Can I fix this?

BUDFORCE · 27 Apr 2025 at 18:44

As you can see from the photo the metal has sheared.

I've googled it and apparently it's some kind of zinc alloy (some chinesium cheddar no doubt) I wondered if I could get away with something like JB weld although I doubt it.

I don't have a welder, I'm not sure if you could even weld that.

Edit: after more googling pretty sure it's just aluminium.

Cadder · 27 Apr 2025 at 19:32

Aluminium is tricky to weld and maintain original strength. Did it shear while the item was used as intended or was it something else like dropping it that caused the break?

Is it expensive to replace? The solutions I can think of involve machining, dowels and fixings.

sovietspybob · 27 Apr 2025 at 19:48

You can weld aluminium but depends if its been tempered as the welding process will destroy that.

What is it and how strong does it need to be afterwards?

You might be able to solder/braze it back together, again depending how strong you need it to be. I'm sure i've seen aluminium brazing rods before.

drill and pin it with JB weld would work if its decorative.

BUDFORCE · 27 Apr 2025 at 20:16

Cheers guys.

Yup sheared in normal operation. It's an operating rod for a rifle, I guess it's about 3 years old.

Since making this thread I had a look and you can buy a replacement although it's a pain in the backside for... reasons.

I might have to go down that route though if this is something that cannot easily be fixed.

Thanks for looking though.

sovietspybob · 28 Apr 2025 at 07:57

I'd give brazing/soldering it back together a go first if i were you, it's easy to do and non destructive of the part.

Grim5 · 28 Apr 2025 at 07:58

BUDFORCE · 28 Apr 2025 at 08:03

sovietspybob said:
I'd give brazing/soldering it back together a go first if i were you, it's easy to do and non destructive of the part.

Ok cool, I'll look up how to solder/braze aluminium.

Grim5 said:
Gun?

Yes.

Rroff · 28 Apr 2025 at 08:20

One of the videos on YT about restoring a Thompson submachine gun has a load of helpful information on welding these kind of metals in the comments - will try and find it when I have a chance.

hornetstinger · 28 Apr 2025 at 08:24

Grim5 said:
Gun?

more like a toy gun. Don't recall our lee enfield snapping lol

bloodiedathame · 28 Apr 2025 at 08:58

Personally I’d drill out holes in each broken end and insert a metal dowel (probably just a stainless bolt with the head cut off). JB weld or similar the whole lot together.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 28 Apr 2025 at 10:22

As above, drill out a sensible hole in both sides, use a bolt of some description with the top cut off, or a screw etc, just find something with decent size compared to what your mending
Even a steel nail will be fine

I would use araldite extra strong myself in this scenario.

Make sure you have some clamps, or make a simple jig from wood (or both) that ensures that when you glue it you have it properly aligned and under slight pressure.

I would aim for the insert to be roughly 50% of the cross section your mending and at least twice its diameter in depth but ideally something like 4x
Ie if its a 5mm insert then 2cm in depth to both pieces of metal

Terminal_Boy · 28 Apr 2025 at 10:41

Fake charging handle off an airsoft M1 Carbine?

Ping the importer to see if they carry spares or buy one from one of the Hong Kong airsoft megastores.*

* No idea how much of a PITA that might be under all the UKARA nonsense.

Rroff · 29 Apr 2025 at 22:19

Video I was referring to above:

Sadly the comments are a lot more jumbled up now but there was some good stuff about welding, etc. different types of alloys on guns somewhere in there.