Reupping Tool Supply

Beginning gunsmiths need to take a hard look at tool choice. The usual light table tools such as a variety of drivers and punches must receive some thought. Purchasing a good set with as much coverage as possible is economically sound. By the same token the mature gunsmith that has plenty of tools must realize the time comes to replace and discard some tools. I recently did so. Some of the kits and boxes I had accumulated over the years were missing key drivers or taps, others contained bent punches.

The odd assortment had become an aggravation. Some of the gear wasn’t first class in the beginning and should have been ditched long ago. Some of the boxes were a mismatch of makes of varying quality. This kind of thing happens after a few decades even if you make it habit to return things to their proper resting place after cleaning. There are a number of chores that we perform on a regular basis.

As your skills improve and the number of jobs you want to be able to accomplish increases so does your need for more tools. Tools may last along time but they need to be replaced at some point. Sometimes better tools come along, often appreciably better ones. Customiz- This one is oil and solvent resistant. A good magnifying visor is also a good but overlooked tool. ing, personalizing, and smoothing is typically done with smaller hand tools.

The lathe and drill will always be important but small jobs are bread and butter. Learning to do simple check ups and repairs is paramount; it has been along time since I scratched a finish or twisted a screw slot into a ragged burr. A fraction of the mistakes we make are related to the tools we use but these few mistakes may be eliminated by careful tool selection. As an example, I have discovered a number of my screwdriver ends have been chipped and worn over their years of use. These were recently discarded.

Simple parts replacement and use of hand tools is a sound beginning before moving to machine work. I routinely perform work that most of the guys in the gun shop should not attempt but neither do I cut frames and fit ramped barrels or special sights very often. The gun butcher is a large and busy class that will keep a good gunsmith busy. With a bit of care and the right tools you will be able to repair honest wear and mistakes as well.

If there is any advice that should be well taken it is to buy good quality tools in the beginning. They will last longer and perform the job better in skilled hands. Some tools are more difficult than others to locate and obtain. The split screwdriver used for disassembling Ruger revolver cylinder and extractor assemblies is one. You may go to the machine shop side of your business and make your own. You may find one for sale—and you may not.

Over a period of time you will have a wall full of properly-ground specialty tools. What if you don’t have a machine shop yet? Then Brownells and Real Avid (RealAvid.com, are among the top choices. A good workspace is very important. Many of us have a spot set apart for certain chores. One of the best gunsmiths I know started out with a yard sale workbench in the corner of his apartment.

When he was actually at work his bench blocked access to his clothes closet, his back was at his bed, and his chair resembled a milking stool. Despite the spartan start, his bench was quite sturdy and provided a place to begin doing simple jobs while in gunsmithing school. A good, solid bench may be built if you area bit handy with

The Real Avid (center) has the proper cut for gunsmithing use. tools—and you should be. A sturdy chair should accompany the bench. Some gunsmith work such as grinding is done standing up but much of our work can be done seated. More than a few gunsmiths set up in a storage shed behind the house while others work in the back room of a pawn shop.

Larger shops may have separate work stations for different work but the rest of us get pretty smart at quickly arranging and re-arranging a single station for different work. The dining room table is sometimes a beginning spot, though it’s important to realize that marital harmony will not survive hammers and chemicals for very long. A work bench in a dedicated space is a necessity. Your workspace should also have a surface to contain loose parts.

I have been recently using a Real Avid Master Cleaning Station which as a dedicated loose parts section. I also use floor pads to protect against dropped tools; a far superior surface to carpet. Another overlooked subject is lighting. Common lighting is too soft as detail work demands bright light. The level of brightness should be the same as a doctor’s examination room. Specific Tools In addition to tools for general bench use and the keeping them updated and replaced as needed, some tasks demand specific tools.

For example, modern pistols such as the Glock demand a unique set of tools to disassemble, maintain, and modify the handgun properly. The Glock 4-In-1 tool features several bits required for disassembly that folds for storage. Among the most useful com- This is a good set up for many uses. ponents is the 3/16" hex driver useful for fitting Glock front sights, a steady demand at every shop for Glock upgrades.

