Pin punch set

[Junkie]

I'd be happy with something matching the quality that Craftsman used to be for hand tools, I don't know if such a thing exists (they've certainly gone downhill though).

[Killer Bee]

again, good luck!

Roll pin punch kit

I bought a set from Snap On at a good price on Amazon, and have been satisfied with them. I also use the starter punch set from Brownells, and straight punches by Starrett. I believe tools, as for everything else you'll see discussed here on M4C fall under the "buy once, cry once" philosophy. In my almost 30 year career as a tool maker, the only problems I've ever had with tools are with the cheap ones I bought early on because I was told "these will be good enough". If you're willing to spend well over a grand on a high quality AR or other firearm, why would you skimp over ten or twenty bucks on the tools to work on it properly?

[ChuckD]

I make my own. If you're looking for a fun/useful hobby look into Blacksmithing. A couple of pluses to self-made tools: you can reforge them if necessary and you can design and make task specific tools. Coil springs from cars are cheap/free and make excellent punches & chisels

[Cokebottle]

I'd be happy with something matching the quality that Craftsman used to be for hand tools, I don't know if such a thing exists (they've certainly gone downhill though).

I've been having good luck with Lowe's Kobalt tools.
I haven't popped a Kobalt ratchet yet... popped several Craftsman ratchets even in the 80s when they were still decent.

[Junkie]

I've never broken a Craftsman ratchet. I did break the only 12mm 12pt socket of theirs that I had, on the first head bolt I went to remove on my Subaru... luckily the replacement lasted the rest of the job.

For ratchets I'm currently a GearWrench 120XP fan.

I think I could enjoy blacksmithing but don't have anywhere good to do it.

[liber]

I think I could enjoy blacksmithing but don't have anywhere good to do it.

I've done some blacksmithing, it's like everything else and requires some specialty things. I made a lot of the tools I used, stuff like punches, pyramid head stamps, scribes, nails, etc...made them. It's a bad mentality to get into, the next thing you want to make all your tools...that's how I got into metalworking, some of the tools I wanted were not black iron.

As all crafts, it does require a fair amount of tools to buy as well...Anvil, Hammers, tongs, forges, etc...it's a money pit just like everything else. Plus, if you forge with coal, it's filthy...

Machining, OTOH, is cleaner and most everything is done cold. Go swing a hammer for 8 hours and you'll be tired and most likely sore.

I saw a guy comment above who said don't buy off ebay. I've found crap loads of great tools on ebay. Good quality machine tools, much of it I wouldn't buy new, but on ebay you can get quality stuff (Starrett, Mititoyo, Fowler, SPI, etc...) for a fraction of the price they cost new. My best finds have been on craigslist, value wise, but ebay is the easiest to find specific items, especially vintage/used items. I've found a few things mis-listed that were AWESOME finds!

[Junkie]

That's part of why I haven't even tried it, I have problems with my right shoulder and really doubt I could swing a hammer for all that long.

[liber]

That's part of why I haven't even tried it, I have problems with my right shoulder and really doubt I could swing a hammer for all that long.

I hurt my shoulder once swinging for about 10 hours. It's easy to pull muscles in your shoulder/back by not swinging straight, which happens easier the longer you forge.

BTW, haven't seen any reports on your little mill? Mill anything yet?

Ebay is your friend for tooling.

[Junkie]

Haven't had time to play with it much yet, still need to pick up more tooling.

Thanks to injuries my right shoulder isn't physically where it should be, it isn't just that it gets sore easily.

[liber]

Haven't had time to play with it much yet, still need to pick up more tooling.

Possible I might be able to get a free day on a weekend in a few weeks, if you would like a kick start in getting going. I could bring over enough tools to get at least a lower completed.

Did you get any collets with it?