White Lightning in 1/4 x 28?

[WVAED]

Maybe this has been answered. Does Jim Chambers offer his white lightning touch hole liner in 1/4 x 28? Rather than drill and tap an existing touch hole i would rather have Jim to make one that fits those threads as well. Does he make one to fit? Does anyone make a similar one to fit? If not, could we take up a petition to try to get him to also offer it in the more common thread pitch?

 

[curator]

Check with Jedediah Starr and Track of the Wolf. I believe both carry AMPCO and stainless touch hole liners in 1/4X28 threads, My understanding is the White Lightning liner is threaded 1/4X32tpi. Also, the White lightning is not designed to be removed unless it is also replaced.

 

[FishDFly]

Why not ask the manufacturer?????????????

 

[Don Steele]

Jim doesn't offer his liner with 1/4 x 28 threads.
You'll have to ask him why that is...I never have.
The absolute best 1/4 x 28 thread liner I've found is a Thompson Center product that may be out of production, but still hanging around if you can find them. I found a package of 2 at "****'s Sporting Goods". They had a small section of BP supplies and these looked interesting. They work well, install with an 1/8 hex key, which is included(deep "front" cone) and are deep coned in the back.
The specific product is:
No. 7327-"Flintlock Touchhole Bushings"

 

[azmntman]

Why not ask the manufacturer?????????????

He has already gotten 2 answers (and your question?) here and has not been placed on hold? Thats kinda what this forum is all about....sharing information :youcrazy:

 

[Jim Evans]

RMC-Oxyoke makes a 1/4x28 that is stainless steel and coned , if that is what you are looking for. # ML020

 

[WVAED]

Thanks guys.

 

[Eric Krewson]

EBay has a lot of the TC type liners mentioned above for sale.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I would think it would be a simple task to buy a stainless steel 1/4X28 bolt from the hardware store and make your own. A drill press would be required but not a lot of skill. This is a do yer own thang game. :thumbsup:

 

[WVAED]

I would think it would be a simple task to buy a stainless steel 1/4X28 bolt from the hardware store and make your own. A drill press would be required but not a lot of skill. This is a do yer own thang game. :thumbsup:

Funny you mention that. I just got back from the hardware store with a couple of SS bolts. I am going to give it a try. I don't know about what size counter sink bit I need but am going to give it a go. Also wondering about brass. Would a brass bolt hold up as a touch hole liner?

 

[Twisted_1in66]

Brass is pretty soft and my "guess" would be no it won't last nearly as long. Could be easier to replace, but I don't think you want to be replacing it on a regular basis.

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:
Dan

 

[Zonie]

Also wondering about brass. Would a brass bolt hold up as a touch hole liner?

Brass would work but not for long.

Several things brass isn't good at are corrosion and resistance to high temperatures.

The flame passing thru the vent hole is far higher than the melting point of brass and the fouling remaining following the shot will begin to corrode the hole.

There are several copper based alloys that will work nicely for both vent liners and percussion nipples but they are proprietary and are owned by Ampco.
The Ampco bronze is resistant to hot gas corrosion but it is totally different than a common brass or bronze. It is also hardenable which makes it suitable for percussion nipples.

The stainless steels are the best choice for a vent liner.
They have a high melting point and the nickle and chrome in them resists heat and corrosion.

Both the magnetic and the non-magnetic stainless steels will work nicely for a vent liner.

The non-magnetic stainless steels won't work for percussion nipples though. They cannot be hardened by any process except for work hardening.

There are a number of other alloys that would be excellent for vent liners. These alloys are used in jet engines and are not only resistant to extremely high temperatures and corrosion but they are strong as well.
Among these are the various Inconels, Waspalloy, Rene 41, Hastelloy and other strange names most people never heard of.

The problem with all of them is they are extremely costly and very difficult to machine.

 

[Rifleman1776]

There are a number of other alloys that would be excellent for vent liners. These alloys are used in jet engines and are not only resistant to extremely high temperatures and corrosion but they are strong as well.
Among these are the various Inconels, Waspalloy, Rene 41, Hastelloy and other strange names most people never heard of.

