Building A Kit

[rodwha]

I have become a bit interested in building a gun from a kit. What has dissuaded me so far is that the tools I own are geared more towards A/C work so I'd need quite a few tools, as well as nothing to blue/brown a rifle barrel in, all of which would certainly bring up the cost to much higher than what a ready to shoot model would cost.

Having watched a video of Pedersoli's building up their stocks got me a bit interested.

What would be the minimal amount of tools needed to perform a basic kit?

I think I prefer the looks of browning, but what is a good less expensive way to finish a barrel that will last?

I figured I'd possibly start with a pistol kit (Lyman's Plains Pistol?) so as to keep it smaller and possibly more simple.

Are there any brands to steer clear of?

 

[hypo]

I'm workin on my fist kit myself and its not to hard and very fun as for tools lets see a brass hammer or a hammer punches sand paper and lots of time also a good knife like a case or something small to fit the lock if pre fited as for browning I use salt water mix a tea spoon of sea salt into a cup of hot water and make sure your metal is clean then rub it down and wait 12 to 24 hrs and do it again and keep doing it and rub the metal down with steel wool when it feels rough best of luck with it and be sure to post pictures!.

 

[rodwha]

The sea salt/water mix creates bluing?

What do people use to fit the stock and parts together? I noticed in the Pedersoli video that they used some sort of red paint to verify a good fit.

I have my muzzleloader hammer (rubber/plastic) and screwdriver set. Sandpaper and a good knife, eh?

What do y'all use to clean the barrel?

 

[GANGGREEN]

I won't get into all the tools needed because other more qualified guys will answer (or you can find tons of info on a search) but browning is neither difficult nor expensive. You don't need anything special other than a bottle of LMF browning solution or something similar. Don't let the lack of tools prevent you from doing something that interests you, for a moderate investment, you can find whatever you need.

 

[kaintuck]

"I have tools...therfore I build"..... :youcrazy:

1. need a bench with a vise, to hold the parts/rifle as you work on it.
2. I do MOST of my work with a couple of small planes, chisels, and rasps. scrapers,square,round,etc
3. a dremel for lock area is handy, but not really needed.
4.patience and inovation for getting it right.
5.research and reading up on your rifle for doing things correct.
6. guts to just 'jump in'!!!!!

on, and #7. a workshop cat to keep you company!!! :stir:

 

[sc45-70]

What do people use to fit the stock and parts together? I noticed in the Pedersoli video that they used some sort of red paint to verify a good fit.








Lipstick

SC45-70

 

[rafterob]

Patience is the most important tool you will need. A wood rasp and a microplane is useful. A round file, a couple chisels and a gouge, an exacto knife and a drill. You can do it with those, I did. The only thing I needed to buy was the chisels and I bought an inexpensive set for $25 which made it through the build but they're not much good for anything else now.

 

[Spikebuck]

Something like a GPR "kit", in relative terms, requires very few tools, A kit such as those from Track of the Wolf, Pecatonica, Chambers, etc. more tools.

For the latter on my first build a small flat scraper was invaluable, as well as a couple of wood rasps, flat, half-round, and rat tail files, a small file set, a drill and appropriate bits, tap handle and needed taps, hammer, a few gouges and chisels, box cutter or small knife, a sanding block, maybe a 1/16" punch, something to measure with...a flexible metal rule works well. A low-cost gunsmith screwdriver set is nice. A bench vise. Inletting black. A couple of gun building books and perhaps a DVD so you can see things being done in addition to reading about it.

Probably missed a few things that are nice to have.

Patience, patience, patience.

Being able to sharpen those chisels is very important...you'll be quickly frustrated with dull chisels/gouges!

Browning a bbl requires no special tools at all. You'll need to whittle a plug for the muzzle. I used a piece of coat-hanger wire and hung it from a shower curtain rod in the spare bathroom. A waxed toothpick in the touchhole. A piece of soft cloth to apply browning solution. A piece of denim to card the barrel during the process. I used the shower to create humidity from time to time during the process. If you give the finished barrel an oil bath, I just formed a narrow trough out of aluminum foil supported by an old piece of corner molding.

If I had thought I was only going to ever build just one kit, I'd have probably not done it. I knew that it was high probability I'd want to do more...and I do. Two more projects starting this winter! I can't imagine not planning or executing on a build project now. One of the most enjoyable and rewarding things I've ever done.

 

[kaintuck]

www.leevalley.com :thumbsup: :surrender:

then :youcrazy:

then the wife finds the charge card bill :shocked2:

then when your done :bow: :grin:

another go-a-around? :hmm:

yup :stir:

 

[Swamp Rat]

Look up Hovey Smith on Youtube he builds a 32 crocket in the kitchen, I think that is the type kit you are talking about building. Those kits really do not require much in the way of tools. And for a barrel finish there are a lot of options. Birchwood Caseys gun blue paste sounds like the easiest but is not the most durable.

 

[Billnpatti]

You probably have all of the tools that you really need. You may need to go to a hobby shop and buy a set of Exact-O knives. Actually, you need an Exact-O handle and a set of blades including some of the chisel blades. Not an expensive investment. Browning is very easy, you just need a browning solution. I prefer Laurel Mountain Forge browning solution. It gives a nice brown but if you want to go cheap, you can use a simple salt solution. Clean your barrel with a good detergent to remove all traces of oil and grease. Then apply the browning solution and let it sit in a humid environment. You can make a humidity chamber by using a piece of 4 inch drain pipe with a cap on one end. Wet a rag and stuff it in the bottom and hang the barrel in the pipe so it hangs freely without touching the sides. Let it stay in there for 12 to 24 hours for the first coat. Take it out and rub it down with a piece of burlap to remove all of the loose rust. Apply another coat and put it back in the humidity chamber. This time be sure to check it in about 12 hours. Don't let it go too long or the rust will cause the barrel to be rough. All future coats should only stay in the chamber for about 8 hours. Just keep doing it until it has a nice even brown. Neutralize the surface of the barrel. Warm it well with a hair drier or heat lamp and apply a heavy coat of oil. Let it sit for a few hours and rub it down. That's all there is to browning. If you want a blue barrel, use Laurel Mountain Forge browning solution but this time, every time you remove the barrel from the chamber, put it into a pan of boiling water and boil it to turn it from brown to blue. You can make a pan for boiling your barrel from a section of metal rain gutter with caps soldered on both ends. You can put it over two burners on the kitchen stove.

 

[jamesthomas]

And one more thing, Do not work on it if it becomes a CHORE. I'm doing a kit right now but have taken a break because I found myself trying to go to fast, ALMOST goofed when inletting the butt plate but I caught myself. I took a deep breath and took a break, I haven't worked on it for about 3 weeks. I'll start back soon but I'm not going rush it.