Stamping a bolt?

[JohnnyEgo]

So I am lazy. I have a lot of AR-15s and I don't clean them as often as I should. I want to drop a dozen disassembled BCGs in a tub of MPro-7 and let them soak overnight, but I am concerned that I won't remember which bolt goes to which gun. Thought about stamping a letter into the side of each bolt so I could make sure it ends back with it's appropriate barrel. I have some stamps, a vise, and a hammer. Is there any harm in doing this? I haven't really thought it through, so I figured I'd outsource that process to the collective intelligence while I sleep.

Thanks!

JohnnyEgo

[Jamnanc]

So... You want to custom label your bolts, but don't want to buy a few plastic food saver tubs?

[Irving]

You could take a picture of the guns laid out on the floor, then take a picture of the BCGs in the wash bin in the same configuration. Or see above. Or do one a night for a week or two.

[Great-Kazoo]

Quick engraving or use the small stamp set i have. Easier to number them, so 1 is the FDE SBR, etc. Then run an hour in one of the ultrasonic cleaners here, Or there.

If you're going to stamp them,top rear section, is a non critical area. You touch bases with my guy?

[Irving]

What about different colored string tied around each one so you're not doing anything permanent?

[ray1970]

If you are talking about stamping the carrier I say stamp them if you want to. The area where Kazoo mentioned would work nicely. I'd just stamp the last two or three digits of the serial number of the weapon it came out of.

[y4m4]

Disposable cups? Waxed paper ones will stand up to most things, plastic can be tricky with some solvents.

[KS63]

Carbide tipped hand held engraver.

[ray1970]

Carbide tipped hand held engraver.

Or he could get them laser engraved. That would be pretty fancy.

[crays]

How much disassembly are talking? If you're going down to parts & pieces, it may be worth the investment in a jug of mp7 and small containers.

Otherwise, my first thought was different color zip ties, connect loosely to allow solvent flow.

sent from somwhere

[JohnnyEgo]

I have a couple gallons of MPro-7 and several repurposed food service trays. You guys have given me something to think about. I was originally going to stamp a letter or number on the bolt itself, but it now occurs to me that I could just put each bolt in a labelled ice cube tray and stick it in a pan. The Dixie Cup idea is actually a really good one as well. The one upside to stamping the bolt itself is that it would make it easier for me to remember what bolt goes with what gun, whether they are in the tub or drying on a rack. With one distinct exception that will not function well without a specific carrier, I am not terribly worried about the carriers getting mixed up. However, if I am going to stamp the bolt, might as well do the same for the carrier. I already own stamps, making that option free, and more attractive than engraving.

I knew I could rely on the brain trust to think this one through for me.

[ray1970]

Post pics after you stamp them if you go that route.

[C Ward]

Strip the insulation off of stranded copper wire and take flat washers with numbers stamped in to them and string all the parts together .

[Great-Kazoo]

Strip the insulation off of stranded copper wire and take flat washers with numbers stamped in to them and string all the parts together .

K.I.S.S great idea.

[JohnnyEgo]

Strip the insulation off of stranded copper wire and take flat washers with numbers stamped in to them and string all the parts together .
This seems like a really good idea in light of the fact that the first bolt I tried to stamp seems to be rounding off my apparently much softer punches more than making any discernable marks.
I bought a bunch of little Dixie cups for the bolt and small parts. Think I might try the washer idea for the carriers, so I can just chuck them all in the pan overnight.

[Great-Kazoo]

This seems like a really good idea in light of the fact that the first bolt I tried to stamp seems to be rounding off my apparently much softer punches more than making any discernable marks.
I bought a bunch of little Dixie cups for the bolt and small parts. Think I might try the washer idea for the carriers, so I can just chuck them all in the pan overnight.

DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING IN A PAN OVERNIGHT. Until you know what if any finish will remain. A 30-60 minute soaking of coated items might look like bare metal after 12-24 hours.

[JohnnyEgo]

I've been using the soak method for years. I've already learned the hard way what can survive. Hence why my Sig 1911-22 has no paint on it.