Official gunsmiths sharing tips

ITT: Actual gunsmithing tips you wanna share with your /k/ bros. I am an apprentice living in /k/anada and would welcome any knowledge from my /k/ brothers.

This forum is great, good job bros.

on what topic specifically?

Lets start with the typical tools needed by a typical gunsmith to do his trade. What do I need?

Purevil wrote:Lets start with the typical tools needed by a typical gunsmith to do his trade. What do I need?

A block of wood / metal with holes drilled in it.

No, Really. it makes it alot easier to drive out pins.

A good quality set of punches (chrome and brass in common sizes) and bit set with a variety of screw blade widths and types. An acrylic or nylon block to help encourage dove tails loose. A couple different hammers (i use a 6oz and 12oz brass hammer, a plastic/rubber combination one, a mini sledge that's around 2 pounds and made of steel with a rubber handle i got from my dad).

A really good vice. I use one with 2 axes of rotation (vertical and horizontal). random bits of wood covered in carpet too.

Some cleaning supplies, I like cotton shirts since they don't mar a finish and they're really great when they're oily and you just need to rub on some surface rust with some brass wool.

I have 2 calipers, one that's pricey, and one that's cheap, both digital. I prefer to use the Mitutoyo, but i'll use the cheap harbor freight one when i don't care since it's accurate enough if I need to take it to the range to adjust something.

After that a good drill (18v dewalt works for me), a couple levels, a bore light, various finishing compounds, pipe cleaners, et c.