1/2" QEV Rifle (picture heavy)
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 7:16 pm
I would like to preface this by saying that this is a mighty fine website, and thanks to all the folks that make it so. There is a definite atmosphere, you could say.
In fact, there are typically several atmospheres.
This is my first successful homemade QEV, so I figured it deserved a stock. To be honest, I relate more to woodworking than machining, so please excuse me if I focus on the stock too much.
The stock is maple sandwiched between resawn, mildly spalted alder. The maple is actually from a cabinet door - the color looks darker from the finish that was on it. Traced the assembly on the core, made those cuts, and did the same for the scales.
And then for the fun part:
The only tool I used was a 4" angle grinder with a 36-grit flap sanding disc. It really is magical.
There was, however, a great deal of sanding, from 60-400. The sanding helped even out the lines between the laminations. And then for the finish!
I melted wax on with a heat gun. There are a great many layers, and it soaked in very well.
The piston is cast epoxy (we all know who to thank for that one
) with a 3/16" rubber sealing face.
I tapped the barrel bushing on the inside, to thread in the piston seat. The barrel is brass with a PVC shroud and embedded magnet (it fires 1/4" bearings). I wanted it to be easy to disassemble; everything comes apart besides the blowgun, which is very much permanent.
I finished it the day before leaving for college; I cannot work on it more until Thanksgiving. The next steps are definitely a scope and a breech. I run it at 120, so power is relatively unimpressive - no cinderblock penetration or anything. A high-pressure floor pump (a la Gippeto's excellent guide) is on the distant horizon. Increased pressures would allow for a more streamlined, unobtrusive chamber, as well. The piston face is ~80 on the durometer scale, and it is all metal, so I would certainly feel safe enough with that.
I realize that this may fit snugly into the tl;dr category, so I hope you all enjoyed the pretty pictures. I know I did.
In fact, there are typically several atmospheres.
This is my first successful homemade QEV, so I figured it deserved a stock. To be honest, I relate more to woodworking than machining, so please excuse me if I focus on the stock too much.
The stock is maple sandwiched between resawn, mildly spalted alder. The maple is actually from a cabinet door - the color looks darker from the finish that was on it. Traced the assembly on the core, made those cuts, and did the same for the scales.
- 2" or so angle iron makes a great bandsaw fence. Lines on the table keep it parallel.
There was, however, a great deal of sanding, from 60-400. The sanding helped even out the lines between the laminations. And then for the finish!
- Wax going on.
The piston is cast epoxy (we all know who to thank for that one
) with a 3/16" rubber sealing face.I tapped the barrel bushing on the inside, to thread in the piston seat. The barrel is brass with a PVC shroud and embedded magnet (it fires 1/4" bearings). I wanted it to be easy to disassemble; everything comes apart besides the blowgun, which is very much permanent.
I realize that this may fit snugly into the tl;dr category, so I hope you all enjoyed the pretty pictures. I know I did.
It's nice to see a video shooting. regards