Tapping unknown material?

StayPufft · March 28th, 2008, 23:17

Is it ok to tap unknown metal? It might be steel but i don't think so because that way it broke and how soft it is.

My USP's guide rod broke the other day and I've been looking for a replacement but so far i cant find anything.

It's not really the guide rod that broke its the part that hooks on to the barrel and holds everything in place when the slide release lever is inserted.

heres is a pic
(sorry for the cell pic it's the best i can do now)

I was planning to just drill and tap a hole in the larger part and use a threaded rod or a bolt with the cap cut off to replace the small rod.

The problem is i don't know if this material is strong enough to try to tap.
I was hopping some one with experience with this material could tell me if this is possibles.

If it is not possible does anyone have any other ideas that would work?

thanks.

ThunderCactus · March 28th, 2008, 23:31

You can tell by the weight, if its really light its likely aluminum or magnesium alloy. If it has weight to it, it's likely ferrous.
Really no chinese material should be trusted with threads, but if it broke when it was a solid piece, depending on the depth of thread, a bolt may cause more damage.
Remember, when you have a strong material and a weak material, the weak material will wear out faster than if it were 2 weak metals together.
So the rule of thumb, is if you can get your threads as deep as your bolt is wide, your good to go. IE a 6mm depth of thread for a 6mm bolt

RuzzP · March 28th, 2008, 23:44

Took the words right out of my mouth. From my experiences tinkering/building things, once you tap light alloys, the threads rip right out or a chunk will break off near the hole. Always wear a condom when tapping unknown material.

StayPufft · March 29th, 2008, 00:06

Ok thats what i thought some one would say.

So my plan would be to use a 1/4 unc tap and i can drill a hole about a 1/2" deep without a problem.

I don't know what to do about finding a soft material to use as a bolt and i don't think i can cut anything that fine on a lath but the material feels really heavy and i think its a pretty strong material because of what it has to do. (oveously not strong enough) but since it hasn't happened to anyone els that i can find I think it was just my part that was defective. I hope that this is an easy fix and i don't have to buy a new gun just looking for this part.

Ibby · March 29th, 2008, 00:24

TIG it.

ThunderCactus · March 29th, 2008, 00:29

Why would you weld it if you don't know what its made of?? lol

StayPufft · March 29th, 2008, 00:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibby

TIG it.

I would love to just "tig it" but the tolerances are way to small and its a vary small part plus not knowing what material it is it might not heat well ect.

Thanks for the suggestion thought!

Buds and Suds · March 29th, 2008, 01:10

aluminum, I think brass and other softer metals are non magnetic. put a magnet on it.
Steel is magnetic.

Ibby · March 29th, 2008, 01:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

Why would you weld it if you don't know what its made of?? lol

Being airsoft I'd assume it's some sort of cheap aluminum alloy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StayPufft

I would love to just "tig it" but the tolerances are way to small and its a vary small part plus not knowing what material it is it might not heat well ect.

Like I mentioned before, my roomie can TIG cigarette foil together. He once TIG'd all the pop and beer cans he could find together in a line just to see if he could. I keep him around because my welding winds up looking like something Homer Simpson did. He's welded a few parts of my guns back together for me. A touch of Dremelling and they're good as new.

swatt13 · March 29th, 2008, 01:45

id try jb weld, though that never works for me. however theres something called devcon that works fantastic.

StayPufft · March 29th, 2008, 15:16

Ok so everything is ready i think I'm going to drill a hole about 1/2 deep and tap the hole with a 10-32 UNF tap then finish with a bottoming tap. I picked up a brass bolt so i hope it is soft enough not to rip out of the part.

I really hope this works because i cant find a replacement. If it works I'll post how i did it and how well it works (if it works at all).

StayPufft · March 30th, 2008, 16:22

OK I'm done,
Here is what i did:

First i drilled and tapped a hole the entire length of the part.

Then used a brass bolt because it is a softer metal so it won't wear as fast.

Then cut the cap off and cut it to the correct length.

Turned dawn the diameter of the bolt to fit the mating part. using a pedestal grinder.

Drilled a hole for the pin.( the brass bolt broke so i decided to go with a steel bole.) Since the bolt it screwed through the entire length of the part I'm not worried about it ripping out ect.

I put everything together and so fare it works like a champ!!

Once again sorry for the fuzzy cell phone pic's but its the best i can do.

If you have any questions or opinions please feel free to comment!

ThunderCactus · March 30th, 2008, 22:08

Just out of curiosity, did that bolt make sparks when you were grinding it down?
Looks real nice though, good job!

StayPufft · March 30th, 2008, 23:17

No, the bolt didn't spark at all

ThunderCactus · March 30th, 2008, 23:23

Ah, I was wondering because it doesn't look like brass in that second pic.

