Back to business. I got a long skinny package in the mail today containing a .203 diameter x 36" long gun drill, so it's time to get serious about this barrel drilling business. Unfortunately, my lathe only has 20" of travel, so it's going to be a two step process. I have an adapter to mount the drill on my tool post left over from an earlier project, but it's probably going to need to be lengthened an inch or two for this drill. There are a few other tasks to accomplish before the drilling starts, such as a guide bushing/chip box to start the drill on center and catch the chips and oil that shoot out of the hole. There also needs to be at least one intermediate support for this flimsy drill and a high pressure pump (800 psi or so) to pump cutting oil through the drill. I found a hydraulic pump for $50 that should work and figure I'd drive it with my mill. Hopefully 2 HP is enough power. Oh yeah, and I also need to make a couple of cat heads for the spindle to hold the barrel.

For a long term solution to this sort of thing I've roughed out a design for a vertical dedicated machine to drill, ream and rifle barrels, but that's another project in itself. Right now I need to finish the Stevens.

Tom