Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Welding bolt handle

I've got a Brno Mauser with a really ugly bolt handle that I want replaced. I have a new bolt handle, bolt handle jig, bolt body heat sink and heat sink paste. My son is a welder (certified, I think). Is this a good chore for him, or should I have a regular gunsmith do it? Also, is MIG or acetylene welding preferred for jobs like this?

I would not acetylene weld,( although I have done it). Too much heat compared to mig or tig. A good cover gas will prevent a lot of splatter vs a flux cored wire.

Do you have files, etc. to finish the job off after welding?

Saddlesore has some good advice. To the OP, make sure your son is proficient with welding small parts. I've seen some guys say they are "welders" and fall flat on their face when it came to welding some things... Good luck with it, I hope it turns out great, whichever route you take....

Micro-tig...

Micro-tig

Tig, haven't gas welded a bolt handle since they came outbwith tig.

Ah hell, getcha a big ol cutting torch and go to it.
I actually wonder if silver solder would work?

Work on 700 bolts most of the time, seen them come off too.

I've got the stuff to finish it up once it's welded. Thanks to all for the advice.

No question micro-tig is the way to go.

Just don't send it to Dan, what ever his name is, in Alaska. I sent him mine because he had a quick turnaround. Some said two days. Well he's had mine over a month and my gunsmith is waiting on...you guessed it, the bolt. powdr

I have been welding them on with gas for 50 years.

So I say---- TIG!

Yes it's possible to do an excellent job with gas and yes all the old classics made in the 20s 30 and 40s were gas welded. BUT
TIG is a far better way to go. It takes a long time to become a real skilled gas welder, and only a short time to get good with TIG
TIG is also good in that if you make mistakes you can drill them out and fill them easily.

You can drill them out and gas weld too, but not easily.

And when it's all done a good highschool level TIG welder does as good a job as I do with my torch and doesn't need years of practice to get those good welds.

So............TIG

My son has his own TIG welder, so it ought to be pretty straightforward for him. By the way, if I recall rightly, "MIG" stands for "Metal Inert Gas" and "TIG" stands for "Tungsten Inert Gas"? Why tungsten? Aren't there all sorts of different alloy wire available to match/complement what's being welded?

Tungsten is the electrode and doesn't melt. You hand feed the filler material.

Tig is all that I use.

Send it to Dan www.accu-tig.com powder, what did Dan say when you called him back? Never had a problem with quality, price, or time. I've never had a problem getting in touch with Dan.

Butch, I was going to call him Monday. He seemed like a nice enough fellow when I did talk to him. I know I sent it during the holiday season from Texas to Alaska...can't get much further than that but he hasn't answered my 2 emails. I hate to call a guy during working hours. Most like to be called at the end of the day or evening so not to be disturbed. powdr

Remember the time difference. I have always called.

There's your problem.. Youse are Texans, and we'uns are 'Lascans!!!
)

Silly not East coast peoples.

I've used Dan as well, did a great job!