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GANGGREEN

GANGGREEN

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OK, so I'm finally getting the hang of the gun building and feel like I should be able to start putting out a decent product (a .45 flint SMR is coming off my bench this week), but I'm getting really frustrated with not having any decent tools and I'm going to ask that my wife just get me 2 or 3 pretty good tools that I can use for gun building (or occasionally furniture or small projects). My "go to" rasp has been an older Nicholson and when it was new/sharp it worked really good, but it's dull and I need to find someone to sharpen it. In the meantime, I'm torn between the Narex cabinet maker's rasp for $79 and the Auriou for $109.

I've never had a decent jack plane and those that I have had never seemed to work for me. After reading Mike Brooks' gun tutorial where he describes taking down the buttstock with a hand plane, I've decided that I need one. I'd love to have one of those Lie-Nielson $300 jobs, but I really can't justify that, even as a gift. Does anyone have a recommendation for a $100 plane that might work really well, or am I stuck waiting and spending a bit more for what I really need?

I got a set of really nice riffler files the other day at an estate sale and I'm thrilled with them, but I think the next order of business might be a few good files and/or scrapers. Any recommendations for good stuff that won't break the bank?

I know that this stuff has been covered before and I have used the search function on several boards, but it's hard to find everything in one place and I'm surely not the only one that's putting his Christmas want list together. Thanks in advance.
 
Maybe a spokeshave too, I don't think they're too bad and shouldn't break the bank, but I'd be curious if anyone uses them for muzzleloader builds and what recommendations you may have.
 
Bill Ragosta said:
Maybe a spokeshave too, I don't think they're too bad and shouldn't break the bank, but I'd be curious if anyone uses them for muzzleloader builds and what recommendations you may have.
Click to expand...

Hi Bill,

Don't know if there is a Woodcraft Store near you, but I spend WAY too much money in our local store. ;)

I think you might find this link interesting for many hand tools you mentioned and some you haven't.
https://www.woodcraft.com/categories/hand-tools

I also love their hardware section and have sometimes found things there that can be used or modified for our period.
https://www.woodcraft.com/categories/hardware

Gus
 
No Woodcraft store anywhere near here, although I did visit a Rockler store about 2 hours away a month or two ago. I could have dropped 10 grand in a few hours if I would have had it. ;) As for chisels, I could really use a few good chisels too. I'm always looking at junk shops and garage sales, hoping to dumb into some good ones, but so far I've got a pile of cheap ones and a few Stanley Sweethearts that are acceptable.
 
If you want to sharpen the rasp it is easy.If you have a belt sander turn it on and lightly touch the rasp to it with the teeth pointing in the direction of the belt is turning,Rotate/twist for the round side, lay flat for the other.That is it,hits the high,dull points,if you want to sharpen other files,Get some white vinegar, submerse the files in the vinegar,enough to cover them,let set till no more bubbles are coming up,I use a plastic/rubber toat,remove from vinegar wrence with fresh water,spray with light oil all done. Plus is you now have a 1/2 gallon or a Quart of Vigeroon,WIN WIN.
 
Vomir le Chien said:
If you want to sharpen the rasp it is easy.If you have a belt sander turn it on and lightly touch the rasp to it with the teeth pointing in the direction of the belt is turning,Rotate/twist for the round side, lay flat for the other.That is it,hits the high,dull points,if you want to sharpen other files,Get some white vinegar, submerse the files in the vinegar,enough to cover them,let set till no more bubbles are coming up,I use a plastic/rubber toat,remove from vinegar wrence with fresh water,spray with light oil all done. Plus is you now have a 1/2 gallon or a Quart of Vigeroon,WIN WIN.
Click to expand...

Wow, never heard that. I'll do so with my Nicholson and hope it brings it back to it's former glory.

For what it's worth, I'm leaning towards a #5 Bench Dogs jack plane, a Stanley spokeshave, set of cabinet scrapers and a Liogier 10" #9 rasp. A decent file or two and possibly another chisel or gouge would also be nice.
 
BUY YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS GIFTS. YOU CAN'T DO BETTER THAN TO GET GIFTS FROM THE SANTA YOU CAN TRUST.

DR5X

Bill Ragosta said:
OK, so I'm finally getting the hang of the gun building and feel like I should be able to start putting out a decent product (a .45 flint SMR is coming off my bench this week), but I'm getting really frustrated with not having any decent tools and I'm going to ask that my wife just get me 2 or 3 pretty good tools that I can use for gun building (or occasionally furniture or small projects). My "go to" rasp has been an older Nicholson and when it was new/sharp it worked really good, but it's dull and I need to find someone to sharpen it. In the meantime, I'm torn between the Narex cabinet maker's rasp for $79 and the Auriou for $109.

I've never had a decent jack plane and those that I have had never seemed to work for me. After reading Mike Brooks' gun tutorial where he describes taking down the buttstock with a hand plane, I've decided that I need one. I'd love to have one of those Lie-Nielson $300 jobs, but I really can't justify that, even as a gift. Does anyone have a recommendation for a $100 plane that might work really well, or am I stuck waiting and spending a bit more for what I really need?

I got a set of really nice riffler files the other day at an estate sale and I'm thrilled with them, but I think the next order of business might be a few good files and/or scrapers. Any recommendations for good stuff that won't break the bank?

I know that this stuff has been covered before and I have used the search function on several boards, but it's hard to find everything in one place and I'm surely not the only one that's putting his Christmas want list together. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
 
I would (actually, I have) bought used planes off of ebay and refurbished them. Pretty easy to do and you might end up with a better plane than you can buy new (certainly true for the same money). Spokeshaves are another tool to buy used and rehabilitate.

As for rasps, I quite using them once I found microplanes. These are sold for both kitchen and woodworking. Better than rasps, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004S7V8/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
 
Me personally I try to reproduce all of my own tooling, such tools that is which are easiest to make. I make 90% of my chisels from tool steel, mallets and even my draw knives.

If you are unable to procure your own tools I'd recommend just asking for cash! What one builder finds useful the other may find just the opposite... Tools IMO are a touchy subject and user specific, but there are some universal options across the board.

Now I do have some manufactured chisels that I hardly use... Got them as a used set for a good price. Other than that buying chisels in a set is a waste of money IMO.
 

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Being an old curmudgeon I buy what I want. I do not want presents for Christmas as I get what I want on my own.

I Get my wife a present as I do not want to die. She however makes me a good breakfast and call it even. Worked so far for 46 years.

If I have to wait for a present to get what I want Life went bad.
 

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