3gunr Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 Anybody try a carbon fiber free float tube on their rifle? I have a Bushy 14.5" M4 profile that im looking to make a really light weight rifle out of. Plan to get the rifle lenght tube and cover up the gas block. I may try and cut it down to a custom lenght, anybody ever cut carbon fiber? Can you just cut it and thats it, or do you then have to heat the cut portion to keep it from fraying?? Whats the opinion of the JP adjustable gas block? Does it cut down on muzzle rise and bolt bounce if you dial it down, and wouldnt the shorter barrel benefit more than a long one?? 3gunr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 Precautions on cutting carbon fiber: either wear a respirator or cut it under water. If carbon particles get in your lungs, they will never come out. If you are using a bandsaw, run the blade backwards. This will minimize fraying. It will still fray. To clean up the fraying, just do some wet sanding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhearn Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 Been using the Clark Custom Carbon fiber for about three years. Like it and no trouble. I have a peg mount of the left side for a sling attachment and its holding up fine. Mhearn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted March 20, 2006 Share Posted March 20, 2006 About carbon fiber handguards....they work great! I'm just partial to JP's aluminum ones. As for cutting them, I wouldn't begin to guess, nor would I want to, especially since you're planning on covering the block with the tube. My guess is that you want to run a rifle length tube over a carbine gas system. This will probably work as is, but you'll need a hole of some kind to access the block to adjust the gas bleeding. As for the JP Gas block, it is the standard. Especially if you run other custom parts like the JP Low Mass Operating System or other lightened bolt carriers, you'll need to adjust the rifle to your load. It definitely makes reliability a lot less of an issue once you get it dialed in. As for a longer vs. shorter barrel, my take is that you would get less rise from a longer barrel. This goes into impulse of the rifle being longer and smoother with a longer barrel instead of short and abrupt with the carbines. Just my $0.02. George is the man when it comes to this stuff and can explain it better than me. SPC Richard A. White, Senior Medic 249th MP Detachment (EACF) Camp Humphreys, ROK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sako92S Posted March 20, 2006 Share Posted March 20, 2006 I'm using DPMS carbon fibre tube on my mid length RRA stainless barrel. It was cut down from rifle length tube with normal saw cutter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Blind Squirrel Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 I'm using a Clark Custom carbon fiber float tube on mine. It's not there for the weight savings (carbon fiber/aluminum) but for the reduction in heat. The aluminum one I had on there would "cook" your hand after a run or if you left it in the sun without something covering the handguard, and it took a long time to cool. The carbon fiber eliminated all of those problems. I have had it for several years and have been extremely pleased with it. I'm sorry I don't know about cutting. Maybe you could call Clark and see if they can make one sized the way you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa C Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I just bought a carbon fiber free float tube for my AR-15, as recommended to me. I bought it, thinking that there would be hand guards to cover this. However, I'm only seeing pictures of this tube, without any covers. It's really flippin' ugly. Is this the way it should be or do hand guards go over it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken hebert Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 The carbon tube is the handguard, no covers. If you don't like the look of the carbon then paint it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry White Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 The carbon tube is the handguard, no covers. If you don't like the look of the carbon then paint it. Or go to a local skate shop and buy a sheet of skateboard tape, comes in a lot of colors and patterns, about 5 bucks, cut it to the size and shape you want, peel and stick. I have cut the stuff with a hacksaw, a wood saw and even a large tubeing cutter, some sanding required.-------------Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Conley Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 I just bought a carbon fiber free float tube for my AR-15, as recommended to me. I bought it, thinking that there would be hand guards to cover this. However, I'm only seeing pictures of this tube, without any covers. It's really flippin' ugly. Is this the way it should be or do hand guards go over it? If you want a pretty one get a PRI carbon fiber free float tube. But get ready to spend some coin. I wish mine would hurry up and get here!!! Chris C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Conley Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 (edited) Well here's how the PRI tube turned out: Very light and sturdy by the way. If you so wanted there are holds already drilled to add rails. Chris C. Edited April 3, 2009 by Chris Conley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlamoShooter Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Benny Hill put a Clark on my RRA varmint barrel gun , cut the barrel down to a more normal size but it is still 20" + Benny's comp. I like it a lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Well here's how the PRI tube turned out: Very light and sturdy by the way. If you so wanted there are holds already drilled to add rails. Chris C. Sweet....I'm planning on putting a PRI on a a short(ish) rifle I'm going to have built up soon. R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek45 Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 (edited) I put a PRI on my 16"carbine and I like it alot. I think I like it better than my JP. Edited April 4, 2009 by Derek45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TISCHLJ Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 The Clark Carbon fiber tube on my SBR was cut for me by Clark. If you call them and order from them ask for custom length. Great customer service! I has them cut the tube and when I received it both ends looked the same- both ends polished and properly finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaarr Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 (edited) What is the weight of the: PRI GEN III FREE FLOAT FOREARM SYSTEM RIFLE - CARBON FIBER UPPER - LONG Thanks in advance. Edited July 5, 2012 by Yaarr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 What is the weight of the: PRI GEN III FREE FLOAT FOREARM SYSTEM RIFLE - CARBON FIBER UPPER - LONG Thanks in advance. Specs on tube..... This Gen III forearm in Dark Earth Finish comes with 4 rails, 1 8.5" rail on top and 3- 3" rails at 3,6 and 9 O'clock postions. The forearm is constructed of wrapped carbon fiber, with an aluminum barrel nut and collar. Total length of the forearm is 12.5" and weights 16.5oz. including barrel nut. The clearance from the center line of the barrel to the underside of the forearm is .78". The inner diameter of the barrel nut is 1.020" Custom barrel nuts with larger ID for larger diameter barrels can be made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbon9 Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 I cut a Carbon Arms/Firebird Feather carbon fiber tube on a regular band saw. I taped the tube with blue painters tape, wore a respirator and had a shop vac mounted as close as possible to the blade. No fraying and the sharp edges were dressed with a Cratex bit in a dremel using vac and respirator outdoors with a fan blowing away from me. It turned out very nice. Fraying may be a symptom of different grades of carbon fiber. YMMV and do any cutting at your own risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Running Dog Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 (edited) As for cutting carbon fiber; I worked in boatyards for many years doing fiberglass work for a living and have built many high performance sailboards and have cut more carbon fins and masts than I can remember (too many resin fumes!) and all I can say is it ain't rocket science. Wear at least a good dust mask and cut it with your favorite cutting tool. For a clean cut on a non-tapered tube use a fine diamond blade in a chopsaw (power miterbox) and dress any fur with fine sand paper. Abrasive blades work better than blades with teeth for a clean cut. If yr really anal wipe a little epoxy resin on the cut edge to seal it. By the way if yr on a budget or don't have a chop saw , don't want to buy an abrasive blade....whatever....A hacksaw with a fine blade, 220 grt on a wood block to square it and 400grt wet or dry to smooth it will work too........... Edited July 7, 2012 by Running Dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now