Special 1911 Barrel Bushing

[schmeky]

I have a personal pistol project I've been working on that uses a 1911 barrel bushing. Problem is I over bored the slide by .002". An Ed Brown match bushing is .705", and I need a .707"-.709" OD bushing to make things right.

Contacted several companies that make bushings, but no one will make one, even though I offered to pay a considerable premium. My only other option is to have a bushing welded, maybe at a sheet metal fabricating shop.

Any other suggestions?

RC Model, you out there??

 

[10X]

Have you tried EGW.com Evolution Gun Works will make bushings to the specs that you give them.

 

[rcmodel]

If EGW doesn't pan out.
I have had good success with building up the OD of loose GI bushings with high-temp silver solder or gas brazing rod and turning back to the size desired.

There is no wear on the O.D. with a tight fit bushing, so silver solder or braze will be plenty hard enough to last forever.

BTW: I have also seen GI slides built up internally the same way back in the day when folks did stuff like that because they had too.

rc

 

[schmeky]

RC,

EGW was a no-go. I can't believe you mentioned the silver solder. I was thinking about this on the way to work this morning. Can you recommend a flux and rod type? I have some Harris 15% silver rods on hand (used in HVAC work). I have never soldered steel, but with the right stuff, I know I can do it.

Appreciate your input.

 

[navyretired 1]

The only part of the bushing that has to fit tight besides the barrel to bushing fit is the skirt of bushing to slide fit. The common way to fit small bushings is to expand skirt of bushing. Brownells sells a tool which does it but before I made my copy of their tool I laid the bushing face down on a piece of steel plate on my bench and placed a tapered arbor I have in rear of bushing and gave it a hefty wack with a hammer til the skirt was at the diameter I needed or slightly more. the I fitted it to slide tightly. Try it it works.

 

[rcmodel]

I don't know.
I used to use a Eutectic fluxed 1/16" rod on anything, but they stopped making it years ago.
I can't remember the number of it.

I use Silvaloy 355 silver solder from Brownell's and the Ultra Flux paste they also sell.
I don't like it nearly as well as the old Eutectic rod.

I would think you can try your HVAC flux & solder on a thin piece of scrap steel and tell right off if it will flow & stick to it though.


I agree with navyretired 1 that expanding the bushing with a mandrel is probably a better way to go.
I don't quite agree that a tapered mandrel or punch is the way to do it though.

If the bushing is only tight on the rear edge, and loose in front, you will get bushing tipping and poor accuracy, along with increased wear.

Ideally, an expander plug would expand the whole bushing to the rear of the locking tab to the same diameter. That makes the sides of the bushing parallel and gives full support to prevent tipping on a tight rear edge.

Bushing expander mandrel set:

rc

 

[schmeky]

Navy & RC,

Thanks a ton for the suggestions. I think I'm going to machine a custom mandrel from some .750", thick wall, SS tubing I have on hand.

THR is such a great source of knowledge.

 

[sophijo]

bushing

Did you ask Bob Serva at Fusion?

 

[olyeller]

Not sure taiwan will make one for bob for you.