barrel lug

[Gemoke]

I have a new smooth bore that I bouhgt a few months ago. the other day I took it out to clean the brass and thought that the stock felt lose. after checking it out I found that a barrel lug had come off. I contaced the builder and he said I could send it back and he would repair it or I could repair it myself. he told me it was an easy fix, that all I had to do was to buy some regular plummers solder and solder it back on, is that all there is to it.
cut finger

 

[Roy]

You may not even have to do that if there is enough solder left on the barrel, just clean lightly with a fine sandpaper, flux and clamp the lug back on its old footprint. Use wet rags or heat stop on the other lugs or possibly sight that may be close and soldered on. Heat the barrel untill the solder flows around the lug, do not apply a direct flame. Put some water on it to cool it down and set the solder and you should be done.

The biggest thing is getting it back exactly where it was so you do not have a problem with the pin.

 

[Black Hand]

I would do as Roy suggested, but avoid the water cool-down. The sudden change in temperature could cause uneven stresses and possibly (but unlikely) warp the barrel. A hose clamp or a piece of wire will help hold the lug in place until the solder sets.

 

[Norskie]

Next time, don't shoot so much that the barrel heats up and melts the solder. :grin:

 

[flashpanner]

oh that was my problem! I thought you were suppose to shoot enough so that your barrel would glow in the dark and then you could see better, using the red glowing barrel as a "sighting" rod! :rotf:

 

[davy]

oh that was my problem! I thought you were suppose to shoot enough so that your barrel would glow in the dark and then you could see better, using the red glowing barrel as a "sighting" rod! :rotf:

Wall I dunno ... but jest change out yor oven mitts ocassionally. They do git nasty after a while! :thumbsup:

Davy

 

[Zonie]

I would send it back to the builder if it were me.

There is going to be a problem getting the underlug back in the right place so you won't need to redrill the barrel pin hole (or refit the wedge if it has one).
I also think this area needs to have better stuff than plain old lead solder. If it was attached with lead solder, that may explain why it came off in the first place.

IMO, it really should be attached with a 4 percent silver solder.

 

[Vaino]

Making a new lug isn't that difficult and then the pin hole can be drilled anew. The lead-free solders are the way to go and to hold the lug while soldering, I use a .040" x 1/2" x4" spring w/ both ends {3/8"- 1/2" L} bent at 90 degrees w/ a "V" on both ends. The "V"s locate on the barrel and lug and a wire wrapped around the barrel and middle of the spring, applies the force to hold and push the lug down on the barrel when the solder melts......Fred

 

[Roy]

Funny thing this, I just got a gun in with the same problem. The issue with this gun is that the lugs did not properly fit the barrel and too much solder was used to try to bridge the gap. The only solder that is doing any good is the solder that is directly between the lug and the barrel, any that is globbed around the base is not doing anything.
For this fix I am making new lugs for a better barrel to lug fit and soldering on. This also now means that I will have to re-inlet the lugs and drill the holes, but it will be a permenant fix. If I would have used the same advice that I had given you, it would only have happened again. :v