Prebuild Procurement

[Onojutta]

I am getting ready to start my very first longrifle build, and I am in the process of procuring all the tools that I will need. I plan on starting with a Chambers or Dunlap early Lancaster kit so that should take care of all the parts and materials- its the tools that I will need to get on my own.
I have no want for power and mechanics tools, but I don't own any woodworking or carving tools. I have several books and videos on the subject of gun building, but all seem to share the assumption that the viewer either has or knows what tools are required.
As I procure my arsenal of files, chisels, rasps, and inletting knives, what particular sizes should I look for? Any particular make, brand, etc.?

I don't have an unlimited budget, just looking for the right tools to get me through a kit at this point. I figure once I build my second and third rifles I'll add to my tool collection as my abilities and desires grow. In the interest of being true to the early transition era that I want to recreate with this rifle, I don't plan to do any relief carving, but I'm sure at some point I will need some carving tools for those golden era rifles. :grin:

 

[Headhunter]

I will start off.

Nicholson Files. Mill *******. VERY GOOD.

Nicholson Needle files. Use them all the time on a build.

Don't skimp on files.


HH

 

[agill]

I bought the following:

-some Nicholson and Craftsman files. A wood rasp came with the Craftsman set

- 1/8 inch, 1/4 inch, 6mm straight chisels from Irwin Marples(good quality), Two Cherries (good quality), Wood Craft Supply, Inc.(good quality), and Sandvic(good quality)

- 3mm #11 Pfeil veiner (have not used it yet but it is great quality)
- 5mm shallow gouge W. German(good quality),
-Smith & Wesson Chisel set from Midway USA (fair to good quaity, but you have to sharpen them)

-12 inch and 48 inch straight edge

-hobby knife

- drill bits (get more than one 1/16 inch bit cause they break easy)

-Taps and drills for lock and tang bolts (don't reccomend tap fluid on these)

-Tap fluid (for installing vent liner only)

-cheap oil lamp for sooting inlay parts

- 1/16 inch pin punch

-1/4 inch brass punch

-sanding block

-bees wax

-jewler's saw

 

[Capt. Fred]

I'm on my first difficult build and I'm using the heck out of my exacto knife. I'm a carpenter and always used a razor knife for small scribing etc. but the exacto is a better tool for the real fine work I'm discovering.

Also get some good stones for sharpening all these goodies.

 

[Zonie]

The large #2 Exacto Knife with the pointed blades are one of the most useful tools a gun builder can have.

I strongly suggest that each time the blade is changed, use a whet stone of some wet/dry sandpaper and dull up the rear area of the blade right next to the handle.
If you don't, expect to see red spots of blood appear on your nice wood stock.
Those blades are so sharp you can cut yourself without even knowing about it until you see the blood and think, "Now what the hell is that?"
:rotf:

 

[grey8833]

Most used tools

- 1/4 inch heavy chisel, dimond sharpening "stone" and a chisel strop (wood with a leather surface) with a sharpening compound stick. Keep that chisel sharp enough to easily shave with.

- a jar (small) of inletting black and a good stencil brush to "dab" the inletting black on with - do not paint the inletting black on. Also, don't use the chisel to cut, fit blackened metal to wood, look for the black high spots and scrape the black spots off. Repeat till you have a uniform black pattern and the metal is where you want it.

In the end the metal should look like it was melted into the wood.

Mike F

 

[Vaino]

In addition to all the previously mentioned tools, a good vise w/ padded jaws mounted on a stable bench is number one. For a lot of the work an "Optivisor" or other brand of head-attached magnifying aid is a big help if one's eyes require help. A suitable set of screwdrivers preclude "buggered up" screw slots. Correctly sized drills,taps, a small "holeshooter" and a drillpress if desired. Proper lighting is paramount for neat inletting. The list could go on and on, but these items are the very basic needs to get started. Good luck.....Fred