Looking for pointers on first build.

[DMURPHY317]

I haven't taken delivery yet but my wife has bought me a Lyman GPR kit for my birthday. As this will be the first kit I've ever built, I thought I would ask if there are any helpful hints or pitfalls I should be aware of before I get into it. I have went back through some of the older posts and found some info but thought I would ask if there was anything else the experts on here could add.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[Zonie]

You might get a jump on things buy going out and buying some of the following things if you don't already have them.

Sandpaper: I like the red Garnet type for wood. It seems to last better than the flint/aluminum oxide types. Get several sheets of 80, 120 and 220 grit.

For metal, buy the Black Silicone Carbide wet/dry paper. I suggest several sheets of 220 grit. Some 320 and 400 grit paper is good to have. You probably won't need more than one sheet of 400 grit.

File: A new 10 inch flat MILL file will be handy.

A hobby knife with a large handle is handy. I use an Exacto which takes #2 pointed blades. This is handy for making tiny cuts that may be required to get the lock etc to fit in the mortice.

Be thinking about the metal finish you will want.
Some folks use Instant Blueing, some use browing, some "age" their barrel so it looks 100 years old.
There are many options so before buying something to finish the barrel give it some thought.

I believe your gun will have a Walnut stock. If it does, you probably don't need any stains. You can decide that issue after you get your gun.

Spend a lot of time on your computer on this web site. We will help you in any way that we can.

 

[jarrowood]

you can never have enough files long, short, corse, smooth, round, flat,and triangle.
also you should have a good set of needle files.
just think (files are my friend)and the more the merrier.

 

[Old40Rod]

I would add a rasp to Zonie's list... the largest amount of wood work will probably be fitting the butt plate and you will have to remove a fair amount of wood for that.

A sponge type sanding block is a good thing to have around also.

 

[navaho]

First, the disclaimer. I am not an expert. I have just finished my first, lets say rebuild. I agree with the sandpaper but would add some 600 and 000 steel wool and a sheet or two of 1500 sandpaper. Once you have worked up throught the different grades your stock will be like glass. That is when I sand in my finish. What I do is take small pcs. of 1500 sandpaper, dip them in the finish and sand. before the finish begins to dry I rub it off. The idea is to fill the pores of the wood and continue to smooth the stock. I do this about 3 times. add stain to my finish in this step. It is more of a tend but even walnut will not be uniform and a little tend will smooth the colors. Once this is complete I start with my finish. This builds body and depth. The number of coats depends on you and how deep a finish you want. I normally put no less then 10 and no more then 20. Some say that is excessive but I like a deep finish and this gives me the deepness i am after.
Rust or blue, thats up to you as far as the metal goes. The guys on this site no much more about this then I do, so lisen to them. I would suggest get a Track of the Wolf catalog and look through it. It really is fun and I think you will enjoy it. Good Luck.

 

[MSW]

If you don't already have a copy, i recommend you get The Gunsmith of Grenville County by Peter Alexander. There are also a number of instructional videos, available from[url] technicalvideorental.com[/url] and you may find these helpful. By way of gadgets, theres a really neat gizmo which allows you to drill a hole and know exactly where it's going to come out the other side. Look in page 147 of Alexander's book. Basically, it's a pointed bit of bolt which you attach to the table of the drill press and tighten it down after the point aligns to your satasfaction with whatever bit you put in the chuck. R.E. Davis makes them.

Also, anything that Zonie tells you is good advice.

Probably the best advice that I can give you is to 'sneak up on it-' go slow (patience is a virtue) and remember that it's the finished product you look at, not the length of time it takes to produce it.

Good luck!

MSW

 

[Swampman]

A bottle of Dangler's Dark Brown Stain, a bottle of Laurel Mountain Forge browning solution, and some Formby's Satin Finish Tungoil would make it look right.

 

[Mr. Chester]

Probably the best advice that I can give you is to 'sneak up on it-' go slow (patience is a virtue) and remember that it's the finished product you look at, not the length of time it takes to produce it.

That is an easy statement to say but very hard to do. MSW is 100% correct though! My first was done in days, which should have been weeks. The second one is taking me longer and of course I am trying different things with it.
My advise it to do an inventory first, with a loose fit to see what you have in store to do.
Lots of light, some cool ones when things start to get to you - don't force anything, think it out before you cut (the wood has finished growing).
Keep us informed as to how you are doing - lots of good advise found here. Good luck - go slow. :thumbsup:

 

[boar]

David One of the handiest tool I found to fit parts to wood was a broke chain saw file. Also do finishing of metal parts first. If in doubt post it here,someone will have a answer. Dilly

 

[DMURPHY317]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I knew I would get a lot of advice from the members here. When I get started I'll try to take some pictures and document things as I go.
Thanks again and keep em coming.

 

[davy]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I knew I would get a lot of advice from the members here. When I get started I'll try to take some pictures and document things as I go.
Thanks again and keep em coming.

Practice makes perfect ... on important parts assembly, filing, sanding etc ... try practicing on other spare stuff before you hit the real thing ... could save you alot of heartache!

Davy

 

[Slake]

A place to build it. Somewhere you can lay it all out and see all the pieces in good light without anyone walking through into said space. Have fun and congrats

 

[jderrick]

Yeah, slow and patient.... these things take me months. Sometimes I just look at them for weeks on end....

Putting my rifle kit together I found out how valuable the internet is in terms of supplying material and wisdom for this sort of thing.... stores in my area aren't exactly set up to feed a flintlock....

It's kinda strange, to get into the old technology I have to resort to the new technology.