Breech plug install

[romoshka]

Ok, so I’m the fool (see Parts and instruction thread) who’s going to complete this Ky pistol. So you can see the breech plug is hand tight but lacks a few degrees of rotation to be aligned. I will assume that vise and wrench will solve this but my machinist education tells me I should add some thread locker. Another additional option I see is to drill and tap the underside for a set screw with small brass plug against the threads. What say the more experienced builders here?

 

[Phil Coffins]

Use no thread locker. I don’t use anything on breech threads at all. Toque to aline then put a witness mark on the underside.

 

[ronaldrothb49]

You actually need to do the exact opposite. You need to put an anti seize grease on the threads. There is more to properly installing a breech plug then just screwing it into the barrel. You need to have the face of the breech plug mate up with the end of the bore sealing it at the same time that the tang on the breech plug mates up with the top flat of the barrel.

 

[SDSmlf]

View attachment 368941
Ok, so I’m the fool (see Parts and instruction thread) who’s going to complete this Ky pistol. So you can see the breech plug is hand tight but lacks a few degrees of rotation to be aligned. I will assume that vise and wrench will solve this but my machinist education tells me I should add some thread locker. Another additional option I see is to drill and tap the underside for a set screw with small brass plug against the threads. What say the more experienced builders here?

Big NO to the thread locker, rather time for some sort of anti seize.

Is the front of the breach plug bottomed out in the barrel? Guessing with your machinist education you were taught to use something like Prussian Blue to confirm fit. Also, loose the setscrew idea.

And not that it matters, but went through a Tool Maker apprenticeship years ago.