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Re: SPA WF600 (B3-4) clean-up, re-lube and tuning
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2022 8:35 am
by airmec
It looks much better now (B_7), and the pellets go in smoothly and evenly, no more shaving.
For now I’m pretty much done with the rifle, I need to shoot it to see about the accuracy and general ’’behavior’’. But I still want to re-visit the trigger, and also I’d like to improve the underlever latch, the sights and maybe even re-finish the stock, so this story is not over yet!
More to come.
Re: SPA WF600 (B3-4) clean-up, re-lube and tuning
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2022 11:23 am
by TCooper
Nice work! Thanks for walking us through the steps with all the detailed pics. Much appreciated. I'm glad your barrel has no tight spots. It should be a great shooter!
As you mentioned, the jungle wood is quite soft. It doesn't take much to get a small ding in the exterior. To harden up the inletting I used a few tubes of SuperGlue from the dollarstore. I use the cut-off fingers of a nitrile glove to apply. Slip finger sleeve on index digit to distribute the glue. Apply a drop directly onto inletting and quickly "paint" it on with a wipe of the finger. Slowly work through all the inletting without using too much glue so it doesn't run onto the exterior. Let it soak in a few minutes and do a second and maybe third coat in porous areas. I also careful did the stock screw holes using a q-tip to quickly smooth out the glue. You end up with a hard surface that won't absorb oils or moisture.
I shot a 5-pellet group last night with my WF-600 from 10 metres. A front sandbag was used but nothing at the buttstock. One pellet went a bit to the right but the group still measured 1/4" ctc. This was with the cheapo H&N Sport pellets. With a more secure rest arrangement I've had some smaller groups than this.
I'm looking forward to hearing what you use for optics on the WF. Ideally you want a scope that's about 9" to 10.5" in length. I'm just using a cheapo CenterPoint 4X (terrible glass) but it's 10.5" long. I was going to try an 8" compact scope but the grooves in the WF receiver don't extend to the very back of the tube. This will likely put the scope a bit further forward than I want.
Re: SPA WF600 (B3-4) clean-up, re-lube and tuning
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2022 2:26 pm
by eSteve
Airmec, thanks heaps for doing this work so well, and for showing it so well too. I'm inspired.
I got one of these rifles about a year and a half ago when I was getting into the hobby. I feel rather guilty, it's been living in the closet for many months now.
I had been working on it. And got some nice, custom-machined parts and some other goodies from Ricksplace. Very generous of him (cheers Rick!). The parts included the nice Rear Spring Guide and some spacers. Some of the spacers have seen duty in my Cometas.
Yeah, I was working on my WF all that time ago, trying to smooth it out and make it accurate. I was having some success. But the trigger was not nice and my efforts there just made it worse. It became unshootable. And I also had just got a good, used Crosman Optimus that was very much more rewarding to work on and shoot. The WF has been languishing ever since. But yes, I'll be reviewing your good trigger work.
There is hope. I dragged my rifle out and had a look at it when I was following your work here. And I got a replacement front sight / lever clip from CSS recently (see photo), when I was buying something else. Yes, I broke my first one before realizing I didn't have to snap the underlever like closing a break barrel. I don't know when I'll be ready to work on it though. I'm having great fun shooting and working on the Cometas.
There's something else. I enjoyed seeing the welding / brazing work you did. I was curious about which processes you used. I had done a lot of welding in school. I had been thinking of getting some kind of welding setup for years, there are often small things to repair or fabricate. Again, inspired by your work, I happened to see that C Tire had their basic MIG machine for 50% off. I bought it, no hesitation. I've already done some household repair, I'm getting ready for the more detailed work on air rifles. Sorry, no plans for the WF but the Cometas need work. Augmenting a Front Spring Guide, for one. And the ends of cocking levers, as you've done here.
Thanks Airmec.