Zip Tie and Duct Tape

WECSOG · **on:** October 07, 2018, 06:33:03 PM

How often to you see a fix using both zipties and duct tape?

I was looking at the merit badges and noticed that the Zip Tie badge was the first one listed. That is apropos for me since the ZT is one of my most-used tools. So I started thinking: what usage to feature? The wiring in my truck? Wiring in my camper? The motorcycle that would fall into a heap of parts if all its zipties were removed?

Then I remembered this revolver. This was a stripped Ruger Super Blackhawk frame I had laying around. I decided to make it shootable again, so started scrounging parts. It was originally a stainless steel .44 Magnum, but most of the scrounged parts were blued, including the .45 ACP cylinder. So be it. I asked around among my home gunsmith buddies in hopes of finding a .45 caliber barrel. This particular chunk of barrel is what I came up with. I have no idea what it originally came from; some type of rifle. But it is .45 caliber, so I made it work.

When I got it together, I wanted to test fire it. But it had no front sight yet. I wanted to be able to actually aim it, so I cast about looking for a suitable temporary sight.

Eventually it occurred to me that I use zip ties for so many other things; maybe one would work here as well.
At first I was thinking along the lines of using the zip tie to hold an L-shaped piece of wire to the barrel as an impromptu sight. But then I realized that the nub of the zip tie would work just fine, sans wire!

Back to the present. I went looking for a photo I had taken of my new front sight, and realized something else I had forgotten: I also used a piece of duct tape (Gorilla tape specifically) to hold the zip tie sight against rotating around the barrel and thus throwing off my aim! So this might actually qualify for both the Zip Tie and Duct Tape badges.

Alan K. · **Reply #1 on:** October 07, 2018, 06:40:24 PM

Now that truly is kitchen table gunsmithing at its best. Have you fired it yet?

SteveC · **Reply #2 on:** October 07, 2018, 06:41:44 PM

Usually we require a separate thread per badge but this is a very cool use of both and your first badges so we will let it slide this time

Congrats !

WECSOG · **Reply #3 on:** October 07, 2018, 06:51:48 PM

Thanks, Steve!

WECSOG · **Reply #4 on:** October 07, 2018, 06:54:05 PM

Quote from: Alan K. on October 07, 2018, 06:40:24 PM

Now that truly is kitchen table gunsmithing at its best. Have you fired it yet?

Yeah, I've got about 60 rounds through it so far. I put a real front sight on it later, but the first few test shots were with this makeshift sight.

Wspeed · **Reply #5 on:** October 07, 2018, 06:55:00 PM

Congratulations on your first badges WECSOG

WECSOG · **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2018, 07:13:46 PM

Thanks!

Alan K. · **Reply #7 on:** October 08, 2018, 07:16:23 PM

Sure looks like it would take out a boar hog. If the big bullet doesn't stop him you can always bludgeon him with the barrel.

MadPlumbarian · **Reply #8 on:** October 08, 2018, 09:26:23 PM

If it can’t be fixed with duct tape and or zip ties it’s a woman’s problem

JR

G-Dizzle · **Reply #9 on:** October 09, 2018, 05:40:36 AM

Quote from: MadPlumbarian on October 08, 2018, 09:26:23 PM

If it can’t be fixed with duct tape and or zip ties it’s a woman’s problem
JR

Vidar · **Reply #10 on:** October 09, 2018, 04:53:31 PM

Quote from: WECSOG on October 07, 2018, 06:33:03 PM

How often to you see a fix using both zipties and duct tape?

Just seeing the headline I thought you had kidnapped someone

That is the standard gear in various quality crime TV series and such.

Wspeed · **Reply #11 on:** October 09, 2018, 05:59:26 PM

WECSOG · **Reply #12 on:** October 10, 2018, 04:44:21 AM

Butch · **Reply #13 on:** October 10, 2018, 06:35:36 AM

Quote from: WECSOG on October 07, 2018, 06:33:03 PM

How often to you see a fix using both zipties and duct tape?

I was looking at the merit badges and noticed that the Zip Tie badge was the first one listed. That is apropos for me since the ZT is one of my most-used tools. So I started thinking: what usage to feature? The wiring in my truck? Wiring in my camper? The motorcycle that would fall into a heap of parts if all its zipties were removed?

Then I remembered this revolver. This was a stripped Ruger Super Blackhawk frame I had laying around. I decided to make it shootable again, so started scrounging parts. It was originally a stainless steel .44 Magnum, but most of the scrounged parts were blued, including the .45 ACP cylinder. So be it. I asked around among my home gunsmith buddies in hopes of finding a .45 caliber barrel. This particular chunk of barrel is what I came up with. I have no idea what it originally came from; some type of rifle. But it is .45 caliber, so I made it work.

When I got it together, I wanted to test fire it. But it had no front sight yet. I wanted to be able to actually aim it, so I cast about looking for a suitable temporary sight. Eventually it occurred to me that I use zip ties for so many other things; maybe one would work here as well.
At first I was thinking along the lines of using the zip tie to hold an L-shaped piece of wire to the barrel as an impromptu sight. But then I realized that the nub of the zip tie would work just fine, sans wire!

Back to the present. I went looking for a photo I had taken of my new front sight, and realized something else I had forgotten: I also used a piece of duct tape (Gorilla tape specifically) to hold the zip tie sight against rotating around the barrel and thus throwing off my aim! So this might actually qualify for both the Zip Tie and Duct Tape badges.