Equipping a Workshop at Home

[justinaquino]

Since the hobby deals with a lot of custom work and prep, does anyone have advice and checklists of what to have in a small workshop at home?

Also places to buy or get the supplies for the work like wood, the kinds of metal, screws, nuts and bolts.

Regards.

[jimmiroquai]

What kind of work shop? Like to make custom guns?

[justinaquino]

Aug 16, 2010 12:55:01 GMT 8 jimmiroquai said:

What kind of work shop? Like to make custom guns?

Can I possibly make my own custom guns in my small apartment? Without having any serious hardware gear, just free time?

I guess the list of skills may be pretty extensive for DYI.

I've heard sewing and being able to operate a sewing machine is one. Soldering and I guess doing one's own rewiring would be helpful.

How about what are the non-powered and small hand tools that help you small modifications? Where do you get the wood? Do you guys check out hardware stores or home depot?

Any powered tool that is often useful?

[Waffen Ryan]

Aug 16, 2010 13:38:35 GMT 8 justinaquino said:

Aug 16, 2010 12:55:01 GMT 8 jimmiroquai said:

What kind of work shop? Like to make custom guns?

Can I possibly make my own custom guns in my small apartment? Jimmi does. Without having any serious hardware gear, just free time?

I guess the list of skills may be pretty extensive for DYI.

I've heard sewing and being able to operate a sewing machine is one. Soldering and I guess doing one's own rewiring would be helpful.

How about what are the non-powered and small hand tools that help you small modifications? Where do you get the wood? Do you guys check out hardware stores or home depot?

Any powered tool that is often useful?

[jimmiroquai]

I've made almost all my custom guns in my apartment. With the exception of occasional trips to the machine shop, i've made do with these basic tools:
1. Set of large files
2. set of fine, small files
3. a good set of chisles
4. basic tool set: various sizes and types of screwdrivers
5. Various pliers
6. Hammer
7.Hacksaw
8. Metal vice grip
9. Dremel rotary tool
10. Power drill
11. Epoxy metal
12. Lots of super glue

The power tools are a HUGE help and make things a lot easier. But you can make do with a hacksaw and files.

For raw materials, best place to get metal tubes and such is in sta.cruz or binondo. For wood, any lumber shop. I also use sheet plastic board (sintra pvc) which i got from a shop near New manila.

For the stuff i can't do on my own, i go to a machine shop.

I wish i had my own lathe and cnc machine as well as a background in engineering but i have to make do with what i have. But the fun is in the building.

[justinaquino]

Thanks.

I have a few more questions:
what do you do about all the dust and debris? Do you have a carpet, what's your floor like? How is the lighting, do you use both warm and white lamps? Did you have to worry about fire or fume precautions?

I'd imagine, an apartment workshop would need a lot of shelves and storage for drying, sorting, and storing projects in various stages. Is that true?

Do you use a Vise? Did you have to get a special table, I'm using an salvaged office table made of that recycled wood composite which needs to be thick to be strong?

What power tools are you using?

[jimmiroquai]

Nope, i don't have a carpet. I usually lay down a lot of news paper when i expect a lot of debris. I don't have a lot of shelves either. I usually work on one project at a time and the unfinished work is left on the floor for the meantime (to my wife's dismay). I spray paint and do other smelly things (apply body filler etc) on the small balcony outside.

It's best to use white light when working, sunlight when painting.

Yup, i used a vise. Before i bought the vise, i had to use my left hand to hold pieces steady while sawing. It was very tiring, even more so than the sawing itself. The vise helped me a lot. It's a medium sized metal vise that's supposed to be bolted on top of a table. I just put a lot of duct tape underneath mine and use it on the floor.

Powertools:
I use my Dremel for most of the work. There is also a Black and decker brand rotary tool available in the large hardware DIY shops. Heck of a useful tool. Been using mine for almost 10 years. From model construction, 1/6th scale scratchbuilding, sculpting, and now to 1:1 scale scratchbuilding. If you're buying one, make sure you get a LOT of cutting wheels and sanding drums, and at least 1 high speed cutting tool bit for metal. I also have a power drill for the heavy duty stuff that the dremel can't handle, like drilling into metal/ hard wood.

Here are some of the projects i did purely in the apartment:
ww2airsoft-asia.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=reviews&action=display&thread=27
ww2airsoft-asia.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=reviews&action=display&thread=324
ww2airsoft-asia.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=reviews&action=display&thread=315
ww2airsoft-asia.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=reviews&action=display&thread=185

[kalbs]

Dremel, Dremel, Dremel, Dremel....! Best tool you will ever buy for making custom guns

[jimmiroquai]

Aug 16, 2010 17:31:54 GMT 8 kalbs said:

Dremel, Dremel, Dremel, Dremel....! Best tool you will ever buy for making custom guns

I agree! ;D

[justinaquino]

Thanks alot this will be very useful. I realized it would be better to look at how everyone else's works shops look like before spending. I'm sure it will be really expensive with the trial and error parts.

[DAN SAN]

Aug 16, 2010 17:35:10 GMT 8 jimmiroquai said:

Aug 16, 2010 17:31:54 GMT 8 kalbs said:

Dremel, Dremel, Dremel, Dremel....! Best tool you will ever buy for making custom guns

I agree! ;D

and patience.... LOADS OF EM. ;D

[Waffen Ryan]

Jimmi is the Mad Scientist...he's actually building a replica of himself, so he'll have time playing while the replica is doing all the projects in his room.

[labrador]

I knew it!

[kalbs]

He told me it was a 1:1 scale Tiger II he was building

[jimmiroquai]

LOL! The 1:1 replica of myself is the one doing all the eye surgeries!