Machining tungsten

A

AMMASHOOTA

Gary Gruber
Is there anything different about machining tungsten as opposed to 'normal' steel?

i want to make a heavy guide rod for one of my handguns, and a tungsten replacement is not available for the barrel size i have.
 
not really

hi
youo can trun or mill it , but you need a harder tip than the tungsten you cutting this tip msy also be tungsten but of higher grade

and cutting speed is reduced a lot, no more that 350rmp and slow feeds

its not fun!!!:(
 
It's abrasive stuff. I'd suggest coated inserts.

Just go to any mainstream insert manufacturer's website and research the suggested speeds and feeds then pick the appropriate one and it's all pretty straight forward from there. If you can, run flood coolant and pay attention to your coolant/water percentages. Off the cuff I'd guess around 10-12 percent.

It'll help!

Good luck.

C
 
Machining Tungsten

I just made up some firing pin weights out od Tungsten, and it machined quite well, I drilled it with a regular HS Steel drill, and machined it with a regular TiN coated insert.

Think of machining high nickle cast iron.........jackie
 
luke wads said:
should have asked do you need a longer one or short?
:)
Click to expand...

i will be taking a 4 inch length and first reducing it to under 3 inches, and then machining a groove at one end and a very thin shoulder at the other.

there probably will be some diameter reduction as well, and possibly another groove to interlock with another piece of tungsten that will have to fit inside it.

so we have parting, drilling, reaming, turning, facing and a few other odds and ends to add some weight to the front end of a Springfield XD.

Tungsten guide rods are made for the 4" and 5" models, but not for the 3" sub-compact.

i am a competitior, and any edge i can make, i will take. i need the weight given the ammo i compete with.

i appreciate everyone's help.
 
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