it's a keeper.

Pete Wass · Nov 21, 2010

I will look tomorrow

knudsen said:
Nice SPIDER, Pete. Do you know who made that indicator stand shown in the pic? It looks a lot like one I have, of unknown manufacturer. It has green crinkle finish. Mags are weak on mine, thought I'd add some rare earths.

My shop is about 30 miles away ( In the Jointly Owned ex-marital property). I will look to see if it has a name but I bought it off ebay used. I would be willing to part with it

.

Pete Wass · Nov 21, 2010

Yours is very much like mine

twowheelinjim said:
Hello sbrmike, hobby gunsmithing is what brought me to PM. Please don't attempt to modify your actual spindle. I also have a heavy 10 with the same spindle you have. I made this (spider) adaptor to turn crowns and for chambering. The adaptor is about four inches long and I spaced the rear set of screws to be 1/32" from the threads of the spindle. I will probably make a second adaptor since I think I made the threads a little looser than a classification B fit, and the adaptor is about 1/2" longer than I wanted. I got the idea for making this adaptor by chance. I stopped by a a machine shop to ask a few questions about something or other. I got into a conversation with the owner about match shooting and he became excited that I had an interest in that sport. He briefly explained the actions but mostly fucused on his barrels. he explained that it takes him the better part of two hours to set up a barrel blank for chambering. I took a good look at his set-up and he suddenly had a few other things to do. I understand these guys work hard at what they do. It takes alot of work for a little gain. They don't like to give up secrets they spent years developing. I patterned my adaptor after his because it worked. The design was modified so I can use it as a chuck in the 10L. With little practice you can copy this simple idea. I used 5/8-18 X 1" set screws drilled with a 1/4" hole in the middle and a piece of brass pressed into them. Here's a picture of my freshly painted lathe with the adaptor installed.

This picture reveals how cavernous the adaptor is. More than enough for just about every barrel I have ever seen.

In case anyone wonders, I purposely left the belt cover unfinished to show what the machine looked like when I aquired it.

EXCEPT, mine is made of Alumeum and has a much smaller I.D.. I don't know if that is good or bad but it is what it is. I think the "Maker" bored a piece of billet and added the adjusting screws. I sent him my 4 Jaw backing plate and he did the deal.

twowheelinjim · Nov 21, 2010

I thought about making it out of aluminum. Luckily I had a nice piece of mild steel of the right size to make it so that was the deciding factor. I'm now working on an adapter that will be mounted at the end of the spindle bore to support a barrel as it's sticking out of the back end. I'm planning to use the the three screw holes that are already present in the back part of the spindle to mount the adapter. It will look much like cisero's piece.

k3vyl · Nov 23, 2010

spider/cat head

I have a reverse version of these things that allows me to face off 6" pipe between centers in my 13.I call it a cat head,although mine is 4 bolts not 3 as would give the "cat head " appearance.The thing rides on a mandrel.

JJ39 · Nov 23, 2010

spider

Hello,
Thanks for this spider post i'm a hobby smith to from AR's to bolt guns
i have a 13 myself , does anyone think if you run just the spiders off both ends of the spindle that you will get any severe viberations in the machine by not having the weight of a chuck on the end of the threaded spindle ?
i was going to make a spider out of 1" aluminum turn it down to six inches in diameter drill and thread my four spider legs and mount the spider to the faceplate with four mounting bolts. but i really like the idea of just mounting the inside threaded spider 2 1/4 X8 on the spindle you can gain another inch of useable space for working with shorter barrels by eliminating the faceplate .
Thanks for any replies
Jess

caracadon · Nov 23, 2010

How do you make six inches of aluminum out of one inch of aluminum? :confused:

ghostdog662 · Nov 23, 2010

caracadon said:
How do you make six inches of aluminum out of one inch of aluminum?

I think he meant 6 inches in length. Otherwise he is one hell of a magician.

JJ39 · Nov 23, 2010

spider

caracadon said:
How do you make six inches of aluminum out of one inch of aluminum?

i assume you understood me guess not , use a 1 inch thick aluminum plate 6 inches in diameter .

Barrel (gunsmithing) Spider for Heavy 10

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Aluminum

Aluminum

Attachments

Cast Iron

Stainless

Stainless

Cast Iron

Cast Iron

Aluminum

Aluminum

Aluminum

Aluminum

Aluminum

Stainless

Plastic

Cast Iron

Aluminum

Plastic

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