Cutting stock bolt to lose weight?

[lacer]

Thinking about cutting the back of my bolt off to the bolt pin retaining screw. Just wondering if anyone has tried this or knows what kind of results you can get. Pics would also be nice to see.

[crankwalk]

I've seen it done on 2k2 bolts and I saw someone convert a 2k2 bolt to an Alias bolt by chopping off the front and the rear of a 2k2 bolt (there were pictures but I cannot for the life of me find the thread - yet)

Weight loss wouldn't be that significant but it shouldn't hurt anything if you chop off the back of the bolt.

[IRStookmySpyder]

Just be sure you don't get too close to pin or you might cause it to crack and fall out.

[lacer]

Any ideas on what i should use to cut it, to try and get a clean cut, and then to smooth it down to its original finish(reasonably good looking). Thanks.

[crankwalk]

one word to you bro: DREMEL :)

i'd use a cutting wheel first, then a burred bit to "sand" down the edges

let us know how it turns out!

[B-Pow]

Please tell me you're doing this for apperence and not just for weight loss...

shaving off that part of a delrin bolt is like taking two quarters out of your pocket to "lose weight".

[lacer]

That wasn't my original intention but it will also make the bolt match the shape of the body, which it doesn't right now. 55

[jrmiller]

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd185/fallengz/bolt.jpg
i cut and dyed mine. dremal works the best. a little sand paper to finish it off

[Stewey956]

Dremels save you a lot in paintball. :)

[BigRed76]

Go ahead and use a sharpie to mark the line that you want. Then, using a cutting wheel on a dremel or a hack saw, use it down to roughly the right size but a little less than you want to take off (meaning longer bolt than you want, don't take off too much). Using a file, sandpaper, or barrel sander attachment of the dremel, finish out the form.

[GiXXER]

sorry noob question comin...

i was wondering if its actually bad or not that great of an idea to chop the bolt? i didn't read if it was bad or good...i have a nd timmy with a shocktech bolt but i find that when i play the paint is going everywhere. well not exactly everywhere but sometimes i only have a few seconds to get the shot off but the paint goes about 3 inches somewhere else. i use good paint and the right bore size so all a buddy and me can figure it would be the bolt, so i got a stock alias but it sticks out way too much.

sorry this turned into a short story but i wanted to be clear...haha

[crankwalk]

well, kind of an off topic question is - did the Alias bolt solve the problem of your paint going everywhere? :D

[Stewey956]

^^ Haha, ye, we need an answer to that.

I think cutting the bolt to an extent is definitely ok.

[GiXXER]

well, kind of an off topic question is - did the Alias bolt solve the problem of your paint going everywhere? :D
sorry...i may have drifted the topic a bit..haha
well i shot it this morning to check if it helped, (and wake up some neighbors...lol ) and i find that it helps a bit actually, idk why but it did!

^^ Haha, ye, we need an answer to that.

I think cutting the bolt to an extent is definitely ok.
ya...i didn't see that actual question, "is it good or bad to cut the bolt?" so thanks for clarifying that! :tup: so i'm gonna cut the bolt today because it looks hideos on my nd timmy...it sticks out so much.

[crankwalk]

I mean my question was off topic :) but if the new bolt has helped then it might be the bolt itself or the o-rings on your old bolt need to be replaced, then you can use your old bolt and don't have to cut the Alias bolt.

[GiXXER]

I mean my question was off topic :) but if the new bolt has helped then it might be the bolt itself or the o-rings on your old bolt need to be replaced, then you can use your old bolt and don't have to cut the Alias bolt.

well i don't mind cutting the bolt because i plan to keep it in there. maybe i'll use the shocktech bolt for my empire 2 or sell it...no big deal...i'll just change those bolt orings like you said!

[Stewey956]

Well, I'd rather have an ugly functional bolt is all I am saying.

A bolt sticking out on a ND would look pretty bad. - Pics after your work is done please!

[crankwalk]

Oh you have a Shocktech bolt, I missed that. Shocktech bolts don't have rings from what I remember. Could just be you needed a bolt with rings to keep blowback and other strange airflow problems from affecting your paint's trajectory. More proof that the best bolts for Timmys are STOCK bolts! :D

And you can't use the ND's Shocktech bolt in the Empire 2 - Gen3 and Gen4 bolts aren't compatible.. they may look compatible but they are built a little differently and can't be swapped.

[Stewey956]

And you can't use the ND's Shocktech bolt in the Empire 2 - Gen3 and Gen4 bolts aren't compatible.. they may look compatible but they are built a little differently and can't be swapped.

