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nuclearcricket
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Draw File
Aug 11th, 2013 at 5:33am
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Since Brownells no longer offers a draw file,what is recommended a as an available replacement? Since I am now the proud owner of a new Green Mountain octagon barrel I need to find the right file to start to finish the flats. 
TIA 
Sam
  
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boats
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Re: Draw File
Reply #1 - Aug 11th, 2013 at 6:13am
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I did not know there was a special "draw" file.  I draw file with regular smooth cut Nicholson's run at the same angle the teeth are cut.

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creedmoormatch
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Re: Draw File
Reply #2 - Aug 11th, 2013 at 6:24am
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Since I am now the proud owner of a new Green Mountain octagon barrel I need to find the right file to start to finish the flats. 
TIA 
Sam


Sam -- I purchased a .38 Cal tapered octagon in the Winchester style/weight from Green Mountain and it needed no "finishing" in the form of draw filing.  It was ready to blue right out of the factory.

Draw filing is easy to do and a good way to pass the time, but with other things that need attention, draw filing is a low priority.  Unless of course, the project is to be a "show piece".

C.M.M.
  
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boats
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Re: Draw File
Reply #3 - Aug 11th, 2013 at 6:32am
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Web like you my Green Mt barrel was blued as it came from Green Mt.  Draw filing would have made a better finish though. As is was good enough,

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vbull
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Re: Draw File
Reply #4 - Aug 11th, 2013 at 7:10am
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I think it depends on where in the run your barrel comes from.  I've used close to 10 or 12 GM barrels and only the last one had a very good finish with just a few cutter marks.  All of the others needed either draw filing or touch up with emery before bead blasting and bluing.
Round barrels seem to come in with a better surface.  I use a smooth single cut file for draw filing.
  
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firearmdoc
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Re: Draw File
Reply #5 - Aug 11th, 2013 at 9:07am
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Use a smooth single cut file and you will be fine. If you use a 50/50 mix of dark cutting oil and kerosene as a lubricant when filing you will most likely get a better finish. The lube will also help to reduce clogging up the file. You can also use chalk on the file, but personally I like the oil mix better. The lube also helps give a better finish with emory paper as well.

Jesse
  
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boats
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Re: Draw File
Reply #6 - Aug 11th, 2013 at 9:28am
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Agree on the oil and you can wrap the file with paper once the draw filing is finished, helps keep your stroke consistent.  Last year I  filed out a real pitted Marlin 39A. Started with the draw file then migrated to paper. Went through the grits not missing a single one from 220 to 1200. Round barrel once the draw filing was done shoe shined with paper. Slick and smooth looks great blued.

On smooth cut files. Little known fact is smaller the file smoother they are.  10 inch Nicholson is smoother than a 12 inch 8 inch smoother than a 10. I use a 4 inch to sharpen fish hooks, Amazing how sharp it will cut a soft hook.  Problem with the shorter files is they are harder to run level.  10 inch is a good size.

Run it at angle so the teeth are in line with the draw.

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John Taylor
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Re: Draw File
Reply #7 - Aug 11th, 2013 at 5:02pm
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The blue on GM barrel is from the heat in the stress relief oven.
  

John Taylor   Machinist/gunsmith
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creedmoormatch
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Re: Draw File
Reply #8 - Aug 11th, 2013 at 5:22pm
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It was ready to blue right out of the factory.C.M.M.


Yes, you are correct.  It is quite evident that the G.M. barrels are not "blued" at the factory.  The exterior coating comes right off with light sanding w/ 340 grit paper.  The oct. flats are quite nice and may be blued w/out draw filing and make up into a nice, presentable rifle.  Not show quality, but certainly "shootable" quality.

C.M.M.
  
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silverman1
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Re: Draw File
Reply #9 - Aug 12th, 2013 at 12:00am
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One method,not mentioned here ,is to buy a brand new,not used lathe file.
I cut the tang end off where the teeth start out,and same with the other end,with an abrasive saw blade,and round off the cuts,with a belt sander.
The file is laid flat on the flat,and pushed towards one  end.
wear leather gloves,ans the small chips will end up in your fingers.
I use both hands,and guide the file with my fingers.
Trying to keep a file perfectly flat,when using a 10 in mill file can be hard,especially to newbies.
I use a dry waxy lube,called burr life. It will keep chips from filling up the file teeth.
You just rub it into the teeth,like you would chalk.
I keep a 5#block of lead handy,to smack the file on to clear chips. (No DO NOT use your lathe bed!)And keep an eye on the file,no matter what method you use,for chips stuck in the teeth. You will gall the flat of the barrel.
Clean them out immediately,with a file card,and pick.
A lathe file,has teeth @ app a 60 deg angle ,and shear off the chips.
This method,will not work on the breech end of barrels with a tulip next to the threads,you will have to hand finish that area sama as with a normal draw file.
I saw another builder,has an aluminum jig made to hold one inch wide roll abrasive.
He has nylon fences to guide it along the barrel,and the strip,is held with a home made clamp on both ends on top.
He was using a dark sulpher base oil with this.
  
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Chuckster
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Re: Draw File
Reply #10 - Aug 12th, 2013 at 9:59am
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Agree with Silverman's comments. Be sure to sweep up well when draw-filing, else you will track those shavings into the house where they get stuck in the Wife's bare feet. Then you are really in trouble. Smiley
Chuck
  
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nuclearcricket
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Re: Draw File
Reply #11 - Aug 12th, 2013 at 12:38pm
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LOL on the sweeping up of chips, although they will not get stuck in the wife's feet, since I don't got one of those they may end up in my feet and that wouldn't be a good thing.
Thank you all for your reply's, now to make a fixture to hold the barrel and order a file. 
I am not sure where my barrel was made in the run but it has very distinct marks that do need removed. I did have a thought of leaving  one flat unfinished as the current finish would make a very nice non glare surface but it might piss my smith off due to having to index up just that particular flat.  We will see when it get into it more. 
Sam
  
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creedmoormatch
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Re: Draw File
Reply #12 - Aug 12th, 2013 at 6:22pm
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  Draw filing is passe' and all an illusion which wastes a man's valuable time.  Sure, it you are in the gun smiting business and just a year or two out of school you are looking for a draw filing project at $70.00 per hour and 4 to 5 hours time spent.  The cost to draw file an octagon barrel exceeds what I can purchase a G.M. barrel for a Brownell's or Track of the Wolf, or directly from G.M.

The hand held file was replaced with the electric driven continuous belt sander some 50 years ago for finishing octagon barrels.

It all make for interesting talk, but not very practical in today's scheme of things    Wink.

And, do wear eye protection safety goggles approved by O.S.H.A. while operating your electric powered belt sander.


C.M.M.
  
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Walter  Matera
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Re: Draw File
Reply #13 - Aug 12th, 2013 at 6:48pm
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But can you get belts fine enough to finish or do you just take out the deep nicks and scratches with it and then work the rest by hand?  And how fine a grit should you use prior to bluing.  I recall reading that the best blue jobs aren't on mirror finish but over something called a '500 grit wire wheel', something I've never seen for sale.
  
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Aonghas
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Re: Draw File
Reply #14 - Aug 28th, 2013 at 5:56pm
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nuclearcricket wrote on Aug 11th, 2013 at 5:33am:
Since Brownells no longer offers a draw file,what is recommended a as an available replacement? Since I am now the proud owner of a new Green Mountain octagon barrel I need to find the right file to start to finish the flats. 
TIA 
Sam


Any fine first-cut flat file. For the purpose you describe, I use  one an inch wide one.

Aonghas
  
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