AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: R.J.Bruce on March 10, 2020, 10:52:54 PM

Title: Screwdrivers??
Post by: R.J.Bruce on March 10, 2020, 10:52:54 PM
Any suggestions as to a set of all around gunsmithing screwdrivers?

 I'm looking for something that will be as versatile as possible.

NOT, just to be used on longrifles.

Thanks
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: 45-110 on March 10, 2020, 11:01:54 PM
A set from Wheeler eng'r or Chapman will work nicely. I have both sets and still find I don't have the perfect fit sometimes. So some need a reshaping.
kw
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: Goo on March 11, 2020, 12:34:00 AM
I have a wet grinder!  That allows me to buy inexpensive hard tip screwdrivers from harbor freight.  I can hollow grind the tips to serve as gunsmithing screwdrivers and not over heat because I am grinding in a spray of water.
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: David Rase on March 11, 2020, 03:18:52 AM

(https://i.ibb.co/hyFxyYg/wheeler-screwdriver-set.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PNGsNDr)

Had a friend give me this 72 piece Wheeler set a couple of years ago.  Best screwdriver set I have ever had.
David
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: bobw on March 21, 2020, 09:18:59 PM
Interesting this subject came up.  I’m not very smart, been thinking about making a set of screw drivers for years and didn’t think it would be a big deal...wrong!  These are 16 of a 48 piece set I just finished. 8 blade thicknesses (hollow cut), 6 different widths and 8 different handles colors.  Have as much time in these as it take to build a fancy long rifle from scratch.
Bob Warren
(https://i.ibb.co/mqYKdp9/73-C2-A3-D2-5-A11-42-D1-ACF3-259648-ED4-EE5.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pzsTNqf)
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: WadePatton on March 21, 2020, 09:53:19 PM
I've had two of the Midway multi-tip gunsmith sets over the years---they all got scattered eventually.  Were adequate enough.  If I were to get another set like that, I'd get the Wheeler shown above.

I'm just not fooling with enough other stuff to need such anymore.
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: Bob McBride on March 21, 2020, 10:04:58 PM
Best set I ever had. By far. I’ve many other Chapman’s but this is a great starter set. All you need for flintlocks and other narrow/deep applications. Not cheap but definitely forever screwdrivers.




(https://i.ibb.co/Q977SMt/57043003-A092-4-BE0-8223-A38-C9-ED17-A10.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sjppxqz)
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: scottmc on March 22, 2020, 04:14:19 PM
I third the chapman.  I just ordered a second set for my shooting box.  I use the "beginner" set which seems to have every bit needed for a smokepole.  The smallest ones will break if torqued too much but easy to get replacements and are cheap enough.  Plus made right here in u.s.a.
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: bob in the woods on March 22, 2020, 05:46:07 PM
Best set I ever had. By far. I’ve many other Chapman’s but this is a great starter set. All you need for flintlocks and other narrow/deep applications. Not cheap but definitely forever screwdrivers.

Interesting .  I have the exact same set, and have snapped 3 of the inserts so far  :(


(https://i.ibb.co/Q977SMt/57043003-A092-4-BE0-8223-A38-C9-ED17-A10.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sjppxqz)
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: Bob McBride on March 22, 2020, 06:23:45 PM
Best set I ever had. By far. I’ve many other Chapman’s but this is a great starter set. All you need for flintlocks and other narrow/deep applications. Not cheap but definitely forever screwdrivers.

Interesting .  I have the exact same set, and have snapped 3 of the inserts so far  :(


(https://i.ibb.co/Q977SMt/57043003-A092-4-BE0-8223-A38-C9-ED17-A10.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sjppxqz)

I’ve broke a few myself. I also once broke a gr70 chain trying to pull a fallen oak out of a pond. Hit the dozer like a Howitzer. My wife calls me a ‘knuckle dragger”.
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: wmrike on March 22, 2020, 07:10:56 PM
I use the Brownells drivers.  The lifetime warranty on the tips is sitting there, but I've never had to resort to it.  I especially like the stubby driver handle - that and two or three tips fit neatly in my bag and are less likely than a full one-piece screwdriver to poke anything.
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: Marcruger on March 25, 2020, 05:36:29 AM
I have both the Chapman and the Wheeler.  The smaller Chapman can fit in a range bag, but the Wheeler has a broader range of bits for any occasion. 
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: R.J.Bruce on March 25, 2020, 06:45:05 PM
With all the other stuff that's going on, I forgot about this thread.

Thanks for the answers.
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: KentSmith on March 25, 2020, 09:44:49 PM
Man you guys have too much money on your hands. I have a set of wooden handled hollow ground drivers I have used for 50 years. Had to alter a couple long ago. I also do not have a milling machine or any metal lathe.  I do all right.
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: rmnc3r on March 27, 2020, 04:15:56 AM
Almost as complete as a Chapman or Wheeler Kit but much less expensive - $6.99 ea
I bought a couple - one for the shop and one to keep with my range gear

(https://www.cdnnsports.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/600x600/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/o/u/out99752_3.jpg)

https://www.cdnnsports.com/51-piece-screwdirver-kit-outersrgunsmith.html?___SID=U#.Xn1S0epKjDc
Title: Re: Screwdrivers??
Post by: Stophel on March 27, 2020, 06:48:41 AM
I have some of the red handled Forstner gun screwdrivers that I got probably 25+ years ago, and they're good screwdrivers, and I still use them all the time.  But honestly, it ain't that hard to take decent quality ordinary old screwdrivers and grind the tips to fit various screws.