Bummer.

Stock bolts for pretty much all poppet guns don't need to be upgraded.

[GiXXER]

Well, I'd rather have an ugly functional bolt is all I am saying.

A bolt sticking out on a ND would look pretty bad. - Pics after your work is done please!
will do!
Oh you have a Shocktech bolt, I missed that. Shocktech bolts don't have rings from what I remember. Could just be you needed a bolt with rings to keep blowback and other strange airflow problems from affecting your paint's trajectory. More proof that the best bolts for Timmys are STOCK bolts! :D

And you can't use the ND's Shocktech bolt in the Empire 2 - Gen3 and Gen4 bolts aren't compatible.. they may look compatible but they are built a little differently and can't be swapped.
that's weird, i put that shocktech bolt on the empire and it fits perfectly...i actually aired it up and fired it a couple times and it shot...
and my shockteck bolt has orings. i'll change it anyways because like you said, there might be some blowback getting through it

and i just wanted to mention, I LOVE THIS SITE!!! so much easier to talk about timmys than other sites...

[Stewey956]

Maybe it isn't a Gen3 bolt then?

[GiXXER]

Maybe it isn't a Gen3 bolt then?

??? im confused cuz it still shoots with my gen 4

[toolittletoolate]

??? im confused cuz it still shoots with my gen 4

Well, if it is a Gen4 bolt that may account for the problems you were having with it. Post pics up then maybe one of us will be able to tell you.

[crankwalk]

Yes take pictures of both the bolts, side by side - line the front tips up and take a picture of the bottom.. its important to see the air holes in the bottom of each

[Squirlly]

When I get home about 9pm EST I'll yank the Shocktec bolt from my Alias take a pict and post it... then we can start getting to the bottom of this since I know the bolt was purchased BEFORE Gen 4 was released.

-Tim

[Stewey956]

I'm thinking it is a Gen4 bolt and that is why you have problems with shot curving and all that.

[GiXXER]

ok i'll take pics as well. my stock bolt will be cut but you guys should get the idea right?

[Stewey956]

We main;y need to see how the air holes line up.

[marks90004]

What did you use to dye your bolt? Did the dye affect the performance of the bolt (ie. did the coating from the dye increase the thickness of the bolt?)

Cause that bolt looks awesome and I want to try it on my 2k2.

[crankwalk]

There's really no coating, you just use RIT dye and it seeps into the delrin

[Stewey956]

^^ Yup.

All you need to dye things are powdered RIT Dye in your color choice, a pot that holds enough water for the item to be dyed can be submersed.

Boil the water, add the dye, then drop in the piece to be dyed. Check every 2-3 minutes until color is achieved.

[Daigz525]

I recently used RIT to dye a mini trigger from "thebetterone" on the nation. It turned out really well. I ended up selling it to a buddy for an extra $10 bucks!!!!

[Stewey956]

Lol nice one, I heard about that guy making custom triggers. - Now I wanna get a delrin trigger just so I can dye it.

[Squirlly]

Ok as promised picts of my Gen 3 (Alias) Bolts, Yeah I still have the stock bolt so I snapped both of them. Just click on a pict to see it MUCH larger.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t64/squirllyoh/alias_bolt_1SM.jpg (http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t64/squirllyoh/alias_bolt_1LG.jpg)http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t64/squirllyoh/alias_bolt_2SM.jpg (http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t64/squirllyoh/alias_bolt_2LG.jpg)
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t64/squirllyoh/alias_bolt_3SM.jpg (http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t64/squirllyoh/alias_bolt_3LG.jpg)http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t64/squirllyoh/alias_bolt_4SM.jpg (http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t64/squirllyoh/alias_bolt_4LG.jpg)

Yeah I'm anal but I know I've found the angel you wanted to see :D

-Tim

P.S. Please excuse the pug hair they are EVERYWHERE in this house. It has been said pugs only shed once a year.. yeah from Jan 1 to Dec 31 :facepalm:

[Stewey956]

Thanks for the pics!

I paid over $30 due to one of my dog's hairs getting into my noid once.

[crankwalk]

Thanks for the pictures of the bolts. It almost looks like they are different gens and not Alias bolts. Must be the way they were designed, the shocktech looks shorter...

