BAM failure

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   This post is made on the request of Ian, so he could follow the "work in progress".
A few weeks ago, Ian and I met again in person at the
shootingrange after a couple of years missing out due to covid, Brexit and some
other discomforts.

It sure was good to, meet again Ian!

After Ian’s shooting time in the range, he told me his Baby
Automag was broken. The rib came loose at the front section. Aww… that didn’t
look good…

I remembered I read a post here on the forum with a similar
problem on a 44 AMP. I searched and found it was fixed by William aka WBautomag.
What a nice work done.

To make the story short(er) I told Ian I could fix his BAM
the same way.
More on the fix to be followed.

Here’s a picture from the broken rib.

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Luc V. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 1314	Post Options Post Reply Quote Luc V. Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: BAM failure Posted: 03 Aug 2023 at 5:16pm
	This post is made on the request of Ian, so he could follow the "work in progress". A few weeks ago, Ian and I met again in person at the shootingrange after a couple of years missing out due to covid, Brexit and some other discomforts. It sure was good to, meet again Ian! After Ian’s shooting time in the range, he told me his Baby Automag was broken. The rib came loose at the front section. Aww… that didn’t look good… I remembered I read a post here on the forum with a similar problem on a 44 AMP. I searched and found it was fixed by William aka WBautomag. What a nice work done. To make the story short(er) I told Ian I could fix his BAM the same way. More on the fix to be followed. Here’s a picture from the broken rib.

Luc V. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 1314	Post Options Post Reply Quote Luc V. Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 Aug 2023 at 2:10pm
	A quick update on the repair for the Baby Automag, Watch how little the weld was burned-in to the barrel, just a few small bits lay on top. I made a brassplug on the lathe to protect the muzzle: Pressed the plug in and degreased the rib and barrel, then secured the rib back in place: To be continued...

Luc V. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 1314	Post Options Post Reply Quote Luc V. Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 2023 at 8:10am
	Time for another update. I made a "pocket" as William did, so the weld could get deeper into the barrel and rib. The picture dose not show the depth well, but it is 3mm deep and spread about 50/50 barrel/rib. I guess it's not need to use the millingmachine, so I used the dremeltool and a small roundball endmill. It should all dissapear nicely after the welding is done anyway... Made the cavity about 4mm wide and 3mm deep. I stayed away from the sides so the weld should just "flash over" and fill the cracks to. That should be nice hole to fill up with welding material. Well now it's time for the welding. Since the old original weld was "burned in" very little, I'm thinking of using a "big stick" to weld. The plan is to put the pistol on a big chunk of metal, weld on the chunky metal first and then quickly jump over to the muzzle and rib. While it has beeing awhile since I did some welding, I better practice a bit first. Wish me luck!

Bulls Eye Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List International Auto Mag Joined: 20 Jul 2019 Location: Wilsonville, OR Status: Offline Points: 127	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bulls Eye Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 12:54am
	So, I guess that wasn't the only one. At one point Brian Maynard was managing AMT's customer service department. He told me they re-welded quite a few rails back on BAM barrels.

omie01 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 05 Feb 2012 Location: Minnesota Status: Offline Points: 593	Post Options Post Reply Quote omie01 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 1:54pm
	I think a TIG weld would be more appropriate for a weld fill like that. It will be hard to control that stick in such a fine manner. If it does work that will be a feat!! Good luck!!

Luc V. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 1314	Post Options Post Reply Quote Luc V. Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 5:17pm
	Thanks for the suggestion Omie01, but I don't have a TIG welding machine. I'm still exersice but found this welding fixture online for better control of the stick... https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4f9ZWVNl5nw

BEEMER1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 06 Jan 2010 Location: iowa Status: Offline Points: 1270	Post Options Post Reply Quote BEEMER1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 6:40pm
	Didn't William clamp some aluminum bars to the rib and barrel as kind of a make shift heat sink before he welded his?

Luc V. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 1314	Post Options Post Reply Quote Luc V. Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 Aug 2023 at 6:14pm
	Allright, joking status is over… A man has to know his limits, and as I am no welder at all (I can just melt metal together with a stickwelder). I took this part to a good friend of mine that is a professional welder. He did some “micro welding” jobs for me before and I trust him he could bring this to a very good result also. The result is fantastic! He said not to worry about the heating of the metal, he has all sorts of welding machines and took one that heat up very local and small area. So no need to clamp on extra heatsinks. As always, the pictures tells a thousand words: Now it's back at my turn to remove the extra material and further procedure...

BEEMER1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 06 Jan 2010 Location: iowa Status: Offline Points: 1270	Post Options Post Reply Quote BEEMER1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 Aug 2023 at 6:54pm
	I was kind of wondering what you were up to. I'm no welder but when I saw that welding rod I thought something was not quite right.

Ian Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 636	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ian Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Aug 2023 at 8:50am
	Hi Luc, I am loving the updates and the post a couple back put a smile on my face as that is about as good as my welding is. The last time I did any welding was in my early twenties and I remember saying "It worked well on the practice weld I did yesterday" after finishing the monstrosity of an attempt and that was the last time I did any welding, I am just lucky that camera phones where not a thing back then. Looking forward to the nest update and heading back to see the work, thanks to your friend for the micro welding it is very much apricated. Ian
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