Tuning inexpensive nice DIY CF moderator

 

I saw these while surfing airgun parts at Pyramyd Air a few weeks ago. Wasn’t sure of the size but, they were so cheap, I bought a couple anyway just in case they were usable.

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/crosman-np214-001-trail-baffle?a=7784

Found out when they got here that they were the perfect size for the Carbon tube I already had which was 23mm ID and 25mm OD. The thread was the almost universal 1/2x20UNF.
But they needed a bit of modifying so the tube would fit correctly in the front.

So, I mickey moused it onto the mini-lathe with some tape and spacers and tried to turn it down a bit.

I ended up using my Dremel to do the job as the plastic was a bit hard and the way I had the thing installed in the lathe did not allow me to put much pressure on it. 

Anyway took the Dremel and a hand file to it while it was spinning and got the job done.

Put an o-ring on the back, of the baffle, and the carbon tube slid on quite nicely.

Epoxied the front of the baffle to the carbon tube to keep things together.

Stuck it on the Impact I had just made the shroud for just to see what it would do. 

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/more-packages-on-the-porch-another-mod-for-the-gen1-impact/?referrer=1

To my surprise it took an already basement friendly gun to mouse fart quiet. So, it really werqs very well on the low to medium powered .22 gun.

Then just for looks I slid a piece of the same CF I used on my shroud mod over the now epoxied together moderator. It ended up a tight interference fit so I had to hammer on. It turned out great and looks nice too.

I would expect an enterprising individual could grab a couple three of the baffles and some cheap CF tube from China.

I used twill wrapped as it is stronger, but it doesn’t need to be all that strong for this moderator usage so roll wrapped will be fine.

https://www.amazon.com/ARRIS-Wrapped-Carbon-Glossy-Surface/dp/B00RX737R6/ref=sr_1_6

Those, like I used to be without a mini-lathe, wanting a couple/few inexpensive lower power moderators could cut the head off of a ½ x 20 bolt.

Screw the baffle to the cut off bolt.

Chuck it all up in a ½ inch drill.

Then spin it up and use a Dremel to take the bulk of the material off and touch it up with a file. Probly want to brace it a bit on the backside, while it is spinning, to be kind to your drill motor.

You need to turn down the area, on the front of baffle circled, to about what you see which is about half of what is there.

Push the baffle forward so it sticks out of the tube a bit. 

Then epoxy the baffle, where you turned it down, on the front and epoxy inside the tube on the rear. 

Push the two parts together and wipe off the excess. 

I used JB weld cuz that is what I had on hand.



Finished product when combined with the shroud mod is mouse fart quiet.



Just remember these baffles are lightweight plastic and have plastic threads so you will not be able to put too much air through these or they will be damaged or destroyed. I am guessing 15 or 20fpe is probly near the limit. My gun is under 20fpe, at the moment, and I have only 50 or so shots through this thing so only time will tell how ot holds up.


 
cmatera



I used to do this stuff with the caveman lathe. Now I have a mini-lathe and a couple of drill presses so not much in the way of machinery. The lathe is often way to small to be to useful. 



Plenty of this before the lathe.



7 x 10 mini-lathe is too small get a 7x14 or better yet an 8 x 20.



Got to have a Dremel tool





Drill press, drill bits, tap and die set, and the Dremel that's pretty much it for me. Lots of files to shape things too.
 
Actually I expect the aliexpress CF prices are near as cheap as printing at the moment?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002265467955.html






it seems the price came down a bit. I didn’t care to deal with all the dust cutting it, printing cost is very low and I can change the dimension however I want, just a lot more flexible and cheap. 
 
Use your brains here folks;

Remember these baffles are lightweight plastic and have plastic threads so you will not be able to put too much air through these or they will be damaged or destroyed. I am guessing 15 or 20fpe is probly near the limit. My gun is under 20fpe but I have only 50 or so shots through it so only time will tell.

EDIT;

I have a few hundred rounds though this at near 20fpe and it is holding up just fine. Accuracy is excellent with it on.
 
Use your brains here folks;

Remember these baffles are lightweight plastic and have plastic threads so you will not be able to put too much air through these or they will be damaged or destroyed. I am guessing 15 or 20fpe is probly near the limit. My gun is under 20fpe but I have only 50 or so shots through it so only time will tell.

EDIT;

I have a few hundred rounds though this at near 20fpe and it is holding up just fine. Accuracy is excellent with it on.
I would think that those baffles would be capable of handling whatever power levels the gun they were designed for develops.