Getting started

[ronbeaux]

After many years of shooting I've decided I want to delve into tuning. I've allways let someone else do this and I've always been pleased with the work they did. Even won using the airguns they tuned. Point is, I need a hobby. Don't fish, don't deer hunt, don't golf, don't go anywhere unless the Wife is with me, and I like it that way. So unless we are off BBQ'in, I am bored and looking for something to keep me occupied. And at the house.

Soooo. I got this nice area out in my garage begging for a shop. I've read everything I can find in the Shop and Liibrary for all the info I can find and I'm ready to take a plunge. Not to compete with other tuners, but to keep me busy and away from a TV.

First thing I did today was gather materials for a spring compressor. Breaux guided me in the right direction on a Mini Lathe(which will have to wait for awhile) and other stuff.

If you were starting out getting setup, what would you guys recommend I need to get started?? My first project is to do a complete tune on my new TF97, including the fire lapping of the barrel. I got basically zero now as far as tools so any and all suggestions are welcome.

Ronbeaux

[TCups]

Oh Boy!!  New tools!!  Quality time in the hardware store!  Brownells!  Midway!  LOL!

Beginner's gunworks toolkit and "stuff" per TCups, (just glancing over at the work desk in the gun room).  
I don't really do tunes, but I do work a bit on some of my own air rifles.  Here goes . . .

Money
Spring compressor
Dremel tool with lots of bits, grinders, cutters, buffers, polishers
Full set of quality hex dirvers, metric and SAE
Gunsmith's hammer, brass/plastic heads w/ brass punch and drift sets
Gunsmith's screwdriver set
Torx driver set
Brake cylinder hone, drill extension
Small bench vice
Electric drill, drill bits
Safety goggles
Digital calipers
Assorted pliers & cutters
Parts storage boxes
Jeweler's files
Emery cloth, sandpaper,  assorted wooden dowels
Assorted lubircants, solvents
LockTite, Teflon Tape
More money
Compressed air
Good work light
Lots of paper towels, rags, hand cleaner
Chrony & pellet trap
Whisky, band aids
Anything that looks like it might be good to have when I roam among the tools at the local hardware store
That special tool you will find you need but just don't have once the job starts.
Lots more money.
And just wait till you price the lathes, chucks, carbide cutting tools, drill presses, band saws, grinders, compressors and the really expensive stuff you start thinking about when youget serious!
This is going to be fun! (and did I mention expensive?)  LOL
Good luck, Ronbeaux!

[ronbeaux]

Well. Where do I start.........

I hope you guys don't expect me to take a picture everytime I make a trip to the big box store. I was hoping a pair of channel locks and a hammer and I would be good to go for a while. Apparently not.

I guess a beer fridge would be included? I don't do whiskey.

I'm well on my way. I got three of the things on that list!!!! Make that four. I got plenty of goggles and stuff like that. I'm a Safety Professional by trade.

[JOHNNY QUEST]

Breaux stick with the basics for now...    good lube tune and a little cross hatchin with the brake cylinder tool,  [cheap],, do some de burin,, get some moly and read up ...   You will have some fun playing with your toys as a lot of the guys here do...   If ya like it,,, buy the next tool for the better job...   My micro lathe will do just about any job that needs done , butt I just have too many hobbies to start playing inside guns... The Inside of a gun could be considered ART, just ask Gene and Bob..   Just not my kinda of art...   good luck Breaux...

 The guys here will help ya if ya get in a bind...

 Randall

[ronbeaux]

Oh, I plan on getting into a bind or two! I looked at the pics of the shops the guys had here. The first bind I get in will be domestic related. This might be a 3 carat adventure.

[TCups]

I think I found the hammer, punch and drift set at either Brownells or Midway.  I would encourage you to get those, decent screw drivers and hex drivers as a minimum in basic hand tools.  One thing you don't want to do is to ding up the finish on any air rifle, even a Chinese air rifle.  After you finish, you don't want any screw head to be wallowed or any retaining pins to be dinged or dented.  Take a glance at any air rifle that someone worked on with cheap or ill-fitting drivers, or drove the pens out with a pointed steel punch or small screw driver and it will be immediately obvious.  If the workmanship on the outside looks poor, it usually follows that the workmanship inside matches.

[JOHNNY QUEST]

I concur Tommy.. Ron and I discussed the different size punch's and screwdrivers and the allens..  Don't Wanna ding it....   You guys keep an eye on him and help if ya can...  Cuz I know absolutly nothing about it...

[ronbeaux]

That's a good start. Thanks! I took the stock off and see where I need to drive out the pin once I got it in the compressor. My teens have lost most of my tools  so I'm on a scavenger hunt.

I'm really serious about getting going and I'm not in any hurry. Ground up. Empty nest. The Garage is ALL MINE!!!! Even drug up the old Marantz Stereo system. The ones that weighed 20lbs, for tunes.

[TCups]

The only way to learn it is to do it.  Not to say having a mentor and watching someone else do some air gun tunes isn't immensely helpful (thank you J Woodcock, Bob Werner, and Gene Curtis for generously sharing your trade secrets).  But the only way you are ever going to become any good tuning air rifles is by tuning some air rifles.  And again, I repeat what Mike Melick says:  "If you want to make a small fortune tuning air rifles, start with a large fortune."  Good luck Ronbeaux.

[moon]

You need a steady bench, lots of light and a decent toolbox before you get started.  Or you can just lay stuff out on a computer desk?

[Timmyj1959@yahoo.com]

TCups - 1/20/2009 8:18 PM The only way to learn it is to do it. Not to say having a mentor and watching someone else do some air gun tunes isn't immensely helpful (thank you J Woodcock, Bob Werner, and Gene Curtis for generously sharing your trade secrets). But the only way you are ever going to become any good tuning air rifles is by tuning some air rifles. And again, I repeat what Mike Melick says: "If you want to make a small fortune tuning air rifles, start with a large fortune." Good luck Ronbeaux.

How Ironic we have the same Friends/Mentors Tommy!!Only thing I got to say,,,,,well,,,, read the above quote!!Tim.

[ronbeaux]

OK. Step one complete! Site acquisition and prep. Little breaux got over me heckling him and offered up a good idea for a sturdy bench. Gonna be 8x3 and the left over will make a 8x1 shelf above it.

This is a really good spot cause I can close it off and it has a window air conditioner installed in the back window. Beer fridge is not in the picture but all I got to do is turn around and grab one.

Even comes with a cool work out center I can hang stuff on!!!!!

[JOHNNY QUEST]

Breaux  that looks like a good spot..  cool in the summer and fridge in the room...  Nice place to play with yur toys..
 I hope you turn that chinese shooter into a real winner...   Its  TF89 RIGHT.. what spring replacement goes in that???   Anyway a good lube and hone /debur should help her a bunch...

[ronbeaux]

It's a 97 in .22 cal

[moon]

3' is too deep to comfortably reach the back of.  There is a reason countertops are 2'.   If you can access both sides, then 3' is ok.   Something a little taller than the regular 36" for tinkering.  Some task lighting will make you happy also.  Shelves are your best friend.   A muffin tin makes a nice place to put small parts.