Sometimes you have to adapt and overcome with certain projects. This week I have been working on making some Tikka precision tooling for some upcoming projects. I remember when I first met a real gunsmith (Northwest Armswerks), I was blown away when he showed me how damn-near all his tooling what made in-house. This again, was seen through the eyes of an ignorant person. I had no idea that there will be certain tools that you cannot source online and you have to be able to make them yourself. Years later, a few micrometers and a decent piece of bar-stock, and boom…. new precision tool made from scratch.
Above is a picture of a custom made action wrench for a Tikka T3 and a action truing-bar made from a piece of raw stainless. http://fullsendfirearmsandammo.com
START TO FINISH…
Start to finish, this above picture is final product made in house at FULL SEND PRECISION RIFLES.
TIKKA PRECISION TOOLING
One of the things that I never really realized was the time involved in making any of these tools. I remember when one of my mentors was breaking down how you have to make most of your own tools. I did not realize why he was saying that at the time. Most of these tools are not available online or the cost of one from another vendor is 5x what you would pay to make one from scratch. So the scenario becomes, is it about money? Or, is it about the time involved that you do not make your own tools. A shop with some more “horsepower” can purchase anything they think they need. For a smaller shop, you are going to have to make these kinds of things yourself. I said this in a previous post, that a local shooter was quoted saying, “Any monkey with a lathe can chamber a barrel.” Now can a “monkey with a lathe” make damn near any tool necessary to accomplish a proper fit and finish for a build? Above is a picture of a Tikka action wrench make from a piece of “hex-bar” and a “truing bar.” HOW TO MAKE DENSITY ALTITUDE DATA CARDS
All together these two tools allow you to service some of the most popular rifles on the market.
This picture is of a post-facing operation removing the hex-shape that comes factory on a Tikka’s receiver face. This allows you to fit a standard-shank heavy barrel. I learned this from Northwest Armswerks local to WA state. Huge game-changer for squaring away the Tikka shooters.
TIKKA PRECISION TOOLING
Above is a picture of the receiver fitted to the precision work-piece. This allows me to face the action, and fit a standard shank barrel. It also ensures a proper squared fitment of the barrels mating surface on the shoulder of the tenon. As you venture down the rabbit hole of machine work, you find yourself thinking, “Can I make the same tool for less than the cost of purchasing one.” This is the question that will plague you when there are so many great companies out there that can provide you things like this. Occasionally you find something that does not exist and you have to have the ability to create it yourself. If you have the right people around you such as Full Send Precision Rifles, Or Northwest Armswerks, The scenario of “Can I,” becomes the scenario of, “Can I make one that would be worthy of lending out for use by other professionals.” Questions like this are up to you to decide based upon your final product. We are always striving to get better and better at the things we make. The goal has never changed. “Everything must be perfect.” One way to ensure that, is to do it yourself to the best of your ability. Ask the right people for help when you need it. Do your research and do not be afraid to admit you have no idea what you are doing. Be a student, and give praise to those who taught you what you know. For this, I want to wrap it up with another sincere “Thank you” to all the people who continue to move things forward in the community and with all the things we do here at Wildesideprecision.com. You already know who you are. Thanks team.
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