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The Efficient Gunsmithing Workbench Part 3 – The Foredom Tool

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Teaching Professional Gunsmithing for Over 30+ years – Established 1993 – Thousands of Graduates

This is Part 3 of our miniseries “The Efficient Gunsmithing Workbench” if you missed the first parts you can read them here Click Here for Part 1 and Here for Part 2.

As I am Gunsmithing day to day, I mostly use hand tools to disassemble, reassemble, and adjust the various firearms that I am working on. But all day long I turn to one power tool to cut, grind, drill, and polish parts as I fit, modify or make them from scratch. That tool is a Foredom tool and I really can’t imagine working without it.

My Foredom tool hangs beside my bench within easy reach as I work, and I frequently reach for it.

If you are not familiar with it, the Foredom tool is a variable speed, hand chuck (get the Jacob’s Chuck version, not the collet one) with a flex shaft drive and a foot pedal speed controller that enables you to carefully control the speed of the chuck while being able to hold the chuck with both hands.

This allows you to precisely place the cutter/grinding bit/polishing media/drill exactly where you want it then slowly apply speed so that it doesn’t torque out of that spot and damage another area or the firearm’s finish.

For Gunsmithing, just a few of the things that I have used the Foredom to do include:

  • Polish Chambers using a flex tool
  • Re-cut damaged screw heads
  • Polish feed ramps
  • Grind ports and slides for smoother ejection
  • Polish parts for refinishing
  • Drill mounting holes
  • Cut parts to length
  • Fit parts to the proper dimensions
  • Cutout, drill, grind and polish a replacement part from scratch

A tool like this is invaluable to a Gunsmith, and you will use it daily. But here is a WARNING; If you do not understand complete firearms Design, Function, and Repair, the improper use of this tool will result in damage, destruction, and the unsafe modification of firearms. Don’t do it!

Tools are important but are absolutely useless and even damaging without the proper knowledge of not only how to use them, but Exactly What Needs to be Done, How, and Why.

If you want to be a safe and efficient Gunsmith, you need to be certified in Professional Design, Function, and Repair (D, F, & R).  You will only get that level of training from the American Gunsmithing Institute.

Call 1-800-797-0867 to find out complete details or to enroll in any level of the Certified Professional Gunsmithing Course.

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