punch set recommendation for gun work?

[cheechi]

Friend of mine came over last week to use my vise (that he gave to me, attached to the bench he gave to me) because I have a set of soft jaws, to change the sights on his kimber.

aside:
I know nothing about gunsmithing and don't intend to become one, but if there are some tools that are common for gunsmiths that can be used in other fields like electronics then I don't mind having them. He happened to need a very small torx or hex driver that I happen to have from my electronics bench, so that's an example of what I'm referring to.

Anyways he needs a brass punch to finish the job. the punches I have weren't ideal for this so it was left half done or undone, I wasn't fully involved with the whole process. would this be a set that's worth getting? I really don't know what brands and other than a USA made craftsman set most of my punches are either throwaways from others I cut or ground flat, or probably no name POS ones. I don't need them much usually I buy them one at a time just the size I need at the moment.

Thanks in advance.

 

[shockwave]

Look at mayhew they are USA made and oem for most trucks on punches

You might need to look at specialty places for smaller pin punches in brass and smaller brass hammers too

 

[langss]

Brownells.......http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/index.htm will have everything you need. If you do a Google search for Gunsmithing tools, you can get an idea for prices at other vendors before you buy.

 

[pstemari]

Starrett also makes a couple of sets of brass pin punches.

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[M6erfan]

Grace USA

 

[AndyCBR]

Wheeler Engineering makes some nice economical sets in steel and brass.

Found at MidwayUSA (Wheeler is the guy who owns Midway).

 

[T45]

This mayhew pro set is pretty decent looking, and not outrageous @ $40ish. This kind of thing may also be worth looking around for used, NOS or on Zoro 30% off sale days if you plan a head.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MT8SZ1C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[kctyphoon]

I think I bought a set in Hd on the peg hooks. I believe when I built my AR I just bought a set off Amazon.. pretty sure one was for roll pins and one was for drift pins..

 

[lightning02]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012TKY0VI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

tekton also makes a gunsmith punch set. USA made. comes with a nice wooden base. also include roll pin punches in the set.

i always wanted to pick it up to try them out but always forget

 

[Firebrick43]

I would avoid brass drifts. The metal rubs off and can mark parkerized guns. Nylon/Deleon rods are better to move sights. Again, brownells. Do get proper pin punches for gun pins. They have a concave face to match the convex head of gun pins. The magnatip screwdriver bit set are great to eliminate damage to gun screws!

 

[anndel]

I bought my house brand set from Brownell's years ago and they were made in U.S.A Wouldn't hurt to go there.

 

[General Geoff]

I would avoid brass drifts. The metal rubs off and can mark parkerized guns. Nylon/Deleon rods are better to move sights. Again, brownells. Do get proper pin punches for gun pins. They have a concave face to match the convex head of gun pins. The magnatip screwdriver bit set are great to eliminate damage to gun screws!

Nylon/Delrin is too soft to move stubborn sights on Kimber pistols. They are known to be so hard that people often break dedicated sight moving tools on them. Brass residue is easily cleaned off just about any finish on steel, that's what I've used when drifting out gun sights.

My best advice is to make the vise as rock solid and immovable as possible, clamp the slide down firmly with soft jaws of some sort (I used copper), and then gingerly use a small ball peen hammer to tap out the sights. A little bit of hammer force goes a long way when the working jig resists all movement.

 

[Wvspeed]

The grace ones are worth the money. I purchased a set after my buddy got a harbor freight punch stuck in his ar.

 

[ptgarcia]

I have this Grace USA set and recommend it.

Kimber rear sites can be quite stubborn. My gunsmith had to machine one off the rear of my Ultra Carry.

 

[Tenex]

I bought Grace USA punches from Midway before I transferred over to this forum and got into tools. I bought a roll-pin starter punch that has come in handy. Everything else could just as well have been Mayhew or Wilde. For as little force one would responsibly use on a firearm you could get some Dasco Pro from Walmart.

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[Tenex]

Wheeler Engineering makes some nice economical sets in steel and brass.

Found at MidwayUSA (Wheeler is the guy who owns Midway).

What happened to Larry Potter?

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[cheechi]

thanks guys gives me something I can show him to get him stated. May get that Tekton set for myself anyway.

 

[ScottsGT]

And don't forget proper gun smithing screwdrivers. A standard flat blade will ruin a screw on a gun if it's really tight.

 

[uscarry45]

Grace brand = excellent

 

[M6erfan]

I'm not positive, but I think the Tekton punch set mentioned above is made by Grace USA.

And +1 on getting the proper screwdrivers. Forster makes nice ones...

 

[T45]

I'm not positive, but I think the Tekton punch set mentioned above is made by Grace USA.

Tekton, grace, wilde all look quite similar

 

[M6erfan]

Tekton, grace, wilde all look quite similar

Yeah, and I think Wilde make pliers too for Grace

 

[oldtools]

I think bronze is better than brass. Truck brands use bronze whereas cheap brands use brass. For steel punch, Mayhew has two quality levels. SO use Mayhew top quality level.

 

[four.cycle]

just a visual for you. don't know if these types suit your purposes or not. Wilde's standard pin punches are pretty much the same, but without the little nubbin on the business end:

 

[B.S.A. (ret.)]

Nylon/Delrin is too soft to move stubborn sights on Kimber pistols... Brass residue is easily cleaned off just about any finish on steel, that's what I've used when drifting out gun sights.

As stated here, brass (or copper and other metal residues) can easily be cleaned of steel surfaces. I have used Hoppe's Number 9 with great success in that regard, Just ab some on a patch and ley soak, or rub on the affected area, More difficult or recessed area may take a Hoppe's-soaked nylon brush to finish the job.

 

[Mhyde52]

As tight as Kimber sights are pressed in, I'd go at it with a damn air hammer!!

Seriously though, the vise is an important part as the tool for many gunsmithing tasks.

I have Snap On, Mayhew, and Dasco pin and/or roll pin punches. The Mayhew seem to deform easiest. The Snap on are great, albeit small in diameter to hold in my big fingers. The old, beat to hell, mostly broken Dasco set is my favorite.

 

[T45]

The Mayhew seem to deform easiest. The Snap on are great, albeit small in diameter to hold in my big fingers. The old, beat to hell, mostly broken Dasco set is my favorite.

Just out of curiousity--what type of mayhew is this? home depot sku's (mayhew select) i think is not that great compared to the higher-end/truck tool ones (mayhew pro)?

 

[Mhyde52]

Just out of curiousity--what type of mayhew is this? home depot sku's (mayhew select) i think is not that great compared to the higher-end/truck tool ones (mayhew pro)?

Good question. Probably whatever the hardware store had in stock, I'd guess not higher end. They are just plain steel punches. I'll try any punch that's made in US though. I have a couple long ones that I use all the time to beat out bearing races. Have to touch them up every couple bearings. Those old blue Dasco ones never seem to need touching up after abuse.

 

[Boost Creep]

i got the tekton set for my cousin for christmas. worked good so far for him