Why Patience and Precision Start at the Workbench
Firearms are only as precise as they’re engineered and maintained to be. When your customers talk about precision, they’re typically more concerned with results than they are with the small nuances of the maintenance process. But gunsmiths are the artisans of precision, and your love of the pastime has instilled you with a fastidious eye for detail that makes you worthy of the profession. So, if you’re looking to improve your precision on the job, or just looking for a refresher on things to be on the lookout for, here are a few things to keep in mind while working your magic at the workbench.
Get in the Right Headspace, Literally
If you’re inspecting a firearm for the first time, and especially one that’s had any kind of bolt or barrel work done, it’s time to get out the gauges and ensure that the cartridge is properly fitting inside the chamber. Keep your Go, No-Go, and Field gauges handy. Headspace is entirely dependent upon the type of cartridge, so no matter how much you’ve committed to memory, it pays to take a moment to confirm the specs, and see where exactly the headspace should fall.
For a more in-depth rundown on headspace, check out Defense and Munitions’ article.
Up Your Maintenance Game
For people who are especially busy or unmotivated, maintenance is often a matter of “when I get around to it.” While many gunsmiths may think of themselves as machinists or practical engineers, above all, they are caretakers. Customers entrust their well-being with your craftsmanship, and that oftentimes depends on how well tools are maintained.
How often do you remove debris from your files using a wire brush? When is the last time you lubricated your drill press or your mini mill? Never let your tools down, and they’ll do the same for you. Set a reminder or keep a physical calendar for your maintenance schedule, if you haven’t already. Otherwise, waiting for the ideal moment in your schedule could mean waiting a very long time- and that’s a lot of wear and tear on your investments.
Keep Your Fasteners Up to Spec.
If you’re using the wrong amount of torque, you may as well be using the wrong fastener. Both can compromise threading and create extra work that could have been easily avoided. If you’re not sure if your torque wrench is up to the task, that’s cause enough to invest in an inch-pound calibrated torque wrench like Fix It Sticks or the Wheeler FAT Wrench. If your shop sees a lot of business, recalibrate it at least once per year, and always zero it out to ease those springs before returning it to its case. And, yes, of course, I realize you know how to use your torque wrench! But maintenance often gets pushed to the bottom of a tight schedule.
While I’m mentioned reminders, use a hollow ground screwdriver when you can, and plastic covers to protect fasteners from wear and tear. There, now you can stop rolling your eyes at me! But seriously, how careful is the average person with fasteners? Are you keeping a magnetic tray handy to make sure they also go back in the exact same spot, and that they never get mixed up? If you are, you’re officially awesome.
Slow is Fast
Turn-around time is crucial in any service business, and while meeting deadlines doesn’t necessarily mean cutting corners, it often means turning corners faster than would be otherwise advisable. Create a firearm-specific checklist before you start making magic happen for a customer, and take pictures of each and every part that was used and replaced on a customer’s firearm.
If you haven’t taken the time to ensure proper ventilation, and you’re not wearing a respirator mask, keep in mind that bluing and soldering both emit particularly harmful VOCs, and no matter how small of an amount you expose yourself to, it’s still not worth the risk to your health. Similarly, if you are doing a Magnetic Particle Inspection, keep your eyewear where it’s handy and cannot be overlooked.
Time management may be essential to your business, but the most essential, irreplaceable asset you have is yourself.
The Finishing Touches
If you’ve already read my rundown on Cerakote, Duracoat, and Bluing, you know all too well that finishing is a delicate process that can’t be rushed. Whatever amount of time you believe you’ll need to apply a finish, make sure you’ve got a significant amount of cushion. No one is going to complain about a job that’s done early, but achieving a picture-perfect finish is nothing short of challenging. The five-year-old version of you was probably pretty excited to see bubbles. The adult version of you has no extra time to spare? Not so much. So, let your work speak for itself, and let your customers know why the turnaround time on some jobs might take a little longer.
Written by: Lanna Perkins, Educational Writer