A nice touch is the hex driver is magnetized, a great idea when working with small parts that are easily dropped; this holds a loosened hex nut captive. A good number of aftermarket sights use a 0.050" Allen wrench to adjust windage on certain sight sets which this tool has. A few months ago I took in a Glock job but did not have a 3mm pin punch handy. Thankfully, the 4-In-1 tool has one. The general use flat bladed screwdriver is a must have for any multi tool.

Not long ago I was tasked to repair a revolver and find an original grip set and grip screws. The owner’s grips were for an N-Frame revolver and he found a set of nice grips at a gun show. The grip screw supplied was for a K-Frame and did not fit his revolver. I had to order a grip screw, costing $17.25 with shipping when it arrived. I was equally surprised at the current cost of a set of 1911 grip screws; it’s best not to wallow out or damage these screws in the first place!

I am sometimes amused that shooters spend a ton of money on the firearm, holsters, and ammunition but seldom spend alike amount on necessary maintenance. Tools are very important and they must be purpose designed tools for a firearm, not a cheap set from a chain store. An example is the Real Avid Smart Drive 90 multipurpose tool with two handles. One of them will perform most of the chores we run across while the other is specific for those hard to reach screws.

This short handle works well for trigger guard screws and may be fitted into the larger handle for greater leverage if needed. The tool kit’s working load includes 87 black oxide coated tool steel bits that will fit most anything you run across. I used the set on the trigger guard screws of a Cimarron Lightning the first day the set was delivered. These screws are notoriously soft in

This is a profitable re-up and an upgrade as well. Uberti-produced revolvers and easily stripped. I placed the bit into the screws, tapped them in place, and broke the screws cleanly without any difficulty. When you have the right tools you are more likely to perform the necessary field stripping, maintenance, and occasional detail stripping. It is important to understand the difference between hollow ground and standard screwdriver bits. Many gunsmiths are proud to have screwdrivers they have ground themselves.

Lacking a grinding wheel and a few decades experience, the rest of us will need something like the Real Avid set— besides, there is a lot of sweat equity in grinding a complete screwdriver set. I examined the Real Avid screwdriver tips under magnification. The sides of the blade run parallel to the screwdriver tip. You don’t want the usual taper to the tip. A taper to the tip type will not fit hard and flush in a firearm’s screw slot.

The firearm screw Top Bottom The vise should be an early purchase. slot is not tapered; they run parallel. Hardware store screwdriver sets will slip and then you have the typical ham-handed showcase of a buggered up screw driver set. Real Avid states their kits contains every flat, Phillips, Hex and Torx typically needed. It will take a few months to confirm this but a look into the tool bin seems to agree. If it isn’t complete, it’s a darned good shot at it.

Also useful for precise work is the LED light on the larger driver, which only aids in the good lighting your shop should already have. Finally, there is a scope adjustment tool. This turret tool has already seen use on my bench with the Springfield Victor and Tru Glo Eminus. Other features include a magnetic parts tray and metric and standard parts bits. Several years ago I ordered a brass punch set. The first time I put a hammer to it the punch bent. I was pretty well disgusted.

While not even the best punches last forever, it is best to get a good set. The Accu-Punch set is affordable but well made of good material. Ten hardened punches may be driven by a hammer with interchangeable heads. The nylon punch is ringed with rubber to fight vibration. The grip is good and works well for close work. Steel, brass, rubber, and nylon heads make for good utility and I appreciate the pin alignment tool. Even the smallest pins may be properly aligned.

Keep the pins organized in the hard plastic case and you will enjoy years of use. A last item I tested is the Smart Bench Block which provides a solid surface to brace the item against to drive pins out. This block offers several slots for proper angles. Real Avid offers a wide range of gun products. These tools, especially the Smart Drive 90, are essential for my work. They take up less space due to intelligent storage design and work well when put to the test. I think they are well worth their price. AG