Unit 5: A Guide to Tools

Lesson 13: A Guide to Hand Tools 

I found this lesson to be very helpful in understanding what tools you will need if you are planning on being a hobbyist or pursuing gunsmithing full-time. Most tools won’t be needed unless you plan on opening a shop. I found that if you are just tinkering, the big items can wait until they’re needed or when you open a shop.  

The basic necessities such as a vise, punches hammers/mallets, pliers and chisels are all important for tinkering. I also liked the explanation of what each tool is used for and what size ranges you may need. The difference between a carpenter square and a machinist square being explained helped the most as I, like some thought, a square was uniform.  

I really liked the section on the history and development of the rifle and its ammunition. The short and brief overviews from the beginning black powder designs to the modern designs we still use today are good to know.  

Lesson 14: A Guide to Measuring Tools  

Like Lesson 13, this lesson is a guide to measuring and the tools used to measure. The explanations of how to use an item like a micrometer and how to get precise measurements are essential to learn. Here, tools that will be needed as a hobbyist or as a full-time gunsmith are pretty much the same, from the micrometer to levels, c-clamps, screw checkers and draw knives.  

I learned in this section what is needed to make a screwdriver and/or a chisel from scratch to fit your needs. It was a cool skill to understand. 

Lessons 15 and 16: Choosing the Right Power Tools  

These two lessons are short and simple. Again, the breakdown and usage of the tools such as drill presses, grinding wheels, routers, sanders and band saws is very helpful.  

Overall, I liked this unit because there are a lot of tools out there for different applications. Having them all laid out as well as listed and explained in some details a nice touch.

Written by J. Jacobs, The MGS Experience Student