White Lightning Liner Installation

[xbowman]

I am getting ready to drill and tap for a White Lightning Line. With measurement I will be drilling into the Breech Plug some. I will be using a drillpress. Before removing the Breech
plug, would it be best to drill a small pilot hole first into the Breech Plug threads and then remove the plug? Also, how tight are most plug threads? It is a 45 cal swamped new barrel.

 

[Black Hand]

With a sharp bit you should be able to drill the vent hole and the breechplug in one go. Just my opinion. However, I have NO experience with swamped barrels and there are more experienced builders than I who will have advice too.

 

[Birddog6]

IMHO, do not drill the vent hole with the breechplug in the barrel. Remove the plug, make a punchmark where you want the hole, drill a pilot hole, then drill the proper sized hole for the threads of the vent liner.

Then with the barrel still clamped to the drill press, take the countersink bit & put it in the drill press & cut the bevel for the seat of the liner.

Then with the barrel still clamped to the drill press, remove bit & install tap into the drill chuck.
Now, TURN OFF POWER to the drill press...... Then hold slight down pressure on the press handle & turn the chuck with your other hand & start tapping it. Tap a lil, back it out, reoil, tap some more, back it out, etc. This way I know the hole & the threads are in straight.

Next clean all the metal shaving out of the hole & deburr the inside of the hole so the patch/jag will not catch or tear on it.

Install the vent liner just snug to check length & make any corrections necessary in the bore. Now take it back out for now.

Now make sure the breechplug threads are clean & put the plug back in almost all the way. Take center punch & mark your vent hole (thru the new vent liner hole) just a tad above the center as the plug is no in all the way.

Now remove the plug & make your relief in the plug face. Then put it back & check it to insure you have it right. If it is right take the plug back out & install the vent liner with a tad of antiseize on the threads. Now do the same with the breechplug & take it to the proper allignment.
Now put a couple of wraps of electrical tape before & after the vent plug lug. Now take a fine tooth hack saw & cut the lug off. Now remove the tape & file the vent liner flush to the barrel, filing parallel with the flat. I use a black marker on the flat & the liner & file, and I can see if I am hitting a bad place or whatever, file it nice & flat for about 2.5 to 3".

Now, the reasoning behind not drilling it all at one time. I have seen this happen several time.... Guys drill that hole & when it goes thru the barrel & when the bit hits the face of that breechplug, the face of the plug will force the bit over away from the face & that will elongate the hole. So you end up with a oblong hole & no threads on two sides of it, just like the photo.
This is NOT safe & should not occur. Should you have a hole like this you then have to drill to the next size vent & retap & etc.

PS: No, I didn't do this one, but I did redrill it & install the next size vent liner in this one......

 

[xbowman]

Thank you Birddog6, your advice looks like the course I will be taking tomorrow. I have everything I need, just need to be very careful. I printed it out to have it right in-front of me.

 

[Packdog]

Birddog's instructions will only result in one thing. A perfectly installed ventliner. :thumbsup:

 

[Vaino]

Birddog6 has it right. I tap a little differently though and just turn the spindle on and then off and while it's coasting bring the tap into the hole. A few turns and the spindle stops and the tapping is completed by hand w/ a "T" wrench. I don't completely tap all the way thru so the liner threads have an interference fit at the bottom as well at the ctrsk. A cautionary note....don't ctrsk too deep or the touch hole land will be too long.

 

[MSW]

Thanks for explaining why the little voice in my head told me to take the plug out first. I didn't know why the little voice said to do it, but i didn't see any harm, so i listened to the little voice. Had I not done so, i would have had an elongated hole in my first build.

One should always pay attention to the little voice. Maybe not always do as it says, but you should always listen to the suggestion.

Thanks again!

MSW

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Agreed, 100%, however, I've found some breechplugs impossible to remove without damage to the plug or barrel or both.

 

[xbowman]

THANKS BIRDDOG,
Evening worked and came out perfect. I had to do some good setting up, but what a relief getting that done so nice. :thumbsup:

 

[Birddog6]

In the case of the breechplug, ya definately need 3 things. BIG wrench, BIG cheaper pipe, BIG ass..... I have always had all of them so have not had one I could not remove yet. :rotf: :rotf: