kimwcook wrote:This might speed up the process, but if I were only going to do one I'd probably send it off to a quality gunsmith, like Nate. You'd probably have as much in it, or a little more at the end by sending it off, but it would be done right the first time. Or, go for it, dude. I know you're a MD, but that may or may not translate well to working with your hands. I don't know your skill level with hand tools.
Ha!
'Being an MD' merely means I was silly enough to delay my adult development by a dozen more years than a 'normal' person, and that I am a member of a group notorious for overestimating their abilities
outside their limited, albeit sometimes impressive, area of expertise.
Like most 'hobbyists' I figure the
essence of a hobby is figuring out how to do something the most difficult and expensive way possible, rationalizing it by saying you just have to have it done 'right' or you aren't willing to spend too much money on the right parts or someone else's labor - spending twice that much and screwing it up yourself is MUCH more fullfilling.
I wouldn't do it on a 'collectible' or pristine type gun, but I do like to do stuff myself, vs. send it 'out'. I was thinking that the same basic techniques would apply as to doing it with wood, in the 'before I got a router' days. I'd make a jig to control depth of cut, and make a few saw-cuts in the middle area to slightly less than the final depth. Then I'd use a coarse file to take out the material between cuts (the cuts serving to help reduce the total material I need to remove, as well as get shavings out of the way more easily). Then once I'm 'to depth' and sure it is 'square' , using a 60 degree file to form the undercuts for the dovetail part. Looks like I could make a 'safe' file by smearing epoxy on one face of an ordinary triangular file.
I like this idea (thanks for the link above):
If I could devise a way to use the Dremel's cutting wheel precisely (i.e. depth and angle guide) either on the Dremel tool or my drill press*, I might use it instead of the 'hack' saw. If nothing else, it just
sounds better to 'cut' than 'hack' . . .
.
Thanks for the other link, but I wasn't quite sure how to use this tool (
even that problem didn't ruin my honeymoon, though......):
I suppose with the right bit, one could use a drill press with the press vice as a guide of some sort. I know the drill press isn't designed for much lateral force, but perhaps removing some of the metal bulk could be done with it, going slowly and patiently. (Yup - that's ME allright - Mr. Slow and Patient. Always.
)
*
I forgot to divulge that I do have that high-tech piece of equipment as well; I was using it to hang hats on, but remembered it has someplace you can put sharp things that twirl around.
At least I have kids - if I screw something up, I can always blame one of them...
. 
) is on the fritz, and the precision 3/8" high-speed carbide dovetail-cutter is lost somewhere, so...
And I have not been able to find something similair. Sorry about that.
