Seems like lathe work around here is either feast or famine. Last week, I couldn't keep up- this week nothing- until a few moments ago. The lack of projects was probably a good thing as I have been introducing 9th graders to the wild and wonderful world of Electronics Technology. 

 

Anyway, Popular Woodturning posted a seasonal, timely video by Tim Yoder. Tim turns a Jack-O-Lantern! His video can be found here-

 

 

If you look closely, you can see he is using some of our wonderful sponsor's- Easy Wood Tools- turning tools.

 

 

My next project looks like it will be turning a wooden bullet for a 30mm cartridge. A week or so ago, Cliff posted some information on the future of the A-10 Thunderbolt. I have been asked to make the bullet for a spent cartridge. I have a complete "dummy" round but I need to determine the inside diameter of the opening where the shell casing interfaces with the bullet. I refuse to tear mine apart and the person, for whom I am making it, refuses to let it out of their sight. I was told it it "about an inch". That just isn't accurate enough. If any Patriot member has a spent 30 mm GAU-8 shell casing and could post the dimension, I would appreciate it.

 

That's it for this week- 

 

Safe Turning.

 

 

Lew, I am sure we can dig up some dimensions on that round, let me do some research.

Feast or famine for sure! I been without a single thing on my bench all summer long, I hope to get something going this long weekend. I have some special events that need some arts and crafts for their fundraisers, I have a shaker shelf standing by ready to finish, that'll go to the outfit.

Thanks for the Wed post Lew!

Hi Lew,

 

Being the cool site host that I am, I did a bit of digging. I didn't find an exact dimension for you other than the length of the entire shell complete with bullet. That is 290 mm.

I dug a bit deeper and found this,  Ammo: 30mm diameter, 290mm length. Of every 5 rounds in the feed one is HEI PGU-13/B High Explosive Incendiary and four are API PGU-14/B Depleted Uranium Armor Piercing Incendiary. The API rounds consist of a sub caliber core of 0.66lbs of Depleted Uranium in a 0.8mm thick aluminum shell

 

So, if you have the outer dimension of the case neck, you can then measure in 0.8mm and come up with an accurate dimension on that bullet.

 

(Ref: http://www.atk.com/products-services/gau-8a-ammunition-30-mm and http://www.williammaloney.com/Aviation/NewEnglandAirMuseum/RepublicA10ThunderboltII/pages/10GAU8A30mmGatlingGun.htm

 

 

Let me know if I need to dig further.

Thanks, Charles, that will help.

 

I think I'm going to turn a tapered blank, send it to them and have them insert it into casing as a test fit. They can mark the depth of fit and send it back. I'll use that as a pattern when turning the actual piece.

Sounds good Lew, without having an actual case to measure, it makes it hard, especially if the customer is slightly less than cooperative