Every gunsmith's setup needs the essentials, quality punches, a sturdy vise, torque wrench, and proper screwdrivers. Those basics cover most jobs without frustration. Add in good lighting and organization, and work goes smoother. What tools have you found make the biggest difference at your bench?
Must-have gear for the bench
- Thread starter Alpha
- Start date
Virginia 01
Active member
My cell phone camera. I can take very close up pictures of the things that are buried and hard to see. For example, screws that are deep set in long holes in shotgun stocks, or other hard to reach places. Helps identify hex heads vs. Phillips or slotted, etc.
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2025
- Messages
- 21
Thumbs up to Virginia01. Not only can you identify screw heads but I use it for disassembly so that when i am looking at a pile-o-parts after disassembly, I will know from the picture taken beforehand where each part goes......whether that part was above or below or in whole other place. Good advice!
A good choice, and I agree a good vise and torque wrench make a world of difference. I’ve noticed soft jaws especially help keep things clean and damage-free on delicate parts.
Great tip, phone cameras are underrated bench tools. Macro shots reveal hidden screw heads and wear, speeding diagnosis. I also use a clip-on LED and lens for sharper close-ups
Virginia 01
Active member
Good call.
Virginia 01
Active member
Wooden dowels of various lengths and thicknesses.
Pushing cleaning cloths through barrels, or applying force without scratching anything, popping stuck cartridges back through the chamber end.
And so on. And so on.
Pushing cleaning cloths through barrels, or applying force without scratching anything, popping stuck cartridges back through the chamber end.
And so on. And so on.
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2025
- Messages
- 21
Quality hollow ground screwdriver bits, good torx and hex wrenches that won't strip bolt-heads, solid vice with soft jaw attachments, roll pin and regular punches without long ends that break, torque wrench and screwdriver, nut drivers....all necessary but the MOST used items for me, over 50 yrs old, headlamp and magnified or reading glasses. Also, I have learned the hard way to always put masking or vinyl/electrical tape around area being worked on so that I don't gouge/scrape surfaces. Pin removal on FN509 compact for APEX trigger replacement, without the jig, stands out in my memory. Even the dog ran out of the room from the cussing!
