Thread: looking to do full restore now where should i buy supplies?

For starting off with hand tools on the cheap start hitting up garage sales, flea markets, and estate sales. Here are some prices I have seen and purchased upon occasion ( I find it hard to turn down cheap tools).

Small ballpeen hammer -$2 tops
Wire cutters ( use your file to make it into a cheap flush cutter) $2
Vice $5 - $10
Files $1 each
Coping saw actually just went and bought one

I usually see an old toolbox full of G.Granndpas old tools that people are more than willing to get rid of. TBH, I have better luck finding these kind of deals in older or more rundown neighborhoods. You may not get this all the first weekend poking around, but it is very viable. Pawn shops, junk shopsand second hand Stores are a great place to rummage in as well. Can get tooling and materials cheap.

Best of luck!

I was showed a way to peen the pins and it works great. Use a big tablespoon. You can't miss and scar up the scales. It is the right weight to get the effect you want which is to deform the end of the pin and not squash it longitudinally. You want to wail on it with lots of light but sharp taps not big crushing blows. If you got to have more weight just put a little blob of epoxy putty or bondo in the spoon bowl. You can wrap the handle with tape for a better grip or dip it in liquid vinyl tool handle dip.

You can cut scales by hand, and finish them with file or sandpaper. You can drill with just a 1/16" drill bit and some epoxy and copper tubing to make a little handle for it. An anvil can be a big hammer, yeah. the bigger the better. A large vice can make an anvil. Brass rod from the hobby shop if you can't afford nickel silver rod. Washers made from brass sheet or buy 50 at a time from microfasteners. You can do it cheap and simple if you want. Maybe your time is worth more than the $ you save, though. If you are not careful you will be working for Chinese gulag wages LOL!

I have noticed a few references to "dikes" are these the flush cut side cutters in the pic?

Originally Posted by edhewitt

I have noticed a few references to "dikes" are these the flush cut side cutters in the pic?

Dyke is just another name for them

Originally Posted by pfries

Dyke is just another name for them

Thought so, thank you.

So just to follow up, what tools and supply's did you end up getting? Are you all set up with what you need now?

I ended up not getting any

I would call that a sound decision, what with having a baby on the way, being unemployed and in school full time - messing about with razors is pretty low priority, in my opinion.

I think you have shown great wisdom, FWIW.

Regards,
Neil

In my own quest for affordable supplies, I've been combing the Internet for sandpaper sources -- as the SRP Wiki teaches, I searched for silicon carbide sandpaper that can be used wet or dry. Without exception, they're either selling 5- or 10-sheet packages of single-grit 9"x11" sheets (or smaller! often, half- or quarter-sheets) for $10 or more, or an "assortment" of four-or-five different grits (one sheet, each), in small sizes, for $10. Phooey! and not on my poor-man's budget. Then, I found this offering, on eBay:

25 Sheets Sandpaper WET DRY 9x11 Sand Paper any grit 150-2500 Silicon Carbide

For all of $13.50 + $6 S/H

As that satellite-TV ad goes, "I jump in it!"

Have you tried this paper yet, JB?