Yes. Those are wat the original mountain men used. :rotf:

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Hastelloy ... used to LOVE maching that ... the blank pieces were worth more than my annual paycheck!

 

[Col. Batguano]

I need to make a vent liner myself. The normal 1/4" White lightnings are too big for my barrel flat, as the top of the pan is about 2/3 up the flat on a FCI A-Weight. The result is that a normal 1/4" White lightning is placed near the bottom of the pan if I install it to have the edges wholly inside the barrel flat, and not creep up in to the oblique flat. That would be super wrong and ugly. As I see it, the options I have are these;

1.) Deepen the pan so the liner has a bit more pan depth beneath it.
2.) Go without a TH liner, and just a simple hole through the flat in to the powder chamber.
3.) Make, or find a smaller TH liner that fits in the space I have.

The problem with # 3 is, that without a shoulder of the liner to crank down against the barrel, how do you keep it from moving in or out? The other problem I have is that I have no idea how to make a hollowed out liner so it would be akin the dimensions of a commercial one. I also don't have a machine lathe in my shop. Just a drill press.

 

[Larry Pletcher]

Maybe this has been answered. Does Jim Chambers offer his white lightning touch hole liner in 1/4 x 28? Rather than drill and tap an existing touch hole i would rather have Jim to make one that fits those threads as well. Does he make one to fit? Does anyone make a similar one to fit? If not, could we take up a petition to try to get him to also offer it in the more common thread pitch?

The reason Jim sells the liner and the tap to go with it is based on safety. Barrels taped 32 threads/inch will have more threads and less chance for something to go wrong. I think he wants the hole threaded with his tap for the same reason. He can't do the install, but at least he's trying to make sure the job is done as best he can.

I feel Jim is being as careful as he can by even supplying the proper threading tool. I'm not trying to be Jim's mouthpiece, but feel his answer would be similar.

Regards,
Pletch

 

[WVAED]

It may be safety but finer threads don't seem to me to be stronger than coarser ones. I don't know Jim C. and wouldn't accuse him of anything at all, but he is a business man. If he made his liner in 1/4 x28 he would probably never sell another in the 1/4 x 32 and would certainly never sell another drill bit or tap. Just being realistic.

 

[kansas_volunteer]

Thinking brassy, another copper alloy, monel, might be just the ticket. Maybe it's German Silver on steroids. I don't know my alloys really well.

In the oil fields we used it where salt water corrosion was an issue. Usually we started with all-thread rod. I think monel bolts and things can be had from McMaster Carr. Chandlers might have it too.

 

[Don Steele]

Thank you Pletch.
Edmelott, I do know Jim Chambers and can assure anyone interested that he offers the liner, and requisite tools to provide a service to the community for folks who don't have what they need. Jim is perfectly happy to sell you the liner alone if you have the tools. I doubt "tap sales" are a big part of his revenue. Like Pletch said...it's about safety, and Jim's liners are offered in what he believes to be the most safe configuration.
You may know this already....but if not, with all respect let me remind you that there are shooters and rifle builders out there who refuse to use vent liners AT ALL due to safety/liability concerns. Vent liners are absolutely not universally accepted, although I grant you that sometimes it looks that way due to their popularity.
Hope this helps. :hatsoff:

 

[WVAED]

I did not accuse him of anything wrong just merely mentioned that he is a business man. This business about more threads is stronger seems wrong to me when they are finer threads. 32 per inch as opposed to 28 per inch would only amount to one more thread or so in a touch hole liner (i'm guessing). I am not saying he is not a good man and very helpful to others. I emailed him and he sent me back an nice email saying he didn't offer them in the 1/4x28. I spoke to his wife (i believe) and she was very helpful. I ordered a 5/16x32 liner, tap and drill bit. So i am not trying to blight his name, I just mentioned that if his liners were sold in a more popular thread pitch, he probably wouldn't sell the less common liners or the taps and drill bits. Whether or not this is a big part of his business is irrelevant. I have never heard of the danger of touch hole liners and the worry about them being a danger. I have heard that some prefer a hole because it seems more period or historically correct.