Ideas for tools for hard to do jobs.

[keweenaw]

As many of you know I make and sell some tools that can be useful in building longrifles.  I've tried to make things that make difficult jobs easier or that you can't do any other way, like the touch hole counter bores.  While I have no interest in being a full time tool maker, I find building guns far too enjoyable, I'm wondering what other tools that aren't currently available you all would find helpful.  Someone suggested a midsized plane with a slightly rounded bottom that could be used in the cheekpiece, wrist, comb transition area that is generally a pain to work out with the cabinet rasp.

So let's have a discussion of the tasks you find particularly difficult, or would like to do but can't because there is no tool available designed for the job.

Tom

[doug]

      something that I don't recall seeing for sale are gooseneck chisels.  In the photo below there are two of them near the bottom.  I make them from worn out chain saw files.  Their advantage over an ordinary straight chisel is that you can work in a trough or channel with the chisel blade flat or nearly flat to the surface you are working on.  I recognize that the ones in the photo are crudely made but the shape of the body of the chisel is what I am trying to illustrate

cheers Doug

[T*O*F]

Tom,
It occurs to me that the "Gunsmith's Manual" by Harrison & Stelle has a number of common, 19th century gunsmith tools illustrated that would be of value to builders today.  Perhaps that would be a good starting point.

I assume you have a copy.  If not, I could possibly scan those pages and forward them to you.

[Bill of the 45th]

Tom, sometimes when doing a build we shorten a barrel, and need to recrown it.  I was thinking there could be a too shaped some what like a crank handled choke tube wrench, but with a proper angled cutter, and barrel sleeves to make it multi caliber.  PS your touch hole tool is a dream to use, I love it.  I may never use a liner again.

Bill

[keweenaw]

Bill,

Someone suggested that to me at the CLA show.  As it turns out such a tool was made in the WWII era, I know because I have the one my Dad bought right after the war when he started gunsmithing.  It's a two sided cutter, one side cuts the end of the barrel flat and the other cuts the inside crown.  It has a pilot that screws into one side and a Tee handle that screws into the other side. When switching jobs you simply move the pilot and Tee handle to the other sides.  Will give those some more thought.

Tom

[rich pierce]

When I went to the museum of the Henry gunshop a few years ago while attending Dixon's Gunmaker's Fair I saw some really cool breeching tools that counterbored the breech to a shoulder to accept a tap.  They had a guide to fit the bore to keep it going straight, and looked like they could be used with a hand drill.  Something like that would be a welcome addition to a gunsmith using old practices, but have limited application broadly.

A mandrel for forming and lifting the skirt on entry thimbles might be of interest.

[Old Ford2]

When I went to the museum of the Henry gunshop a few years ago while attending Dixon's Gunmaker's Fair I saw some really cool breeching tools that counterbored the breech to a shoulder to accept a tap.  They had a guide to fit the bore to keep it going straight, and looked like they could be used with a hand drill.  Something like that would be a welcome addition to a gunsmith using old practices, but have limited application broadly.

A mandrel for forming and lifting the skirt on entry thimbles might be of interest.

A mandrel for forming the entry pipes would be really great.
How many do you have?
Old Ford

[hoochiepapa]

I'm seeing lots of great ideas!!

[Old Salt]

Regarding the suggestion about a plane to contour the cheek piece/foreend/wrist etc I have a set of scapers with inside and outside curves that do a good job working shapes in those areas.

Leo   

[LURCHWV@BJS]

   I know someone will think I'm crazy but,  been working on a idea for an internal coning tool for the touch hole.  Instead of a liner.  Just need a machinist willing and able to work in miniatures.

   Rich

[John Archer]

   I know someone will think I'm crazy but,  been working on a idea for an internal coning tool for the touch hole.  Instead of a liner.  Just need a machinist willing and able to work in miniatures.

   Rich

Is your design different from the counterbore that Tom Snyder makes? Hard to imagine one that will work better than his.

John

[LURCHWV@BJS]

   I know someone will think I'm crazy but,  been working on a idea for an internal coning tool for the touch hole.  Instead of a liner.  Just need a machinist willing and able to work in miniatures.

   Rich

Is your design different from the counterbore that Tom Snyder makes? Hard to imagine one that will work better than his.

John

   Didn't know one existed.  Oh well.

   Rich

[Rolf]

Old Ford,
David keck has entry pipe mandrels for sale http://knobmountainmuzzleloading.com/partspage2.html
I bought one. Very happy with it. I've used it for the pistols I'm working on.

Best regards
Rolf

[WadePatton]

Is your design different from the counterbore that Tom Snyder makes? Hard to imagine one that will work better than his.

John

   Didn't know one existed.  Oh well.

   Rich

Yes, how about a tool to make it easier to find and contact folks who we hear about but can't readily find contact information for.  Oh wait:  http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?board=14.0

Tom Snyder, how do I contact you to find out the pricing and availability of your flashhole tool and whatever else it is you make?  I've searched and searched.  I'm not prone to use the PM system because a lot of forum users, (especially those with minimal web presence) don't use PM's.

Thanks

[John Archer]

Wade..

Tom Snyder started this thread. Just go to the top of the page and click on his name in the left margin for his email address.

If you go to "Items for Sale/Wanted" there's a lot of information about Tom's items about 8 topics down under "Ramrod Groove Planes etc."


Best,
John.

[bluenoser]

Old Ford,
David keck has entry pipe mandrels for sale http://knobmountainmuzzleloading.com/partspage2.html
I bought one. Very happy with it. I've used it for the pistols I'm working on.

Best regards
Rolf

Plans for the entry thimble mandrel are on page 100 of Recreating the American Longrifle.  Gotta love that book!  It is a simple off-centre turning and is easy to make if you have access to a lathe.  I too am very happy with it.  Alas, I had to part with my lathe due to a recent long-distance move.     I wouldn't wast my time making Alexander's version on page 148 of The Gunsmith of Grenville County.  In my opinion, if it is not turned off-centre, the contour of the tail piece will not be right.  Having said that, Alexander's book is still my # 1 go-to book.

[DutchGramps]

Hollow end mills, to cut to size the pins on bridles, springs etc.. 
I had a set for the Dutch M1815 musket, lent them to a collector, he died and they disappeared from the earth 

[Gaeckle]

I have a couple of shoe boxes full of allen wrenches that I find at work. These make fantastic little scrappers and hand chissels.