I'm new to 1911's and VERY new to gunsmithing. I'm not looking to do anything drastic but I've got a beater that I can mess around with and try my hand at installing/fitting high quality parts. What tools will I need to get started?
Thanks
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I'm new to 1911's and VERY new to gunsmithing. I'm not looking to do anything drastic but I've got a beater that I can mess around with and try my hand at installing/fitting high quality parts. What tools will I need to get started?
Thanks
A set of punches, a set of jeweler files, some emery clothes, I guess you can start with those. Brownells is your best friend.
I know there are a lot of tools one could purchase, but after looking thru my tools there are a few that I use every time. John hit on those, but I added two more; a bench block and double headed hammer;
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=2...E_BENCH_BLOCKS
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1...N_BRASS_HAMMER
If it isn't durable, it isn't reliable.
I'd add a couple of stones, and I like the hammer to have a brass head on one side and plastic on the other, or two hammers.
not just flat head punches either, cupped tip also so you don't mess up the heads on the pins.
cold on ice it's a Deadman's touch...
This list:
http://10-8performance.com/1911_ToolKit.html
plus the bench block Wichaka mentioned, and a few small files like John mentioned will get you off to a good start and cover almost everything. The only other thing I would add is the small punch, 1/16-inch I think, that is called out in the Colt Armorer's manual. It's used for the mainspring cap retaining pin, and the pin on the ejector.
"The 1911 was the design, given by God to us through John M. Browning, that represents the epitome of what a killing tool needs to be. It was true in 1911 and it's true now." - Col. Robert Coates commanding, U.S. Marine Corp Special Operations Command Detachment 1 (DET 1)
After acquiring the tools mentioned by these fine folks there will come a time when you'll wonder "How big is this thing supposed to be?" and "How big is it?"
• The only dimensions available to the public are contained in the Army Ordnance blueprints for the 1911's parts. Your three sources for these are the set available in our Tech Issues section, the set from Nicolaus Associates http://www.nicolausassociates.com/ and those contained in Vol II of J. Kuhnhausen's book on the 1911.
• Here's a list of some of the measuring tools you may need/want, sort of in the order of their importance:
-- 6" flexible machinists's rule with 16R graduations
-- 0-1" micrometer caliper (aka, micrometer) (analog, mechanical digital or electronic digital)
-- 6" slide caliper (vernier, dial, or electronic digital)
-- Small beam protractor
-- Set of small hole gages, split ball with flat balls
-- Set of feeler gages with ¼" wide tips
-- 4 Diopter magnifying hood with auxiliary magnifier
Regards
When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind. [Lord Kelvin]
If you want to do any trigger work a jig of some kind will let you work on the sear. I use this one and like it: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1...AUTO_SEAR_JIGS
Also, I haven't seen anyone mention a vice, but I use a cheap drill press vise all the time. A quality machinist's vice would be better.
May I suggest this thread be made a sticky?
"What's the 1911 starter took kit?" is probably one of the first questions a 1911 gunsmith novice may have.
Don't forget good screw-drivers
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