[andyfromlyle]

Hi everyone! Here soon I'll have a room I can dedicate to my hobbies. I'm going to turn half the room into a gun repair station. I want to gather the necessities and any awesome extras a gun nut would love.

My father has been repairing guns his whole life. He buys guns in terrible shape and repairs them for fun. He sometimes uses our neighbors metal lathe and equipment to machine pieces he needs. He's an old school hard working country guy.

He's modest and an actions speak louder than words kinda person. I want to set up a great gun working area so I can pry some of his endless gun knowledge from him.

Would all you knowledgable folks on here help me figure out what I need to purchase and mount so I can shock him with the great work station I have set up for us? Thanks for any advice everyone.

 

[linuxuser3890]

A set of quality stones and files is a great way to get started. You may want to mention what type of guns you plan to work on because a lot of tools are gun specific tools.

 

[andyfromlyle]

Mostly hunting rifles, revolvers, semi auto pistols, my brothers ar style rifles, my sks's, and rusted solid rifles from the 40's and before. I plan to build my first ar15 style rifle once I'm settled in and have gotten good at modifying one of my ruger 10/22's.

I'm guessing ill need a gun vice, good allen wrenches and special tools desgned for AR modifications. I hadn't thought of good files and stones so far. I'll start looking for a couple great sets specifically designed for gun work. Thanks for the response.

 

[hiwall]

Yes a good heavy vise would be first on the list. Files, a million screwdrivers, dremal tool, drill press, more files(hand milling machine to some), grinder, more files, more screwdrivers. Here is a pic of one of my benches.

 

[andyfromlyle]

Yes a good heavy vise would be first on the list. Files, a million screwdrivers, dremal tool, drill press, more files(hand milling machine to some), grinder, more files, more screwdrivers. Here is a pic of one of my benches.

After years my work bench will look that impressive I hope. Bet there's still random things you still want in there too.

 

[danf_fl]

Plenty of light and a sight magnifier.

If you can't see it, you can't fixit.

 

[bearrwe]

Hit pawn shops and buy screwdrivers, files and pin punches. Even if you have sets of these tools on hand I have found I use all of the above to make special tools for certain jobs. It may be as simple as bending a screwdriver tip and carving a notch to pull back a spring but if you have tools to use for this on hand you will find a use for them.

 

[andyfromlyle]

Thanks for the advice everyone. It'll be a while before I have a finished product I can post a picture of. I've still got to build the cabinets, countertop, purchase all the tools & install the vices, lights and magnification devices. As soon as I'm done I'll post a "my first work bench" thread. Can't wait to start the work.

 

[TimL2952]

+1 to all the above.

-Get a good sturdy vice with rubber jaws..just makes it easier
-For ARs you can get a block that goes in the vice and it slips into the magwell...makes it easy to work on.
-Pin punches, Pliers, rubber mallets, screw drivers, screw drviers, dremmel, drill, files...oh...and screwdrivers...I always seem to be missing the right one.

I started with this set...But soon after I got many, many more smaller ones.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=...87_a_7c3466_a_7c319120000_d_319120000_d_11540

 

[DrumJunkie]

Looks pretty much covered above I can never get enough screwdrivers, punches, stones and files. For files I really like those needle files that jewelers use. A big vice is a must have. And I'd have the most heavy built bench you can get your hands on. Most people I know build the bench themselves. a light with a magnifier is never in the way.

 

[andyfromlyle]

I'll be building the bench and hardwood work top. Figure a nice 1 1/2" thick solid wood top securely mounted to the casework that's securely mounted to the floor and wall is the way to go.

All the responses in this thread have been extremely useful. It's easy to underestimate how important the basics are (screwdrivers and files). I'll be picking up every decent set of drivers, files, stones and punches I can find for a very long time.

 

[danf_fl]

Check out wood salvage yards.
I've pickup a counter top that already had formica on it. Formica does not absorb cleaning fluids or oils like wood.
Can be cut to length needed.
Got a couple of cheap cabinets and put the formica top on them.

 

[andyfromlyle]

Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure if a laminate top would be good or not. I'll go with a Formica top with a plywood core. I've got a few 5X12 sheets of Formica floating around I've been wanting to use. I've got a large section of my shop set aside for plywood, hardwood, laminate and cabinet hardware. This is the best use I can imagine for it.

 

[srtolly1]

Seems like most things are covered. I do a lot of hand fitting and making parts that can't be bought. I have a small vice that articulates with nylon jaws that is perfect for the small tasks like filing parts. Jewlers files. A 1" belt sanders, a small MIG or TIG welder.

 

[St8LineGunsmith]

tools have been covered pretty good short of mills and lathes
5" angle grinder and if you have an air compressor invest in a good die grinder and angle grinder.

you might want to think about getting a parkerizing outfit and a sand blasting cabinet for refinishing projects.
of course a barrel vise is always handy but not cheap.

 

[ktmboyz]

A nice small but stout brass mallet. Good for punches and stuff, and as mentioned LIGHT and more LIGHT.. maybe a reloading press

I also like to keep cans of air around to blow things out and dry slovents off. The small cans for computers you can pick up at wally world for like 4 bucks. Unless you have shop air in there.

 

[danf_fl]

Those remnants from that fancy indoor/outdoor rug she had you put down.

Works great on laminate bench tops.

 

[bearrwe]

A nice small but stout brass mallet. Good for punches and stuff, and as mentioned LIGHT and more LIGHT.. maybe a reloading press

I also like to keep cans of air around to blow things out and dry slovents off. The small cans for computers you can pick up at wally world for like 4 bucks. Unless you have shop air in there.

Sorry but from experience I must disagree with reloading equipment! If you have grinders and welders you have sparks, if you're reloading you have powder. If you have gun powder and sparks in the same location you have an unplanned home remodeling!

 

[St8LineGunsmith]

Dont do any reloading with a lit stogie sticking out the side of your mouth either!


Ya you definitely do not want to store gunpowder and reloading supplies and equipment any where near any welding and grinding
reloading needs to be done in a spare bedroom in a smoke free environment.

reloading can be very dangerous even with practicing utmost caution.

 

[andyfromlyle]

I do plan on getting reloading equipment for my dad. It will go in his little room that he uses to store his spare gun parts and a small work bench he has. The grinder and spark producing tools will all go into the shop. No heat or smoke producing equipment will go in his or my work bench areas. So no unexpected home remodels for me I hope.

I hadn't thought about the pressurized air cans. I've gotten a couple cleaning kits, a punch set, a desk mountable magnifying glass with a built in light, lots of oil, cleaning patches and pulled out two vices I had in storage. In three weeks I'll be healed from a surgery I had done last Monday and I'll start building the cabinets and countertop. I'll post pictures as my work bench as it evolves.

Thanks again for all the great advice I've received on here.
Andy