New builder question

[Bucky182]

Hello, I am looking to start building some black powder guns. I am looking to start by Re-stocking a couple of T/C Renegades with Pectonica River replacement stocks. Here are my questions for you experienced builders.

1. What tools as far as chisels, files, rasps would you recommend I start acquiring as far as hand tools. Sizes, brands, where to find them?
2. Are there any books or DVDs you have found helpful or essential to have.
3. Have any of you used this companies stocks for Replacement of T/C stocks?

 

[Buckskinn]

I was in your shoes last year. All of the information is at your fingertips here, just do a search.

Pectonica has good reputation from what I've heard, with generous grading of wood.​

 

[Bucky182]

You Buckskin I will do that!!

 

[bptactical]

#2 first, I feel the most important tools you can have are solid reference materials. "The Gunsmith of Grenville County" and "Recreating the Pennsylvania Longrifle" are both excellent resources. Look through the tutorials here, search the "Gunbuilding" section for articles of interest.
Look for the gun building DVDs by Hershel House.
Feed your brain.
#1- quality gunsmith screwdrivers such as Grace. Forget the hardware store screwdrivers, they will munge up a screwhead in a heartbeat.
4 in 1 hand rasp, 6, 8, 10 inch mill ******* and 2nd cut files, rat tail files of varying diameters, needle files, riffler files. Stick with known brands such as Nicholson or Simonds.
Hand carving chisels & gouges of various shapes.
Hand scrapers.

Pecatonica is gtg.

 

[Bucky182]

bptactical,
Thank you so much for your sound advice. I am trying to gather all the information I can now and will begin assembling the references you and tools you have provided to me.

 

[Jim Evans]

Another note on chisel,They have to be shaving sharp, even the new ones out of the package will need sharpen.
Diamond stones seem to work best for me.

 

[bptactical]

Yup, you can have the finest chisels made but if you cant sharpen them correctly you may as well be using a soup spoon.
Also an important skill is learning to make your own tools as the need arises. Often commercial tools are not available or cost prohibitive for a one off use so roll your own.
Our forebearers built their own tools to build their rifles, so can you. Often a major part of an apprenticeship was fabricating the tools you will need for your career.
Again searching here and on Longrifles on particular questions is time well spent.

Triangle files, half rounds, all good to have. Garage sales, secondhand stores, pawn shops, flea markets are often good resources for tools. Last year I found a large Nielsen jointing plane at a garage sale, paid $10.00 for a dirty cruddy old plane. The kid cleaned it up and it turns out it is of 1902- 1906 vintage and worth about $250.00.
Treasures do exist.

 

[Kansas Jake]

Another bit of advice for a beginner. Don't rush out and buy a whole bunch of stuff until you know you will need it. What if you buy $500 worth of tools only to find you don't enjoy building or don't have the time. Buy stuff as you need it. It may slow you down a bit but save you money in the long run. The exception is a good set of screw drivers. I'm still using the magnetic tip set I bought from Brownells 40 year ago. Of course if you run across a great deal on tools at an auction or garage sale, jump on them.

 

[bptactical]

^^^sage advice.
We are all tool junkies but no need to waste money.
What I lined out should be affordable and should see you through a restock or two.
Think back to our forebearers of the art, they built incredible rifles with the most basic of handmade tools.

 

[Bucky182]

Thank you guys so much!! If I could shake your hands in person I would!! Please do not stop with good advise. I am a true believer in learning what your can from others who know!!

 

[Col. Batguano]

More important than the tools, is a good well lit and climate-acceptable place to build, with a solid bench and vice system. Of course, the MOST important thing is desire, and the domestic support to undertake the project.

 

[billraby]

Maybe this will be of some help. Each link is to a series of You Tube videos that shoes every step of building a gun from beginning to end. Except for the Lancaster gun build. That one won't be finished for a few more weeks. But most of it is there.

Fusil-de-Chasse Build: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBU_q5noQX2vCXPoDu8LJEgt-XQ8n-0nm
Tennessee Rifle Build: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBU_q5noQX2thuowFTwLDND3-UZm3aLe4
Lancaster Rifle Build: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBU_q5noQX2uBSQqQ3ITN1EOt6yr2Yx2v