[GiXXER]

i'm glad squirlly got some pics up...i see the difference but i'm still stumped on how my empire 2 takes the shocktech bolt and shoots with it. i took some pics of 3 bolts with my phone so i hope the quality is ok. i also cut the alias bolt and dyed it black. i wanted it darker but o well.

bolts from right to left: cut alias, shocktech, and empire 2
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk273/moryam/SU1HMDAxMDMuanBn.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk273/moryam/SU1HMDAxMDQuanBn.jpg

cut bolt before and after
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk273/moryam/SU1HMDAxMDAuanBn.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk273/moryam/SU1HMDAxMDYuanBn.jpg

[Squirlly]

Thanks for the pictures of the bolts. It almost looks like they are different gens and not Alias bolts. Must be the way they were designed, the shocktech looks shorter...

The Shocktech is shorter BUT weighted behind the pin so the center of gravity is just about the same point. I haven't put them on a scale but the shocktech also felt about 30% lighter.

-Tim

[crankwalk]

The weight isn't as important as it would be for both the bolt pin and the hole underneath to line up perfectly on whatever bolts you had. I know that when you line up Gen4 and Gen3 bolts you can see the difference where the hole is..

[marks90004]

Can you get that RIT dye at home depot or lowes?

[GiXXER]

Can you get that RIT dye at home depot or lowes?

nope but you can get it anywhere they sell laundry detergent, got mines last night at safeway...

[Stewey956]

You can get it at hobby stores. I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby.

[GiXXER]

just wanted to show you guys that my gen 3 shocktech bolt really does work with my gen 4....
http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk273/moryam/?action=view&current=VID00003.flv

[Stewey956]

Can you shoot balls with it and be accurate?

[GiXXER]

Can you shoot balls with it and be accurate?

i have only shot about 1/4 hopper with some cheap old paint. no breaks though...it seemed to be as accurate as it can be seeing how the paint was old. i will try it again...

[Stewey956]

Hmm, the air holes aren't supposed to line up perfectly, so you might lose FPS, ROF, or distance.

[GiXXER]

Hmm, the air holes aren't supposed to line up perfectly, so you might lose FPS, ROF, or distance.

so i shot the gun with the shocktech bolt and i didnt lose anything. it was fast and pretty accurate! there wasn't a problem with distance either...after, put the shocktech back in the ND and shot great too! sorry no vid but i swear that i'm telling the truth! :D

what was weird was the first shot on the empire 2 was basically nothing but after that it was good. any clue?

[Stewey956]

what was weird was the first shot on the empire 2 was basically nothing but after that it was good. any clue?

Can you explain with more detail?

[Rob]

i did mine.. this is as far as you can cut it.... i chronoed right after with no affects. was shooting straight 271s with an occasional +-2
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r40/paintballarob/100_1778.jpg







oh and if the rit dye thing hasnt bene answered. i foudn some at cvs and walgreens... and publix.

[Stewey956]

Nice cutting.

[Rob]

thanks.
Im thinking of rounding out the back at some point.

[Stewey956]

What Timmy do you have?

[Rob]

miami rage... I think it looks better with the cut bolt.
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r40/paintballarob/100_1773.jpg

[Stewey956]

Certainly does.

[Rob]

yea. i only cut it bc theres a piece of metal in the back of the breach that sticks up... so instead of trying to fix it i just choped the back of the bolt off so it doesn't rub haha
amazing results. shooots very well still.

[Stewey956]

LOL, easy fix.

[Rob]

exactly haha.
oddly enough... the chunk i took off. actually has soem weight to it.

[Stewey956]

Well, the less weight the more efficient I suppose.

[GiXXER]

Can you explain with more detail?

well basically, the first shot when i first air it up or after it's not shot for a few minutes, is weak. it has major drop off and prolly only went 25 feet, but right after that it shot perfect...

[Stewey956]

Oh, FSDO, make a reg problem or spring is too heavy/ram is too light.

[GiXXER]

Oh, FSDO, make a reg problem or spring is too heavy/ram is too light.

um..whats FSDO?

[Ollieleet]

first shot drop off.

[Stewey956]

Ollie said it.

basically your 1st shot is weak, and then the rest are fine. It sometimes has to do with springs, sometimes pressures, other factors too.

[Rob]

i always move my botl and rammer around jsut to break bonds loose...

[Stewey956]

What?

[Rob]

if you havnt shot the gun in awhile... and you try to push the bolt and rammer forward... it will be hard... also causes fsdo... so i just move em back and forth a bit then air my gun up. never have fsdo.

[Stewey956]

Hmm never heard of that method before.

[Rob]

yea well also there are bonds inside the noid so you have to break those by shooting it..