Metalwork & Machining
This month, I want to talk about how to strengthen your metal work and machining skills to widen your shop capabilities and help you grow your business. In today’s gun world, we see a lot of firearm accessories on the market. From muzzle brakes to red dot sights there are many options. However, most firearms are not set up to accept those accessories. Some manufacturers are starting to include threaded barrels on the rifles and handguns for muzzle brakes and suppressors. But what about all those other rifles that don’t? That is where you as a gunsmith can increase your service offerings and grow a different side of your business.
Not All Gunsmiths Are Machinists
Not all gunsmiths are machinists, and if you want to head in that direction you need to do your homework. First, you want to make sure you have the aptitude to do machinist work. I was fortunate to have an uncle that owned a machine shop. I worked for him for a while and learned how to use metal machines and tools. If you don’t have that type of set up, then there are many local trade schools and community colleges that offer beginner machinist courses. Trying a short course may be the best way to find out if you are able to do the work and find out if you really want to get into that side of being a “Smith”. Secondly, I’d make sure you have the room to add the machines you need. When I started my business, I didn’t have metal machines. I started out with fix and repair as well as bluing services. As my client list grew, so did the needs of my customers. I started getting a lot of requests to thread muzzles. More shooters were wanting muzzle brakes on their hunting rifles and other pieces. I had a decision to make. I could send the customer to someone else, or I could make a purchase. I did my research and there were only a couple other places in my area that offered threading services. I had a good relationship with both of them, and they both encouraged me to add a lathe to my shop and even let me use their lathes before I purchased mine. As I mentioned previously, I started out small and grew. I didn’t want to take on the extra debt of a lathe, I had to save up my money. I was also very fortunate because when I was going to purchase my lathe, my wife gave me her bonus check from her job. I then purchased a Grizzly Gunsmith’s Lathe.
Gunsmith’s Lathe
I looked at a lot of use lathes, and did find some nice ones, but they needed some repairs, and I would need to add some components to make it the way I wanted it. The DRO (digital read out) was a must for me. My uncle’s lathe didn’t have one when, but the two Smiths that let me use their machines did have them. A DRO enables you to work a lot faster. There are many other good lathes out there, so do your homework and see what you can find. You may also want to call the factory or dealer that you want to buy it from and see if you can talk to their customer service. See what their customers say about their product. There are a couple other things to factor in when shopping for a lathe. Make sure you have a way to bring power to it. My unit runs off 220, like a dryer or stove. Other ones may have different power requirements. You will also need to purchase tool holders, tooling, and cutting fluid. Make sure the other items are part of your budget because they are expensive as well. One other thing I would suggest is for you to do is to find some old barrels for you to practice on. If you can’t find old barrels, then order some round bar steel stock from a metal supplier and practice cutting threads. Watch videos from other gunsmiths and see what tips and tricks they share.
Milling Machines for Metalwork
The next big purchase I made was to buy a milling machine. I purchased a foreign Bridgeport-style mill. Today, more people want to install red dot holographic sites on pistols than ever before. The slides need to be milled to accept the mounting plates. I’ve also used my milling machine to remove wood from a stock in order to install pillars to pillar bed a rifle. You can also make gun parts and use them to drill and tap for scopes. I purchased a used mill from a local machine shop. The machine was old, but the adjustable components were very tight and accurate. This unit also had a digital readout like the lathe I purchased. I highly recommend the DRO. The milling machine also has specific electrical requirements and special tools that are needed. It all depends on what you are going to be doing with your milling machine to what tools you will need. Items you need at a minimum are a milling machine vise, collets, and drill chucks. The list can grow from there as you learn more.
Conclusion
Lastly, you will need to have all the measurement tools to check your work. Tools like calipers, micrometers, and depth gauges.
As you can see, getting into the machinist side of gunsmithing can be very detailed, complicated, and expensive. Metal machines can sit idle at times. I don’t thread a barrel every week, nor do I use my mill on a weekly basis. If you finance those machines and they are not producing income, it’s hard to justify their purchase. Both my lathe and milling machines have paid for themselves more than once. So, save your money and make the purchase when you have the time to learn, and practice, and the need to use the equipment.
Semper Fi!
Written by: David Johnson, Leatherneck Gunsmithing
