"Dan" wrote in message
...
Peter Dohm wrote:
"brian whatcott" wrote in message
...
Michael Horowitz wrote:
I have a small bronze bushing whose OD I'd like to expand slightly so
it fits the ID of a tube.
I seem to recall there was a way to expand the OD slightly with
something like a knurling tool. Does that sound familiar? Is there an
easy way to do this? - Mike


That method is generally recognized as cowboy engineering.
You might hope for better life from using a metal powder filled epoxy
to fill the gap, and that's no great shakes either.
Pick a bigger bush and reduce it, if you possibly can.

Brian W

What??? Is "cowboy engineering" the newest politically correct version
of political incorrectness in describing a "kluge" or generally
unacceptable practice?

Peter ;-)))
You're gonna upset some guys who're real good with .44s


.44 is for sissies, try .500 S&W magnum. In any event knurling isn't a
good solution for something on which your life may depend. There simply
isn't enough surface generated by knurling. I have done it for toy steam
engines, but would never do it for something that has significant forces
applied. Bear in mind bronze and the tube material have different
temperature expansion rates.

If you don't need to apply a lot of force to it you can use a prick
punch to stipple the outside of the bushing if you don't have access to a
lathe and knurling tool.

If you choose to make your own bushing bear in mind there are different
bronze alloys each with its own characteristics. I use phosphor bronze for
most of my bearing applications.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

AFAIK, the .44 was the percussion cap wheel gun that became the .45 Long
Colt, a/k/a The Gun That Won The West, and extremely popular amoung cowboys
during the brief period of the Old West.

In any case, I agree with you about knurling.
Peter