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It ain't a mistake if ya can fix it (LOL)

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Oh Ship I can't believe I did that!!! Me bad! A good rifle smith friend of mine once told me "it ain't a mistake if ya can fix it"! Well, I am good at makin mistakes, especially the ones I know better not to do. I had a pilot hole (first pic) exactly where I wanted. When I drilled the tap size hole, it wandered off center. To repair, I slightly counter sunk the pilot half hole. Using a short chunk of #8 finish nail, I wedged it in the pilot half hole. Soldered the nail, and then tapped for 10/32 thread. Not perfect, but once the browning is on, it won't be visible. Remember, if women don't think you're handsome, they can at least think you're handy. (From Red Green)
flintlocklar

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Seems like there's no such thing as perfection. Those so-called mistakes are just an opportunity to improvise. :)
 
Good job! I had a similar thing happen recently when drilling for an 8-32 bolt. The hole wallowed out and I just punched it out to 10-32.
 
All drills drill oversize. Always drill smaller then then as second time with the size you want. When you do that all drill make the right size hole.
 
All drills drill oversize. Always drill smaller then then as second time with the size you want. When you do that all drill make the right size hole.
Thanks, for the tip, but my error was not a size error as I posted. It was caused by the off center (my error) hole crossing through the tang side of the breech plug. That off center made the tap hole intersect to the side of the correctly placed pilot hole.
I drill from both sides and intersect versus from one side only. If I would have enlarged the hole crossing through the tang side of the breech plug first, the drill would have hit dead center on the pilot. Again, my error.
Flintlocklar
 
Very clever my friend. Sort of reminds me of the old saying “ Is the glass half empty or is the glass half full? “ more than not when I’m trying to fix a screw up I either really screw up the fix or I end up with a masterpiece of a fix!

Either way, it’s definitely a learning experience good or bad.

For me I say to myself, “ you’re not satisfied and are ya going to live with it where it ends, or are ya going try? “ That try has cost me more than not, but when it turns out great! There is no better feeling of satisfaction in the world!

Respectfully, Cowboy
 
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