Gunsmithing Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

[Longshot38]

I just don't get it why is it that the 34 and 35mm alignment kits cost 3 times as much as the 1 inch and 30mm kits? The cheapest commercially available kit I could find was running about $140 (and has since gone up). So I took off to the local machine shop with my 30mm kit and asked what it would cost to get it reproduced in 34mm. The answer I got was around $600. When I got a dumbfounded look on my face asked why a piece of 34mm bar stock cost that much the answer I got was that because the can't get bar stock in metric sizes they would have to turn down the bar stock. Which I figured they would have to do that but it really isn't that much machine work nor is complicated.

Alright enough with my rant. But really I don't understand why those two sizes cost 3 times what 1 inch and 30mm do. Anybody got any better answers?

 

[300sniper]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

talk a shop that builds or repairs hydraulic cylinders and see if they can grind you one. i still think you will be money ahead by just buying the available one.

just my idea on the price, how many 1" and 30mm lapping bar kits do you think are sold? now how many 34 and 35mm bars get sold?

 

[Downzero]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

I wonder why you're lapping at all.

 

[Longshot38]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

Downzero I lap check all my rings for correct alignment and lap most of them. The way I see it it's a lot cheaper to do that then ruin a perfectly good scope.

300 I at present I agree I'm better off buying the available kit. I just think it's a crock to they cost so much. The metric agrument doesn't hold water because I can get a 30mm kit for under $45. I do understand what you are saying about demand being low but it still doesn't make paying somebody $140+ for a kit that has at best $30 worth of material in it.

 

[300sniper]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Longshot38</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
300 I at present I agree I'm better off buying the available kit. I just think it's a crock to they cost so much. The metric agrument doesn't hold water because I can get a 30mm kit for under $45. I do understand what you are saying about demand being low but it still doesn't make paying somebody $140+ for a kit that has at best $30 worth of material in it. </div></div>

buy a centerless grinder and make them yourself for cheaper

 

[Longshot38]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

Believe me I'd have a shop full of machinery if I had the shop to hold it. But unfortunately I'm stuck with my small shop until I can finish getting the house ready to sale

. But one of these days.

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

they know how much you had to spend on a scope that uses 34mm & 35mm rings.

 

[PFCSkoug]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

If that small shop holds a small lathe just turn them yourself.

 

[Longshot38]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

If my small shop would hold a lathe we wouldn't be having this discussion. Due to space/electrical/construction issues I really can't accommodate a lathe.

 

[chpprguy]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

Then ask someone here with a lathe what they would charge to turn a 34mm bar for you......

 

[jrob300]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chpprguy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Then ask someone here with a lathe what they would charge to turn a 34mm bar for you...... </div></div>

I bought a piece of steel bar for $5. My gunsmith turned it for me for $5.

John

 

[Lt. Arclight]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jrob300</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chpprguy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Then ask someone here with a lathe what they would charge to turn a 34mm bar for you...... </div></div>

I bought a piece of steel bar for $5. My gunsmith turned it for me for $5.

John </div></div>

Sorry, NO way is a lathe turned piece of steel accurate enough to lap rings-you might think it does the job-compare that to a centerless ground lapping bar.--Won't need any lapping compound though.

 

[J-Hon]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

Have you considered bedding your rings/bases?

 

[JALVI]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Longshot38</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Downzero The way I see it it's a lot cheaper to do that then ruin a perfectly good scope. </div></div>



If you are using QUALITY rings and base, how are you gonna ruin a QUALITY scope? You should not have to lap good shit unless you run into some binding which will be quite apparent when you set the optic in. Every time I have set an optic in the torqued rings, I set the eye relief, leveled it, and then torqued the caps. No binding, no nada.

When I bought my first set of BO rings I called Marty up, and right outta the horses mouth I heard "...ya don't need to lap them". I'm on my 5th set of Badger rings, and have not lapped a single one, and have not had a single problem. A couple months ago I set my PH in BO 34mm USMC rings, and only had to correct about .3-.4 mil to zero.

I've only run BO rings and bases and 1 Surgeon integrated rail, so thats all I can speak for.

I'm just curious.

 

[Lt. Arclight]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

+1,2 S&B PMII's 5x25x56,3 USO's,3 Nightforces,1 Zeiss Victory Diavari-with Badger rings on a Badger rail-not a ring mark to be found. Trying to fix a problem that doesn't need to be fixed.

 

[jrob300]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lt. Arclight</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jrob300</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chpprguy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Then ask someone here with a lathe what they would charge to turn a 34mm bar for you...... </div></div>

I bought a piece of steel bar for $5. My gunsmith turned it for me for $5.

John </div></div>

Sorry, NO way is a lathe turned piece of steel accurate enough to lap rings-you might think it does the job-compare that to a centerless ground lapping bar.--Won't need any lapping compound though.

</div></div>

Now I do think you're picking nits. I'd venture to say that a well turned lapping bar is 95% of a centerless ground. Both of which are a ton better than NOT lapping in quite a few combinations of rings, bases and recievers. For me it worked perfectly and it cost me $10. You can pay $100 or more for your "Centerless Ground Lapping Bar" and then sleep with it under your pillow for the other 364 days of the year.

Go piss on somebody elses' parade.

John

 

[Lt. Arclight]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jrob300</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lt. Arclight</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jrob300</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chpprguy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Then ask someone here with a lathe what they would charge to turn a 34mm bar for you...... </div></div>

I bought a piece of steel bar for $5. My gunsmith turned it for me for $5.

John </div></div>

Sorry, NO way is a lathe turned piece of steel accurate enough to lap rings-you might think it does the job-compare that to a centerless ground lapping bar.--Won't need any lapping compound though.

</div></div>

Now I do think you're picking nits. I'd venture to say that a well turned lapping bar is 95% of a centerless ground. Both of which are a ton better than NOT lapping in quite a few combinations of rings, bases and recievers. For me it worked perfectly and it cost me $10. You can pay $100 or more for your "Centerless Ground Lapping Bar" and then sleep with it under your pillow for the other 364 days of the year.

Go piss on somebody elses' parade.

John </div></div>

Lap away-I don't own a lapping bar-nor do I need one. As far as pissing on someone elses parade.....what does that have to do with the original post? Its one thing to disagree-its another thing to disagree and being disrespectful.

 

[jrob300]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lt. Arclight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Its one thing to disagree-its another thing to disagree and being disrespectful. </div></div>

You're absolutely right. I hate it when threads turn into a cesspool. My bad. I'll stick to the facts.

John

 

[subgunr]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

Whats wrong with 34 or 35 mm 0-1 drill rod. +/- .02mm on Dia.

 

[300sniper]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

are the scope lapping bars undersized to allow the finish size to be accurate? i would think if you used a bar the same diameter as your scope and then added lapping compound, the rings would end up over sized.

 

[subgunr]

Re: Why are 34 & 35mm lapping kits so expensive?

Guess it depends on how "on size" the whole setup is and the mean diameter of the laping compound abrasive.I have never lapped a set in my life...just check and adjust for flatness of the rail as mounted,buy or manufacture good rings and send it down the road.