Titanium Recoil Lug

[Dave Hoback]

I truly love this stuff. One more thing that can be done with a few tools & a little know how. I finished machining the 6AL4V Titanium Recoil Lug. It came out superb. I’m hoping I can run the current full thickness, but need the new Criterion barrel I’m waiting for to decide.

Started with a Sheet of Gr.5 Ti. That’s 6AL4V. One of my favorite materials.
https://i.ibb.co/PZvKc5Q/EAD77311-61-CA-4-E76-97-A7-DCD4-A14-B63-FD.jpg (https://ibb.co/vx6p3JY)

Rough machining done, and hole drilled for locater. I did a little different with the locater pin. I threaded the hole first. By the way, anyone who has threaded small taps like 3mm (M3-.5), knows the patience needed. Well, Titanium adds a whole new level of play to the equation. The thickness is .300”. This took me over an hour just to thread the one hole! It takes a patience on a level beyond!
https://i.ibb.co/QM295Gr/75-C79-B57-8-F82-4-E12-8-BD1-1-B16-A16-D4687.jpg (https://ibb.co/XthXwTS)

This is my 2x72 belt I designed & built also. It’s been in several of my pictures. I truly love this thing. It has a 2hp motor and is a workhorse! I was trying to show the blaze of bright white sparks that comes from grinding Titanium. But it’s only a worn 250grit belt on it & trying to take the picture with one hand is well, difficult. LOL! But there is a glimmer of white light sparks that is visible.
https://i.ibb.co/m6chcBb/3-D13-E2-FB-D1-BB-4963-846-D-4-C28-CDA71-ED3.jpg (https://ibb.co/0hGYGXm)

Reason for threading. I’m using an Titanium M3 cap head screw as a locater. I had to turn down the head of the screw slightly & shorten both the head & threads.
https://i.ibb.co/3Rwsp28/C84-F3-FAE-1-EA2-4967-B488-7802-D67-AAD55.jpg (https://ibb.co/0skXCTW)

Finished, polished & edges chamfered. It’s still long, but I’ll address that once it’s getting installed. My Chassis will allow the full profile as it sits.
https://i.ibb.co/NyBrG7G/0-C0660-C7-A4-EA-40-F2-9932-6-CE6513-B66-AA.jpg (https://ibb.co/HH8C9X9)

Compared to the one I was using. This is a PTG lug I’ve been using for many years now. Titanium Lug .300” vs .250” of the PTG. Also, I left it a full side profile vs the “non-parallel” cut of the PTG.
https://i.ibb.co/q78wsCD/CA6-E4-EE1-899-F-4705-848-B-2051043-D877-E.jpg (https://ibb.co/8NwV5bm)

[jpx2rk]

Nice work, is this a "just because I can" project, or will there be any benefits of a titanium lug??

[want2ride]

Awesome! If you are making a beta version of an accustock recoil lug, I would be a paying guinea pig.

[Dave Hoback]

For the most part it’s just because. I mean, one could argue that Titanium parts control harmonics better, due to its natural damping performance on vibration. And of course weight, if I was going for that.(which I’m not.) No, I just have always had a strong fascination & appreciation for Titanium. Metallurgy has been a hobby of mine for many years. So naturally, I’ve studied Titanium & it’s Alloys a great deal. It’s properties are absolutely fascinating, and working with it is incredibly difficult. So every project using it, every successfully machined small part gives a DIY’er machinist like myself, a sense of overcoming. Taming the Beast, so to speak. Also, it’s just really cool stuff. And making small pieces/parts & such, is very enjoyable for me.

[subzerocg]

Fine work, David.