Tool kit for the Amatuer Smith

Hairtrigger said:

I use shot bags filled with sand or rice to hild my guns in various positions when I am working on them

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Great idea - I have a couple for my Lead Sled but hadn't that of that use - thanks!

LAGun said:

You may need a good Bench Block and/or a Vice to hold slides and such...

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You are correct. I have used the vise in my garage but it's not kind to fine finishes. I need something better.

terry_p said:

I bought an 89 piece screwdriver kit made by Wheeler a few years ago and it suits my needs.

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Wow - 89 is impressive. Are they bits that fit in a driver or individual tools?

WvDave said:

I have one of these interchangeable head hammers in my "smith" kit. I use it quite often. Free shipping from Amazon


SE 8355HH 5-in-1 Dual Interchangeable Head Hammer - Amazon.com

I also have a larger rubber mallet in my kit - I have several Mark III's

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I like that hammer and think I will order one. Thanks!

I do have a rubber mallet but since I don't own a Mark III I haven't needed it....

heymatthew said:

I think a good set of brass punches is a good thing to have for drifting sights, etc. I picked up a set of brass/steel punches from a local hardware store. I think there's about 8 of each in various sizes.

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I have the indespensible 1/16" and a 1/8" - any other specific sizes you find useful?

heymatthew said:

I'm assuming the cat in the photo is your way of not having to buy a microfiber cloth, yes?

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The cat cannot stay away from the gun stuff. Either she simply appreciates things that are related to deadly force or she's hooked on the smell of Hoppe's #9, I don't know which.

dV8r said:

Very nice.
Also a plastic or wood mallet would be a good addition. Won't be long and a larger box will be needed also.

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Yep - I already need a bigger box.....

bearcatter said:

Any brushed stainless Rugers? You need a piece of red Scotchbrite, to disappear any light scratches.

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I didn't know that - great tip!

bhefley59 said:

Plastic or hard rubber hammer for that extra pop without marring the surface. Also I use a roll of tape to hold guns on to knock pins into the center . Nice collection so far.

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Can you explain how the tape functions in setting pins? That is a step that feels a bit tricky at times and I would like to hear a trick or tip related to it.

This is great stuff! Keep 'em coming!

Brownell's has a screw driver set that is the end all gun owners super set. Nothing worse than buggering up a screw end on a fine firearm. Its called The Magna-Tip Professional Super Set from Brownell’s, regular straight screwdrivers have no place near a gun. Gun screws need a hollow ground bit so that the pressure is evenly placed within the entire slot, to avoid marring the screw head and ruining the looks of, and hurting the value of, a good firearm. While a gun owner who only occasionally disassembles a firearm for lubrication and cleaning may not need a huge assortment of different sized screwdrivers, he needs more than he thinks he does. If the screwdriver does not properly and snugly fit the screw, the screw head can be damaged, and the gun can be devalued by a considerable amount of money. Buggered screws make the difference between a nine hundred dollar gun, and a six hundred dollar gun. While screws can sometimes be reshaped or replaced, screws like that tell a potential buyer that some careless idiot has been messing around inside the firearm, probably playing wild and reckless with a Dremel Tool. Besides ruining the looks of a gun screw, not using the proper screwdriver can also gouge or scrape the metal surrounding the screw, or even cause the screw head to break off, which can lead to all kinds of aggravation. The Magna-Tip Professional Super Set, which is built to be the ultimate screwdriver set for professional gunsmiths, it is also entirely suited for use by anyone who owns more than a couple of different guns. Again, if you are going to turn a screw on a nice firearm, it is very important to use a proper screwdriver, to preserve the value of the gun, and to get the job done with minimal frustration. The Magna-Tip Professional Super Set comes with seven different handles of various lengths and configurations. Two of the handles have a hollow section to allow the user to throw in a few bits to conveniently take to the range. Besides the six fixed handles, there is a dandy ratcheting handle with a T-shaped grip, that is ideal for use on scope rings and such. In the Super Set, there are 120 different bits. Over half of these are straight, or slotted if you prefer, bits of various widths and thicknesses. There are eleven Torx bits, which are handy around many modern firearms, and especially on scope ring screws. There are seventeen Allen head bits, four Phillips, several specialty bits to fit screws like S&W rear sight nuts and Ruger scope ring-to-base clamp screws. Also included is a square tip bit, and a special bit to remove and install grip screw bushings on 1911 style pistols. There is also an adaptor to allow the handles to fit one-quarter inch drive socket wrenches, plus a shotgun choke tube wrench, and a few others that I do not know what they fit, but am sure to need someday. All of the bits and handles store in a sturdy synthetic Delrin bench block that allows instant access to all the bits and handles. The bits are properly hardened for durability, but should one ever break, Brownell’s will replace it at no charge. Same guarantee covers the handles. They are guaranteed forever. You can’t beat that.
You can also order a optional torque wrench, which allows tightening the screw to the exact desired tightness. The torque wrench is adjustable from ten to seventy inch pounds, in one pound increments. It is easy to adjust, and easy to use. It is especially handy to get gun screws and scope base screws properly tightened, and to assure that all the screws are tightened evenly.