shooterbenedetto Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 I cut the frame down and slide now that it is in about 75% into the frame i noticed theres a side by side play. how do i get that out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Squeeze it in a vice.....carefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precision40 Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Slide got really hot and bent a bit, maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSMITH Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 If it is a new frame and slide keep going and get the slide fully on the frame and fully back. Lap it in, then squeeze it JUST until it gets tight again. Lap again, Squeeze again, and lap. Should be good to go. It is pretty unusual to have a new slide and frame other than GI have play side to side. What make is the slide and frame? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooterbenedetto Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 If it is a new frame and slide keep going and get the slide fully on the frame and fully back. Lap it in, then squeeze it JUST until it gets tight again. Lap again, Squeeze again, and lap. Should be good to go.It is pretty unusual to have a new slide and frame other than GI have play side to side. What make is the slide and frame? Thanks, smith it is an sti 2011 frame and slide. my first time building a race gun. so your sugestion is to squeze on the vise? lap and squeeze? will it be accurate gun or should I just accurail it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe D Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 It should be done with a good machinist vise that has parallel jaws. Tighten the jaws then hit the one that closes with a hammer. Protect the slide with a couple of pieces of real thin plastic. Watch the area with cocking serrations. Real easy to damage this area. Brownells has a "vise" just for this. http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/pro...861&s=25667 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSMITH Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Did you narrow the frame rails at all? Yes, I am saying to go ahead and finish getting the slide on the frame THEN squeeze and lap, squeeze and lap. We are talking a thousandth of an inch or two on each squeeze, then lap. You will be able to see when you get good contact from the lap marks. If it is only a couple thousandths of an inch it will work fine. I would squeeze and lap. If you have 6 or 8 thousandths you can probably still squeeze and get a good long lasting fit. More than that I would call a good gunsmith and ask them what to do, I would call a couple independent of accu-rail too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trader Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 If you think you may want to send it for Accurail, I would not do any squeezing of the slide. The Accurail will solve your side play and you may put the slide out of spec for rails if you squeeze it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Sample Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Lot's of really bad advice. Slides tend to make a loud noise when they crack. I still don't know what you did to your rails. Pinching slides is not a good thing to do. Perhaps the Accu-rails are the way to go. Or a new lower end and some instruction on how to fit a frame to a slide? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooterbenedetto Posted January 3, 2007 Author Share Posted January 3, 2007 Thanks Dave but my frame is brand new... I think i will call my gun smith and have him fix it. it only off by 5 to 10thousands of an inch. as for the accurail, i really dont like that stuff. Say HSMITH the answer is yes I did narrow the frame (rail part of it) that is the 5 to 10thousands of an inch off compared to my other open gun frame? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricW Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Thanks Dave but my frame is brand new... I think i will call my gun smith and have him fix it. it only off by 5 to 10thousands of an inch. 5 to 10 thou is a lot to be off by on a new slide/frame fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSMITH Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 5 to 10 thou is a lot to be off by on a new slide/frame fit. Yeah, but it isn't the end of the frame, and education comes at a price in one way or another. I learned a lot of what I know the hard way too. Talk to your smith, save the frame, and go on. Tightened slides tend to loosen up sooner than slides that haven't been tightened, but the gun can still shoot great with a couple thousandths of side to side play. With a well fit barrel it will be a VERY minor issue. Worst case, you build the gun, shoot it for a while and then accu-rail it. That sinking feeling in your gut when you realized what had happened really is the worst part of this whole thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wide45 Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 I'm not a fan of Accurails. If I could not fix it myself, it would go to EGW, for weld up and refit. No rails to break or get lost. Don't have to send it back to Accurail if a new slide is wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe D Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Hmmm, never had a problem pinching slide rails. Probably done 20-30 in my lifetime. A lot depends on how much you need to pinch. About the most I have had to pinch was .005"-.007". I suspect what happened was the slide would not start on the frame and metal was removed in the wrong place. That old saying of measure twice, cut once is always true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentlemanJim Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Howdy. I have some old very worn guns that still shoot real good. Loose dont get stuck. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooterbenedetto Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share Posted January 4, 2007 (edited) Joed and hsmith is right...I will never cut on the frame ever again!!! if I do, it will only be the most .005 thousands. I can always replace a good SLIDE but not the frame!!! this would be my gun and a keeper. I noticed that after shooting for 2 years, a gun needs a new slide every time? is it worth PINCHING or should I have EGW weld the frame and refit? if so, how much does EGW charge and what is the turn around? I figured after 2 years, I would have to Pinch another slide on the frame? but if I had EGW weld and refit, it would be easier to fit a new slide in 2 years? Edited January 4, 2007 by shooterbenedetto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harmon Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 contact EGW and see what he says. Im sure he would be happy to fix it for you. Harmon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSMITH Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 It really depends on how much play there is. If it is only 5 thou I would pinch it. More than that? I don't know, I would talk to a couple smiths that know a lot more about it than I do. If I did send it to EGW I would send the slide too, that way they can mill the rails square again, true them up and fit the slide. Then it would be done, and you can continue the education. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brazos Custom Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Send the frame and slide to EGW to have it welded. They will do an excellent job and the charge is very reasonable. When you squeeze the slide and then lap you are reducing the size of the rails on the frame each time. The slide when heated up during a good practice session swells up and the metal wants to return to its original dimensions because you have stressed it. When it does move towards it's original dimensions it is loose again and you have smaller rails to boot. You are also introducing stress into the metal that if it does not crack immediately can lead to a crack down the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe D Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 If they are going to charge you over $175-$200 then I would just get another frame. One question though. How thick are your slide rails? Hope you did not take too much off the bottom of the slide. At some point you are better off to just cut your loses and chalk it up to experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brazos Custom Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 From EGW's website: Weld up and machine fit slide to frame $150.00 A little known service that STI offers for frames thast are damaged is to make you a new frame with the same serial number and decommision your other frame (in effect a repair). I can't remember the exact cost but it is substantially less than a new frame and you don't have to do new paperwork because it is a repair and not a new frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoshidaex Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 not 100% sure but i remember something along the lines of $150 or so for a new frame, same serial number and destroying your old frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooterbenedetto Posted January 5, 2007 Author Share Posted January 5, 2007 (edited) Thanks, BoB and all of your response, i will call EGW and have it done correctly. in the mean time I will order another frame and do it again!!! this time I will measure 5x and cut once! and of course I will still use my good OLD FILE!!! MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.... Edited January 5, 2007 by shooterbenedetto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 (edited) Please don't use a file as you cannot get a clean, straight cut. It would be a LOT cheaper to send it to a smith & pay a little for the fit & do the rest. DISCLAIMER! This post is by Benny Hill... :-} Edited January 6, 2007 by Merlin Orr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooterbenedetto Posted January 6, 2007 Author Share Posted January 6, 2007 Thanks Merlin but if thats the case the please SOMEONE tell me how they use to fit frame and slide in the old days with out a machine.. file has to work... but I think it must be done very slowwwwly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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