Using the Anchorlube reminds me of something my father in law once told me "Coleman's mustard make their purest profit from the bit that's left on the side of your plate !"😂
Nice to see a file being used and sandpaper I just use a drought by I tap it out with the good clean table and it is done. Nice well job no need for helicoi. Sometimes I will tap metrics out to the next size American.
Nice repair John. I don't think it could have gone better, but like you I thought the drill had not broken through and you were sounding horrified and saying you thought you had drilled into the barrel lol yes it could have been bad, so very bad! lol and as for "Martian snot" that cracked me up!