my father in law builds race cars up in maine, circle jerk and no benefit to me. i am always amazed at the tools and jigs he pulls out to work on stuff.

he is always straightening solid axle rear ends. people bring them from all over. he was doing some that had aluminum tubes the last tme i was up there. a lot more involved in those.

off topic, sorry. oh, he just got inducted into the new england racing hall of fame.

russel nutting.

Brownell's donation will be repaid in spades when you start buying tools and supplies from them. They are the best though. I ordered supplies from them on weds. and they arrived today. Awesome service. Of course the shipping charges are a killer on hazardous stuff. I pass those on to my customers though under "shop supplies and materials".

Luckily, I already get the trade discount from Brownells. :D

I almost finished the inletting draw up screws. All that is left is for me to drill the holes for the handles and the drill and tap for the set screws that will hold the handles in place. I also made the three handles I will need for the Colt crane bushing wrenches I have to make and the handle for the Clymer reamer extension. While I am fairly happy with the finish and overall quality of the work I am doing, I also know I can still improve on it. I do have some concern that I am taking too long to finish my projects because I am trying to make them as good as I can. On to the pictures:

Inletting draw up screws (one pair for Mauser, one pair for Rem 700 and one pair for Win 70):
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-E...520screws2.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-G...520screws3.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5...520screws4.JPG

Handles. The larger diameter one is for the Clymer reamer extension:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a...12/Handles.JPG

Dude you are on your way to being a REAL gunsmith, not a basement hack like me. I wish you a long and pleasant career.

You are being way too modest Dave. And thank you. Starting to plan my first firearm project as well. I was lucky enough to find a M48 Mauser for $80. We need to do at least one rifle using a Mauser action.

Build a .257 roberts. You will love it. That is stupid cheap even for a Yugo.

Hmm, looks like an interesting caliber. I was thinking of just doing a .308 or maybe .260 Remington. I was thinking that I would like to minimize the amount of work needed on the action as much as possible and focus a lot on the fit and finish of the rifle. I will have to check if we have the reamers for both the .260 and .257 at the shop.

Worst is that I actually talked the guy selling me the Yugo up to the price he paid for it. He was going to let me have it for free.

.257 roberts is uncommon but a super great round to shoot. Don't see many of them. Most are off the Mauser action that I have seen. research it and compare with your other choices.

Did some quick research today and I think I am sold. Will run this past my instructors next week and check to see if we have the right reamer for it.

One of the very best actions for the 257 Roberts is the Model 98 Mauser. I think you will surprise them with that choice. Maybe impress would be a better choice of words. LOL.

Looks good.

I have been busy working and need to update this thread with some new pictures! I am doing some mill projects now so I need to focus (unsuccessfully at times) a little differently now.

Finished these on the lathe:
Inletting guide screws. One pair each for Mauser, Remington 700 and Winchester 70. The slots for the screwdriver is hand cut with a hack saw.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-t...ws%2525201.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-e...ws%2525202.JPG

Did some more work on the action wrench (bolts were done earlier):
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z...ch%2525201.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R...ch%2525202.JPG

Not too happy about the mistake on this one. Fed the mill in the wrong direction. I will leave it for now and might remake this if time allows.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1...ch%2525203.JPG

Started this today. Bolt bending block. Cut to size, clamped and .703 hole drilled followed by a step to 0.8125.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U...ck%2525201.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3...20%2525202.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n...20%2525203.JPG

I should be able to finish this project tomorrow.

Mericet,
Looks great! I wouldn't worry about turning the handle the wrong way; I've been turning handles for almost 20 years and even today, one occasionally gets turned the wrong way! ;)

Side note: Actually got to go to the "manual" side of the shop today for the first time in a while, (I'm usually programming CNC's, running the shop, babysitting the machine operators, etc.) and it was a blast! Sometimes I miss my days on the shop floor, getting chips in my boots!

Last thing: Get yourself a real scale! No self respecting machinist would use a scale whit fractions on it; we leave those to the woodchip guys, and they call them rulers! Gotta learn the lingo: 750 means 3/4's of an inch, but we say, "seven hundred and fifty thou." If you missed your mark by .0005" it means you were "off by a half." :)

Good work and welcome to the addiction.

-Jim

Thanks Jim. For the most part, I use the lingo. But when I describe anything, I do not so as to not confuse those not familiar with that way of speaking. I use the scale to show the size of items I am working on. My primary use for it is rough measurement of stock and to check the center of my tool bit on a lathe. It does have 6ths and 32nds on the other side.

I don't know much about guns, except what happens when one pulls the trigger.... But you are are making some nice tools. Look a lot better than a lot of stuff I have made in a pinch.

Spun the wheel the wrong way??? Get used to it! I am... :)

Cheers

Have been so busy that I have not even been posting or taking pictures. Quite a few and some grades on them as well.

First, I have completed the action wrench. Final grade is a 96:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R...ch%2525204.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D...ch%2525205.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N...ch%2525206.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0...ch%2525207.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u...20complete.JPG

To maximize my time in class, I have started to bring the projects home and doing some finishing work on them here. I am now also taking photos at home in the spare bedroom/workshop/study. I do need a better back drop and lighting for that.

Next is the bolt bending block. Also completed and a grade of 93:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C...ck%2525204.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-s...ck%2525205.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y...ck%2525206.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-p...ck%2525207.JPG

The two Mauser bolt mandrels and the inletting guide screws were also graded at 93. Those pictures were posted earlier.

I have completed the inletting draw screws. I have unfortunately not taken the final product picture, but here is a teaser:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1...ws%2525205.JPG

Side view of a clymer reamer extension:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L...0extension.JPG

Started working on a Mauser receiver facing mandrel. It is also complete (but no pictures yet) and a grade of 93:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W...el%2525201.JPG

Picture time again!

Finished the Mauser receiver facing mandrel. I received a grade of 93.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m...el%2525203.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u...el%2525202.JPG

Finished a shotgun magazine dent remover in 12 gauge. The grade for this one was 95.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-U...ga%2525201.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z...ga%2525202.JPG

Finished the inletting draw up screws as well. Grade was a 93.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C...ws%2525206.JPG


Started work on the barrel dent removers in 12, 16 and 20 gauge. This s the start of the anvils.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z...ls%2525201.JPG

Started to buy items needed for my projects next semester when we will start working on firearms. First project is a Mauser action rifle that will be done in .257 Roberts with a wood stock. The donor rifle have been sourced and the barrel (with the others I need) will be purchased next week. Got in on a group buy for a FN SPR action with detachable box magazine. This will be chambered in .204 Ruger with a composite stock. I am still looking for an action for the last rifle project (either a Savage or Remington 700) that will be done as a scout style rifle. Most likely I will do this one in .308 and use a laminate stock.