Need Advice About Buying a Large Number of Tools

[Colonel Gentlemen]

I need to buy a lot of tools, but I know little about what tool brands are good, or which online store/s to buy from; also any info on what stores discount fairly large purchases would be good.
I'll be using these tools to learn then to prototype my crackpot gun/furniture related ideas for the next year, until I can get a FFL at which point I think I'll start doing small scale customs and smithing.
Let me know any brand preferences you have, tips about any of the tools listed below, or if I've forgotten anything important.

Brass punches
Steel punches
Hammers and Mallets
Pliers
Jewelers files
Wood Files and rasps
Metal files
Tap and Die set
Stones
Screw driver set
Dental tools
Rotary tool
Drill Press
Grinder wheels
Belt sander
Disc sander
Torch tools
TIG welder
Vises
Lighting
Chisels
Polishing tools and compounds
Various bluing chemicals
Scope tools
Checkering tools
Engraving tools
Heaps of sandpaper
Materials for hotbox
Measuring equipment
Various Hemostats
Brass/alum shimming
Cutting boards
Action wrench and barrel vise
Materials for heavy press
Paper cutter
Broken screw removal tools
Brushes
File cleaners
Lead tape
Lapping Compound Kit
Reloading stuff
Crowning tools
Sandblaster
Basic set of leather working tools

I also need to know more about what kind of CNC mill I need, I figure it can't hurt to ask here, but I'll probably cross post about it on a machining forum.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Fleet]

For the big stuff (with a few exceptions), Harbor Freight is your friend. For the gun specific stuff, the options are VERY limited. In most instances, it's either make it yourself or Brownells. Bear in mind that your extensive list represents 10's of 1000's of $ on the cheap end, usually acquired over many years if not a lifetime.

 

[leftyz]

HF is mostly crap, but their prices can't be beat.

I try to buy as much Made in USA as I can when it comes to tools

 

[LeonCarr]

Check places like Shotgun News in the classifieds and you will see retiring gunsmiths or deceased gunsmiths families selling their tools and machinery.

I would try there first to get top quality equipment for lower prices.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[rcmodel]

Checkering tools
Engraving tools
Leather working tools
Torch tools
TIG welder
Polishing tools
Bluing chemicals
Reloading stuff

Do you already know how to do any of this stuff?
Or are you a Renaissance man already?

Each of those things require skills that can take years to learn to do well enough to offer it commercially as a gunsmith.

Trying to become a skilled welder, checkerer, engraver, metal finisher, leather craftsman, and reloader all in a years time would be a very daunting task indeed!

I might suggest you start off with one or two things and learn how to do it really well before tackling something else.
By then, you will have enough knowledge to know what you really need to buy, and where to buy it.

rc

 

[jimmyraythomason]

HF is mostly crap,

Depends on what you're buying. I bought 20 pounds of glass bead for $19.95 from Harbor Frieght,Brownell's wanted $80 plus shipping. It is the SAME stuff! Also,Sears wanted $7 ea for 1"x42" sanding belt for an upright sander. I bought a dozen from HF for$6. Do the math.

 

[leftyz]

Depends on what you're buying. I bought 20 pounds of glass bead for $19.95 from Harbor Frieght,Brownell's wanted $80 plus shipping. It is the SAME stuff! Also,Sears wanted $7 ea for 1"x42" sanding belt for an upright sander. I bought a dozen from HF for$6. Do the math.

For media and sandpaper and disposable stuff like that, sure, great deals can be had..

I also bought an engine stand and a cherry picker there, good deals on them both.

I wouldn't buy a cordless drill there, or rely on a wrench or ratchet I got there though, It'd likely break first time you use it.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I bought a 30 piece drill bit set from them for $9.99 thinking they would be single use bits at best. Turns out the outlasted (and are still in use) two seperate drill bit sets made by/for Mac Tools,which cost many times more than the HF bits cost. I would buy any of their tools and materials except for precision measuring instruments.

 

[Mudinyeri]

For tools that won't get used much, or that don't require a lot of precision or accuracy, Harbor Freight can be a good source. Other things, not so much. It's kind of hit and miss.

Torch - go Victor and nothing less.

Craigslist can be a good place to find lightly used quality tools.

 

[leftyz]

A good source for quality used items would be over at the garage journal forums classified section, great group of guys over there. http://www.garagejournal.com

 

[dirtyjim]

ebay, craigslist & pawnshops are also good sources for tools if you don't mind bying used

 

[Colonel Gentlemen]

Is multi-quote broken?

To Fleet: I understand that this is an expensive venture.

Leon: Thank you for the tip.

RCModel: I learn fast and have an attention to detail that approaches OCD. I just don't have the time to go through the trial and error method of figuring out which tools are what I need.

Mud: Thanks for the tip about the torch.

Left: Thanks for the link.

Dirty: I have already been checking, but thanks for the reply.

 

[bgr2014]

Gunsmithing Tools

I'm trying to retire, and I have a very good selection of quality smithing tool, probably more than you will need. Don't have any blueing equipment though, had to give that up, bad for lungs. E-Mail if interested located in Tx. [email protected]

 

[triggerman770]

" I learn fast and have an attention to detail that approaches OCD"
then learn this..when working on other peoples guns the thing not mentioned so far
that is most improtant is..LIABILITY. If you work on a rifle for a customer and it goes Kaboom you will be responsible and it's worse if someone is hurt.