AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Shop Made Tools => Topic started by: Brian Jordan on January 17, 2025, 01:53:36 AM

Title: My gun building bench setup
Post by: Brian Jordan on January 17, 2025, 01:53:36 AM: This is my bench, it has proven to be pretty versatile over the years. Maybe this will help someone looking for ideas. I inlet two 24" T tracks into my bench top on either side of the vise. and made the adjustable supports out of laminated .750" oak boards. they are adjustable on the length of the bench in the T slots, and the dovetail allows me to raise and lower the support. The support also has a short and long side so the support with the leather skin can be flipped to the side you need. The main vise in the center of the bench can be mounted directly to the bench top for rough work and barrel inletting. I can also raise the vise up to about chest height which makes it much more comfortable for detail, work using my Optivisor. It puts the stock right in your focal view so you don't have to bend over. The leg vise on the left side of the bench is very useful itself, and I have 3 other vises I can mount to the bench held by the leg vise. I have a cheap harbor freight vise, a parrot vise on a swivel base that I made, and a knife vise that I also made for shaping handles, it also mounts to the swivel base. The pictures should explain the rest.

(https://i.ibb.co/ZcC10KG/IMG-7751.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7rFNqVj)

(https://i.ibb.co/Vx845bs/IMG-7752.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YXGswJx)

(https://i.ibb.co/HHcVbcF/IMG-7753.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZMQVFQL)

(https://i.ibb.co/F4hMm6D/IMG-7743.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qYDf7Br)

(https://i.ibb.co/Ny1qSv1/IMG-7744.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JsxTQ1x)

(https://i.ibb.co/wyHPdGD/IMG-7746.jpg) (https://ibb.co/v15Tcy2)

(https://i.ibb.co/fx9y7hw/IMG-7747.jpg) (https://ibb.co/yQpZJwj)

(https://i.ibb.co/xJ0xYr1/IMG-7748.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nzvxBK7)

(https://i.ibb.co/0Jv5dTZ/IMG-7749.jpg) (https://ibb.co/q1V6PK9)

(https://i.ibb.co/HdnTDjr/IMG-7750.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PQwGZd5)
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 17, 2025, 08:25:18 PM: I absolutely love a well tooled up and organized shop. Yours fits that bill. Excellent set up.
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: rich pierce on January 17, 2025, 08:54:04 PM: Looks terrific. Don’t let me in there to work for 2 days though!
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: Wingshot on January 17, 2025, 09:45:45 PM: Brian,

PM sent
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: Devoe on January 18, 2025, 07:03:13 PM: Very nice!
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: Craig Wilcox on January 20, 2025, 06:31:15 PM: Too danged neat, clean, and organized! How could I fritter away time with a set-up like this??!!

But you have given me a few good ideas. Thanks!
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: Beaverman on January 20, 2025, 08:25:22 PM: Nice set up Brian, I've had a swivel base made by Brian for a dozen or so years now and use it regularly, works very well!
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: J Shingler on January 25, 2025, 06:47:51 PM: Hey Brian,
Good looking set up. Vices are much like mine. Although I don't have the T track adjustable supports. My ball mount is from Trey Scott. Looks a lot like yours. I have been reworking my work space the last few days. Moving some machines for better work flow. See you in Carlisle?

Jeff
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: Mike payne on January 30, 2025, 12:59:53 PM: That is a great looking setup you should be proud! But it is entirely too neat and clean!😉
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: Bryan Enoch on February 13, 2025, 03:48:43 AM: That’s a really nice bench and well organized. The tools, vises and supports sure show your a fine craftsman.

Great job
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: WKevinD on February 23, 2025, 04:11:46 AM: I saw this a few weeks ago and tried to avoid really looking at it. It is exactly how I would love mine to be like be but I would have to add clutter and general wood litter, small brass trimmings and misc. drill bits laying around.
Nice effort.

Kevin
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: P.W.Berkuta on March 07, 2025, 09:52:39 PM: Brian - I like your set-up and particularly the swivel ball set-up on the parrot vise. Did you make it or buy it? It looks like you are using a trailer ball from a trailer hitch.
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: Brian Jordan on March 07, 2025, 10:42:08 PM: P.W. I made the swivel base about 10 years ago. Every part is machined and heat treated out of A2 tool steel. All the mating surface are lapped for a precision fit.
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: Realwarrior on April 05, 2025, 03:43:55 AM: Very nice. I could learn something from your picrture because I spend as much time looking for tools as I do building.
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: wvcruffler on April 07, 2025, 12:46:18 AM: Really love the t-track mod. I have a portable bench built on a miter saw stand but the rollers arent really great for the barrel to rest on. Going to mod mine to have leather bolsters like these.
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup
Post by: Clark Badgett on April 26, 2025, 10:54:42 PM: How do you find anything with everything so clean? 😁
Title: Re: My gun building bench setup (Engraving bench addition 4/29/25)
Post by: Brian Jordan on April 29, 2025, 09:43:03 PM: I added a description, some pictures, and even 2 video clips to how I modified my bench for engraving.