Didn't somebody have a teaser of 111mm alox scales?

[wonderwolf]

If I remember right somebody sometime ago was tossing around some ideas for alox scales on the 111mm frame? I've thought about doing a one off set (no way to anodize them however). For a mod I have in mind....but has anybody done anything in this area? I know I would miss my toothpick and tweezers but if I made my own set I could mill in a slot for them I suppose.

[ducttapetech]

Back in the SOSAK days there was a run of Alox OHTs

[hiraethus]

Syph007 has done some:

I got my prototype 91mm and 111mm scales back! Now to figure out what to make with them...

...

(Image removed from quote.)

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[Syph007]

Back in the SOSAK days there was a run of Alox OHTs

Cool, Id love to see pics of those!

Syph007 has done some:

I got my prototype 91mm and 111mm scales back! Now to figure out what to make with them...

...

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

You beat me to it. 

They have no texture, just smooth.  I still havent used those on a mod yet, I really should build something with them.

The problem is cutting the texture on a CNC mill is cost.  Say we did the full texture like a 93mm alox, its going to be about 20-25 minutes of machine time to cut a scale and 95% of that time is on texture.  So alot of cash... now a wider texture or other texture could work though.   

[sf_duke]

Would love to see a BO 111mm alox SAK...that would be a really nice mod...even with untextured scales...

[lowtech]

I would take those scales off of your hands in a blink....

Thanks for bringing the subject up again - I´m looking forward to the first one to make an Alox 111!

[wonderwolf]

What kind of aluminum would you recommend? texture could be done on a mill, I have a new 3 axis vise for my mill and I'm thinking this could be done set at 45° with a regular end mill. Could do something like a skip line checkering or use a ball mill and do divets?....heh...I need a few 111mm frames to experiment with.   A jig block would be first though I imagine...oye...I need more shop time.

[hiraethus]

I made some 91mm scales from 6082 T6 and milled the checker pattern with a 2mm ball noise end mill. Came out nicely and anodised well too.

[wonderwolf]

I made some 91mm scales from 6082 T6 and milled the checker pattern with a 2mm ball noise end mill. Came out nicely and anodised well too.

annnnnnnnnd your gonna post pics?

[Lynn LeFey]

Syph007 has done some:

I got my prototype 91mm and 111mm scales back! Now to figure out what to make with them...

...

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

Those are ... really pretty... 

Hey, what about some 'stripes' across them in places like slide serration on a firearm, instead of the standard checkering of smaller ALOX knives.

Maybe a few serrations toward either end.

I'm just thinking aloud.

[hiraethus]

I made some 91mm scales from 6082 T6 and milled the checker pattern with a 2mm ball noise end mill. Came out nicely and anodised well too.

annnnnnnnnd your gonna post pics?

[tosh]

That looks very impressive - how long did it take to get to that stage?

[user24]

Those 91mms look amazing. So much potential there!

[hiraethus]

That looks very impressive - how long did it take to get to that stage?

It felt like weeks, but was probably more like 8 hours or so.  I'll do a small batch next time to bring the anodising costs per part down, but reckon it'll take a couple of hours to mill the pattern on a larger piece of aluminium.  I might see if I can make a start on some next week.  The pattern was a little coarse on the ones shown above so I'm going to mill the slots less deep with a finer pitch.  Hopefully it'll come out closer to a stock alox pattern.

[Syph007]

There are so many cool patterns that could be done on custom alox.  Like helix, honeycomb and basketweave.... 

[hiraethus]

Funny that.  I was just noodling around in CAD and drew a diamond checker plate pattern that would be easy enough to mill.

[wonderwolf]

I have a black friday discount still for 10% off a order from one of the metal supply houses I use....may just get some alum stock to try this with...but I need another project like I need a hole in my head.

if somebody offered just the blanks that would make life easier...the majority of the work at least for me would be shaping the stocks to the correct contour.

[hiraethus]

Stack 'em up and do more than one at once.  You'll probably need to do a batch to bring the anodising costs down anyway.  My workflow (with a manual 3 axis mill and no way of creating the complex profiles needed) would be:

Mill the pattern on a large piece of material
Mark the scale outlines and hole positions using the outer liners as templates
Drill the holes (only the main and back tool pivots - hide the 4th pin)
Rough out the scales by hand
Clamp a bunch of them together and get them all the right size, again using the outer liners as templates and with pivots in place for alignment
Finish the corkscrew cutouts
Round the edges of the scales
Sand and polish until you're happy with the finish.

[wonderwolf]

I keep forgetting on a manual mill having a vise that tilts is really only good for single cuts or stepped cuts etc....if I were going to mill checkering into the stocks I would have to tilt the mill head itself....can be done but a pain to re-zero.

[Syph007]

I keep forgetting on a manual mill having a vise that tilts is really only good for single cuts or stepped cuts etc....if I were going to mill checkering into the stocks I would have to tilt the mill head itself....can be done but a pain to re-zero.

Thats exactly what I planned to do, turn the head 45, but I was too lazy to have to re-zero and never tried it.

[wonderwolf]

I keep forgetting on a manual mill having a vise that tilts is really only good for single cuts or stepped cuts etc....if I were going to mill checkering into the stocks I would have to tilt the mill head itself....can be done but a pain to re-zero.

Thats exactly what I planned to do, turn the head 45, but I was too lazy to have to re-zero and never tried it.

The more I think about this project the more I realize how simple it really is....need to get some 111mm parts/donor knives together. Double sided jig would be simple enough. With the quill stop on the mill it would be simple with a 1/4" or 1/8" bottom cutting end mill to do a fish scale pattern or fencing or whatever they call it. Need to find a 1/8" or 1/4" ball mill to try out as well....could be done with the part 90° to the table fed from the side.

[wonderwolf]

Ordering some 6061 1/8"x1 1/4" alum bar stock to give this a try

[tattoosteve99]

Ordering some 6061 1/8"x1 1/4" alum bar stock to give this a try

Lowes and Home Depot carry it. It's not labeled as 6061 but I called and found out it is.

[wonderwolf]

Good  to know! looks like lowes price is pretty decent as well....I'll keep that in mind for next time, never would have guessed!

[wonderwolf]

I had a thought when I was first waking up this morning that one could forgo the checkering on the scales and with a very simple fixture use 1/8" letter stamps to do a collage of words, my thought was have words repeating from Scout law. Just an idea, I have a 111mm "parts kit" on the way from a helpful member here and hope to start tackling this project soon.

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty,
brave, clean, and reverent.