How I tightened up loose R10 and HW77 end plug threads.

A while back I posted this concerning my loose R10 end plug threads...........
http://www.network54.com/Forum/550526/message/1329923541/I+need+some+ideas+for+%26quot%3Badjusting%26quot%3B+a+R10+end+plug+to+the+receiver+tube.

Well, after trying several suggested ideas I found this solution........
3 coats of high temperature VHT Caliper Paint! The first coat was applied to the cleaned and degreased threads that was masked with tape, then allowed to dry, then baked in the oven at 200 degrees for 1 hour (per instructions on the can). The first coat was followed up by two more "sprayed/dried/baked" coats till the buildup was sufficient to take up the slop created by MANY removal and reassembly over more than a decade as the R10 was being used as a mule to learn home tuning! LOL....I even gave ONE coat to the threads of my HW77 end plug threads which restored the rather snug fit I remember when I first disassembled the gun years ago. A couple pics..........

Can of caliper paint.


Previous loose fitting end plug.



The end plug threads after 3 dried and baked coats of "paint".


End plug "snugs up" pretty nice now.



The final assembly.


As a side note, the stock mounting screws on the R10 were loosened and "overly tightened" so much over the years that the mounting tab threads stripped out. Years ago I had re-tapped the mounting tabs for 6mm screws and used it that way for a few years, however I "discovered" sheet metal threaded inserts at McMaster Carr when I was doing a thread restoration project for a customer and really liked the result, so.....I did the same with the R10 stock mounting threads. Here's a pic...........

These threaded inserts are hardened and there is no chance that they will strip out! This mod made it possible to use standard 5mm stock mounting screws instead of modified 6mm stuff.

Now, does anybody have a spare .177 Hw95/R9/R10 barrel in good condition for sale that I could use for the restoration of the R10 I bought decades ago? Years ago the R10 barrel got moved to one of the R9s I home tuned and sold.