Gunsmithing First project in new home garage shop

[LC 6.5 Shooter]

Just finished turning my garage into a little gunsmith shop. Got a new lathe to start learning how to thread and chamber my own stuff. Got a great uncle who is a gunsmith. He is gonna show me the ropes.

But went ahead and did my first project. Skim bedding a MPA Matrix.

 

[DarinC]

That’s awesome. I’d love to know how to thread and ream my own blanks, and do a good job at the same time. Father in law is a retired machinist, so I’d have that, but I have absolutely no experience on the machines

 

[clcustom1911]

That's sweeeeeeet. Good job. I can't wait to get my garage outfitted with my Freedom Shenanigans.

 

[Alan Warner]

Get that out in the middle of the floor so you can access all around. You can thank me later.

 

[sgtsmmiii]

Very nice.

 

[LC 6.5 Shooter]

Get that out in the middle of the floor so you can access all around. You can thank me later.

now you tell me lol. Can you send like 10 dudes to my house. That was the biggest pain in the ass getting it off my trailer and in place.

 

[iceng]

Staple some plastic sheet to your wall, behind the lathe. White board or similar works well. If it's close to the wall, eventually you get a nice line of coolant smear. Do as someone else said, bring it off the wall 2 or 3 feet, and angle it about 20 to 30 deg. Takes up space, bit if you use it a bit, it will make your life much more comfortable getting around it, accessing the swarf from behind, roping up or changing coolant, etc..

Heaven forbid you blow a fuse and need to access the back.

Oh, also put a wall protector along the bore axis. Nothing worse when you use compressed air to blow out a barrel, and you get a lovely spray of coolant swarf on your wall because you forget to use a rag at the other end to catch it.

 

[LC 6.5 Shooter]

Staple some plastic sheet to your wall, behind the lathe. White board or similar works well. If it's close to the wall, eventually you get a nice line of coolant smear. Do as someone else said, bring it off the wall 2 or 3 feet, and angle it about 20 to 30 deg. Takes up space, bit if you use it a bit, it will make your life much more comfortable getting around it, accessing the swarf from behind, roping up or changing coolant, etc..

Heaven forbid you blow a fuse and need to access the back.

Oh, also put a wall protector along the bore axis. Nothing worse when you use compressed air to blow out a barrel, and you get a lovely spray of coolant swarf on your wall because you forget to use a rag at the other end to catch it.

All great suggestions. Thank you

 

[jcmullis2]

Very nice shop. You’ll figure out where everything belongs. In time the machines will tell you where they belong. I recently did something similar except my mill and lathe ended up in my old formal dining room. I rented a reamer and holder from 4d rentals for my first barrel. I also ordered a 223 & 308 to have on hand but I’m still waiting on them. Renting is okay on some stuff but not on others. What reamer holder setup are you using?

 

[Stoweit]

Impressive home gun shop dude.

 

[BuildingConceptsllc]

That's so cool! Can't wait to get my gun room set up in the basement with AC. (In the new house). That's phase 2. Working on securing the land right now. Should be able to buy the amount I want first quarter of next year. Then will start on plans for my house. I've built so many houses for other people (most of em very high end) and never built my own). When I do, I will have a similar set up. Very nice!

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Congrats and welcome to the cool world of building your own stuff.

You will find it's the first of many projects! And they'll just get better!

Sirhr

 

[Ware'sTacticalFirearms]

Congratulations! Looks like you have a comfortable place to spend many hours! I’d recommend an industrial floor mat to go in front of your lathe.

 

[acudaowner]

the only thing I see missing is a beercaddy in a hot swim suit and maybe a fridge to chill your drinks nice looking area other wise .

 

[iceng]

I second the stand-well / rubber floor mat. Helps with insulation and standing for a few hours can get mighty painful if you are not used to it.

My old neighbour to my workshop was a carpet layer. He gave me this super hard wearing rubber backed stuff which you (they) lay at entrances to shopping malls and such for wiping your shoes on. Real scruffy, but was rubber and carpet blend. I use a large square of that, with kids gym foam square block things on top. The square light foam with interlocking sides. 3 squares of that for like $5 from the toy shop.

Occasionally hose the carpet down, hit it with an air gun to get the smaller bit out, buy new kids foam squares. SUPER comfy, and weirdly, if I ever drop a spring, pin or small parts, the foam matt catches it inside the little holes. Works a treat.