what tools do I need?

[bigghoss]

what tools should I have for gunsmithing the 1911? right now I just want a new hammer and GS on my colt 1991a1. eventually it would be nice to build one from scratch but I might settle for getting another 1911 and tricking it out how I want, and maybe even building a frame for my .22 conversion unit so I'll have a dedicated .22 1911.

[garrettwc]

This is my preferred starter kit. This will let you do maintenance and detailed disassembly on the gun.

From Hilton Yams 10-8 performance site:
http://www.10-8performance.com/id16.html

Since maintenance of the 1911 is so critical, I though I'd share some of the tools that I consider to be essential in the kit of every squared away 1911 guy. Each of these items is listed with the Brownells part number, so you can order right from www.brownells.com.

827-525-790 PIN PUNCH, 3/32"
-For removing the various pins.

234-400-009 DEWEY #9-LB 9" LOOP PISTOL ROD
676-450-001 GUN/PARTS CLEANING BRUSH
-For general cleaning needs.

084-401-121 BB-1 BRONZE BORE BRUSH 22 PISTOL, Pkg 3
-For cleaning the extractor tunnel.

084-450-030 22/250-30/06 BRNZ CHAMBER BRUSH, PKG 3
-For cleaning the bore and chamber, better than the standard short pistol brush.

080-001-024 #1 ACID BRUSH, PACKAGE 2 DOZEN
-Used to spread TW25B on critical lube points.

080-045-045 DOUBLE ENDED CAN'T MAR BUSHING WRENCH
-You shouldn't need one of these, but everyone's gun is not set up the same.

566-100-045 MAG-204 .45 MAG BRUSH
-Keep your mags and mag well clean.

080-850-000 MAINSPRING HOUSING TOOL
-This is the best tool for the mainspring housing pin, and saves a lot of headache.

818-600-100 1" NYLON/BRASS HAMMER
-A great utility tool.

080-753-000 Slide rail file
-A very handy file that has one side with a safe edge and flats that cut, and the other side has safe flats and and edge that cuts. Good utility file for the tool kit on the go. Even if you are not smithing, you may need to dress burrs and dings on parts.

657-110-320 E-Z Flex Metalite Cloth Roll, 10 yd X 1", 320 Grit
-Good all around grit to have for deburring and polishing.

532-242-006 #242 Blue Loctite
-For the rear sight set screw and the grip screws.

080-000-023 "Designated Driver" compact screwdriver kit
-The compact handle has four holes which accept all Brownells Magnatip 1/4" hex drive bits, so you can customize it to your needs.

You may also want to include a few pipe cleaners and cotton swabs for general cleaning.

[bigghoss]

sounds like good stuff for maintenance, but what about fitting new parts?

[lksstbls]

Jerry Kuhnhausen's two Volumes on gunsmithing the 1911 are invaluable as references for serious 1911 work. Various tools and tooling are identified but I don't think there's a seperate and distinct tool list. There are several tools that are unique to smithing operations on the 1911 as well as generic tools that would apply to any machine shop gunsmithing operation. The books are a little pricey at $30 each but well worth it or serious work.

[garrettwc]

sounds like good stuff for maintenance, but what about fitting new parts?

You have to crawl before you can walk. ;) Once you get good at the take it apart and put it back together part, then you can move up to small projects like fitting safeties, and then graduate all the way up to a full build from scratch.

Here's a link to a guy that got serious into gunsmithing and his tools of choice.

http://www.blindhogg.com/gunsmith/tools.html

And here's a link to a page done by someone who built his own gun from scratch. It has some good reference material on tools, and some of the parts problems he had to cure.

http://how-i-did-it.org/1911-project/index.html

[toolman]

I'd caution you not to go out and buy a lot of tools at one time thinking you are going to use them "some time soon". It's better to buy the specialty tools a few at a time as you need them for the particular task at hand. If you buy lots of tools at one time "just in case" or "because everyone says" you'll end up owning a good many tools you have never used and perhaps never will.

BTDT

[Tom]

It's better to buy the specialty tools a few at a time as you need them for the particular task at hand. If you buy lots of tools at one time "just in case" or "because everyone says" you'll end up owning a good many tools you have never used and perhaps never will.
Good advice for anyone putting together ANY sort of tool kit, whether it be for guns or the car of the home.

[garrettwc]

Good points toolman. My post was intended to suggest that anyone run out and buy a milling machine or a Foredom grinder right away.

I like the building block approach. Learn to detail strip, and maintain. Then start with small projects like a new trigger, or fitting a new thumb safety. Build your skills and your tools slowly. You may reach a point where you don't want to go any deeper, and then you won't have wasted your money on stuff you don't need.

[toolman]

I speak from experience, with the many thousands of $ I have in woodworking and carpentry tools I've fallen into this trap many times before. :o

[bigghoss]

well I got the Jerry Kuhnhausen manuals, haven't been able to read them yet, and I've detail stripped my pistol a couple of times with no trouble. so I think I'm ready to read up and change out some parts on it. I'd like to add a commander hammer and narrow hammer spur GS and also an arched MSH. I think this would allow me to keep somewhat of and older look to it while greatly increasing the shoot ability for me.