Home	Forums	Register	Gallery	FAQ	Calendar
Retailers	Community	News/Info	International Retailers	IRC	Today's Posts

British Columbia	Alberta
BCAC	EAR
Op-For	JOC
Northern Arms Airsoft	Skunkworx Airsoft
Airsoft Kelowna	RAAT
Prince George Airsoft	Manitoba
Saskatchewan	MAA
SK Airsoft	Ontario
PDW	Airsoft Ottawa
South Sask Mercs	Snow Dragons
Quebec	1st Ranger Platoon
PQAC	Wolfpack Tactical
1st Pathfinders Regiment	TTAC3
Quebec Airsoft
MTX Airsoft	Atlantic
FAQc	Atlantic Airsoft

March 28th, 2008, 23:17	#1
StayPufft Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oakville,ON	Tapping unknown material? Is it ok to tap unknown metal? It might be steel but i don't think so because that way it broke and how soft it is. My USP's guide rod broke the other day and I've been looking for a replacement but so far i cant find anything. It's not really the guide rod that broke its the part that hooks on to the barrel and holds everything in place when the slide release lever is inserted. heres is a pic (sorry for the cell pic it's the best i can do now) I was planning to just drill and tap a hole in the larger part and use a threaded rod or a bolt with the cap cut off to replace the small rod. The problem is i don't know if this material is strong enough to try to tap. I was hopping some one with experience with this material could tell me if this is possibles. If it is not possible does anyone have any other ideas that would work? thanks.

March 28th, 2008, 23:44	#3
RuzzP Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Churchbridge, SK	Took the words right out of my mouth. From my experiences tinkering/building things, once you tap light alloys, the threads rip right out or a chunk will break off near the hole. Always wear a condom when tapping unknown material. __________________ Nice pistol, mine is chrome.

March 29th, 2008, 00:24	#5
Ibby Trader rating Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Victoria/Kingston	TIG it. __________________ "Anyone with a name like Amanishourbariki should give a few letters to the poor Ng family." - Snarfangel, Fark.com

March 28th, 2008, 23:31	#2
ThunderCactus Not Eye Safe, Pretty Boy Maximus on the field take his picture! Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2007	You can tell by the weight, if its really light its likely aluminum or magnesium alloy. If it has weight to it, it's likely ferrous. Really no chinese material should be trusted with threads, but if it broke when it was a solid piece, depending on the depth of thread, a bolt may cause more damage. Remember, when you have a strong material and a weak material, the weak material will wear out faster than if it were 2 weak metals together. So the rule of thumb, is if you can get your threads as deep as your bolt is wide, your good to go. IE a 6mm depth of thread for a 6mm bolt

March 29th, 2008, 00:06	#4
StayPufft Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oakville,ON	Ok thats what i thought some one would say. So my plan would be to use a 1/4 unc tap and i can drill a hole about a 1/2" deep without a problem. I don't know what to do about finding a soft material to use as a bolt and i don't think i can cut anything that fine on a lath but the material feels really heavy and i think its a pretty strong material because of what it has to do. (oveously not strong enough) but since it hasn't happened to anyone els that i can find I think it was just my part that was defective. I hope that this is an easy fix and i don't have to buy a new gun just looking for this part.

March 29th, 2008, 00:29	#6
ThunderCactus Not Eye Safe, Pretty Boy Maximus on the field take his picture! Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2007	Why would you weld it if you don't know what its made of?? lol

March 29th, 2008, 01:10	#8
Buds and Suds Trader rating Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: edmonton	aluminum, I think brass and other softer metals are non magnetic. put a magnet on it. Steel is magnetic.

March 29th, 2008, 15:16	#11
StayPufft Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oakville,ON	Ok so everything is ready i think I'm going to drill a hole about 1/2 deep and tap the hole with a 10-32 UNF tap then finish with a bottoming tap. I picked up a brass bolt so i hope it is soft enough not to rip out of the part. I really hope this works because i cant find a replacement. If it works I'll post how i did it and how well it works (if it works at all).

March 30th, 2008, 16:22	#12
StayPufft Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oakville,ON	OK I'm done, Here is what i did: First i drilled and tapped a hole the entire length of the part. Then used a brass bolt because it is a softer metal so it won't wear as fast. Then cut the cap off and cut it to the correct length. Turned dawn the diameter of the bolt to fit the mating part. using a pedestal grinder. Drilled a hole for the pin.( the brass bolt broke so i decided to go with a steel bole.) Since the bolt it screwed through the entire length of the part I'm not worried about it ripping out ect. I put everything together and so fare it works like a champ!! Once again sorry for the fuzzy cell phone pic's but its the best i can do. If you have any questions or opinions please feel free to comment!

March 30th, 2008, 22:08	#13
ThunderCactus Not Eye Safe, Pretty Boy Maximus on the field take his picture! Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2007	Just out of curiosity, did that bolt make sparks when you were grinding it down? Looks real nice though, good job!

March 30th, 2008, 23:17	#14
StayPufft Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oakville,ON	No, the bolt didn't spark at all

March 30th, 2008, 23:23	#15
ThunderCactus Not Eye Safe, Pretty Boy Maximus on the field take his picture! Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2007	Ah, I was wondering because it doesn't look like brass in that second pic.

Tapping unknown material?

Upgrades & Modifications