gunsmith bench is finished. Should I do a kit?

[spersky]

I want to build a good kit. I have the time 2-3 hours an evening plus weekends. Building a kit seems like such a huge project. I am not sure I have the dedication. I know the reward will be worth it.

Anyway, I built a really nice gunsmith table for the garage this weekend. Even if I do not build a flintlock kit, the table will be useful.

I know that only I can decide if I should build a kit or not, but has anyone else been wavering about starting a kit.

P.S. it is not about the money. I can spend 3k on a custom rifle, but will building it be worth the sweat and effort

Opinions/comments welcome.

 

[Jason Lewis]

did you have something particular in mind?

 

[spersky]

I want to build this one.
http://www.flintlocks.com/rifles02.htm

Chambers Issac Haines in .54 caliber.

 

[talkingamoeba]

Go for it. Nice choice too.

 

[Capt. Fred]

Yup, good choice. I'd say go for it too. Take your time and ask lots of questions. Try and think way ahead before doing anything. Get a good book or two. Have fun. :thumbsup:

 

[Bill Hall]

Well, it would be a shame to build a gunsmith table and not gunsmith on it. I say go for it, and if you mess it up, you can always sell it to me really cheap.

Seriously, if you can build a nice table, you probably have the skill and patience to assemble a kit. Bill

 

[spersky]

This table is really nice. If I got to the point where I wanted to rush or cut corners, I just slowed down. Good practice for a rifle. The table was kinda my test. I think I passed. This table will last a lifetime or at least two.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Back in the old days, apprentises started out making their tools first. Before making their trade products. They said you could tell the quality of their work by looking at their tools. Now days many people just buy tools with no knowledge of how to use them. :bow:

 

[Tinker2]

I built a really nice gunsmith table for the garage this weekend.

Let see a picture of your new gunsmith table.
I like to see work benches.


Tinker2

 

[wattlebuster]

I have 2 chambers issac haines in .54 with rice barrels 1 is a rocklock 1 is a percussion and am in process of building a .40 in a haines rocklock. the balance of the haines rifles is amazing. i think u will love it when u get it done. just take ur time an it will be a center shooter when finished. good luck

 

[MSW]

by all means, go for it! i made an Isaac Haynes from a lacewood stockblank and i was amazed at the balance. the nicest toys are the ones which go 'bang,' and the best of those are the ones you made yourself.

but go into it with eyes open- get a few books (i like The Gunsmith of Grenville County by Peter Alexander and Recreating the American Longrifle by Shumway). there are also a number of really good videos which can be had for rent or sale at Pioneer Video - there are other suppliers but i can't remember their names right now.

also, there is no twelve step program for the addiction which you are about to aquire, so your question shouldn't be "which one,' but rather "which one first..."

good luck
make good smoke!

 

[Tommy Bruce]

Go for it!!! Just remember to take your time and ask plenty of questions as you go. The Chambers are great folks to deal with.

 

[Birddog6]

First I will say building a bench has no reference to building a rifle, except you used your hands & wood. But IMHO that is about it. :idunno:

I will say if you are not sure you will dedicate yourself to doing it, then don't. :idunno: It is not for every one. Some like to build, some like to tinker, some like to shoot. I am not trying to discourage you. But if you are going to do something & go for it, then do it with ALL intentions of finishing it, not with the knowing intention of not finishing it. Kinda a thing with me & when raising my sons..... You start baseball, you finish it.... there is no quitting in the middle, no matter how hot or tough or whatever, you will finish. ANYTHING they did, if they started it, they finished it....... If worked well & they are now good dependable & responsible young men.

So if you are going to do it, make up your mind this is to the END, don't even consideer an IF or Maybe, make it up in your head & set a course & do it thru to the end..... :thumbsup:


Another option is to buy one In-The-white & just finish it. This would get you shooting one, doing part of it yourself & test your time & patience. Then you can decide if you want to go for the entire build on the next one.

Should this be entertaining to you, give Tip Curtis a call at 615-654-4445 and he will have a good selection of In-the-White rifles are a reasonably priced & of various calibers. He is off to Friendship right now, but will be back in a couple of weeks & usually has 50-75 rifles on hand for immediate shipment. You can leave a message on his machine & he will call you back.
:thumbsup:

Keith Lisle

 

[spersky]

Ok, I will start it and finish it. Just ordered the Issac Haines kit from Jim chambers. Should be a great project. Maybe I will have it finished in about 6 months.

 

[Birddog6]

Great !! :thumbsup: It will make you a nice rifle & his parts sets are said to be some of the best. Don't worry about carving, fancy or frills, just do your best to make it a clean build. If you don't have a builders book, I suggest you get one.

Really doesn't matter how long it takes to build it. Set a few hours a week & dedicate that TO the rifle & it will get done when it is done. :wink:

Good Luck !

Keith Lisle

 

[spersky]

Yep,

I am going for a good clean build. No fancy carving on the stock. This is going to be a hunters rifle. I ordered a building book and a building DVD.

That should get me started.

I also need chisels or a chisel set I imagine.

 

[rafterob]

Jump on it. Between Chambers and the folks on here you will get all the advice you need. My one bit of advice;when you think you are stuck or frustrated-walk away and come back another day.

 

[Vaino]

I've built 3 Chambers' early Lancaster kits which are similar to the Isaac Haines kit and you chose one of the best on the market. The inlets mainly need corner cutting, the bbl has to be positioned and the breech squared up, the bbl lugs, RR pipes and trigger pinned plus the lock and side plate holes drilled and the lockplate holes tapped. The brass parts are the best, having been made from soft yellow brass and requiring very little work to finish, unlike sandcast parts in some kits. Your "kit" isn't really a kit but some well chosen parts that will make a dandy LR. Not an "assemble, sand and finish kit" as produced by the factories....Good luck and read a good "how to" book....Fred

 

[spersky]

Drill press is installed 12 inch delta 300 laser. This project is getting costly. Kit should hopefully arrive Friday.

 

[Birddog6]

Now you need a decent Drill Press Vice. If you want to be continuously ****** off, just get a cheap one & it will do a good job of it. I bought 3 POS types I call them, all did a real good job of never doing what i wanted them to do well, & just plain aggravated the H out of me every time I used them. :cursing: :idunno: :rotf: :rotf: However, a decent one for ? $ 75 or so will do MUCH better & last for years.


Then you need a on/off foot pedal control for the drill press. Nice feature that lets you use BOTH hands at the drill press. Probably the most unappreciated tool I have til I use someone else's drill press, then I realize how great they are. :thumbsup:


Keith Lisle