The Original CZ Forum
GENERAL => CZ Gunsmithing => Topic started by: pdxrealtor on August 10, 2015, 04:39:32 PM
-
What are the must have tools to work on the CZs? Size punches, roll pin punches, etc?
Since I have a few CZs I'd like to get the tools as it's just a matter of time before I start making them better.
-
Get a starter punch, its a very important tool to remove the staked in hammer pins. 3/32" cup tip punch or you can shape the tip round of the same size. Brownells sells sets of cup tip punches: http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/punches/cup-tip-punches-prod656.aspx. This keeps the tip in the roll pin hole and less likely to slip. Good for the firing pin retaining roll pin or trigger retaining pin. Get yourself a some wooden or derelin dowls to drift sights and I like to use a yellow plastic tent stake hammer from Walmart so as to not marr when punching pins in.
-
I don't have dedicated gunsmith tools. Most of the tool I use are generally bought over the years.
I have a punch set from HD.
Needle nose pliers for electronic work (frys, newark, digikey, etc)
tweezers (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, etc)
Wiha Metric allen drivers (electronic store, amazon) to use as guide pins.
Starter punch
8 & 12 oz ball pen hammer.
2x4 scrap piece with 5/16" hole drilled.
several quick grip clamps.
1/8" dia piano wire (to make a slave pin if you have decocker version)
Wet and dry sand paper of 400-1200 grid.
Meguiars metal polish.
painters tape
Old light color bath/ hand towel to catch parts if you drop them This will prevent the small parts like pins to bounce out from the table. Light color to contrast the parts my vision is not as used to be.
A good desk lamp.
A magnetic tray to store your parts. I always get uneasy when people just put the small part in the bench. For me is asking for trouble.
Anyways, these tools are what I use. Nothing fancy like brass punch or hammer.
-
Not a must have, but a bench block is nice, but a roll of duct tape will work. Sometimes I use an old phone book (or thick book), when re installing the hammer spring so I'm not pressing the lanyard loop into a wood table.
Quality (Made in the USA) punches are vital. I bought some cheap brass ones on eBay, they bent upon first usage.
-
Thanks for all the info!
Maybe I should have started with what I have?
I have two, three and four and half millimeter punch with rubber tops (from powder river precision) The 2 MM seems to be rounded. The other two have chamfered edges.
Typical blue Dasco (Home Depot) punch kit with 3/32nd, 1/8, etc punches. I can easily round those corners.
I have (kind of embarassed) Glock punch (but hey - I don't own any Glocks!!)
I have little diamond files
I have a nice Dremel with tons of attachments
I have polishing pastes, from abrasive to mirror finish
I have sandpaper in 600, 800, 1000, 1200, and 1500 grits
Sight pusher tool with all of the attachments
Ball peen hammers
All the usual pliers, tweezers, vice, etc.
Some questions -
What's a starter punch? Nevermind - this would be a starter punch. :D http://www.cajungunworks.com/miscellaneous.html <-- this is the kind of things I'm looking for. Tools specific to CZ gun smithing.
Is that JOE/TOOL http://www.cajungunworks.com/miscellaneous.html needed or is there a substitute that will work?
1/8" dia piano wire (to make a slave pin if you have decocker version) - will a 1/8" punch work? Is there a CZ specific tool for this?
2x4 scrap piece with 5/16" hole drilled. - What is this for? Again, is there a specific CZ tool for this?
I just did complete trigger jobs, including three stage polish using pastes and Dremel, to two XDS (Springfield Armory subcompacts) and they turned out well.
I've found that anything mechanical or carpentry can be made way easier and sometimes done better if you have the right tool for the job.
I was thinking about a bench block. The roll of tape I've been using is new, and is wrapped in plastic so when I punch the pins out they are contained. A nice bonus especially considering it's technically not the right tool for the job.
-
1/8" dia piano wire (to make a slave pin if you have decocker version) - will a 1/8" punch work? Is there a CZ specific tool for this?
You can use a Q-tip it's a slave pin (place holder), so your decocker doesn't disassemble.
-
Thx! Noted!
-
I think CZ Custom's bench block is a must. Especially when banging out OEM hammer pins. No other block out there fits a CZ frames like theirs.
-
bleep dman dman bleep!!! Lol
I just ordered the wheeler block off amazon and I was soooo contemplating the cz vs the wheeler, or better said.....38vs 20 bucks.
Oh well. I can send back the wheeler. I have not paid for the order from cz custom.
I did get a neat little armorer mat with the parts diagram of the cz 75 which Im hoping accuratley represents most cz variants.
-
An unappreciated accessory is a zip lock bag. At least when CZ's were new to me and sear cage springs and parts would go flying (or even the trigger spring occasionally) I found it very helpful to drive pins out after placing the frame or slide in a large zip lock bag. You end up with a bag with holes but guarantees you will not lose the Infamous L spring or other parts.
-
bleep dman dman bleep!!! Lol
I just ordered the wheeler block off amazon and I was soooo contemplating the cz vs the wheeler, or better said.....38vs 20 bucks.
Oh well. I can send back the wheeler. I have not paid for the order from cz custom.
I did get a neat little armorer mat with the parts diagram of the cz 75 which Im hoping accuratley represents most cz variants.
I got the Wheeler, and it works well. Plus, you've been modifying your Springfield pistols, so it's your call.
-
A pair of fine-tipped electronics tweezers is also nice for placing the safety detents/springs as well as getting the sear spring leg out of it's notch to remove the safety. :)
-
The #1 must have is patience. I didn't secure the safety detent well enough on disassembly of a pre b and it shot across the room. Took forever to find that lil booger & it was a pain in the a** to get back in position. Other than that, I have a set of punches and different size files but I use whatever else I have in the tool box. Pliers come in very handy, needle nose & otherwise. Had to use vice grips to free the handguard retainer on my rpk. I supposed improvisation is my #2 tool.
-
Patience and ability to improvise - check.
I ordered the pro kits from CGW for my SP-01 and my Rami so we'll see just how good at this I really am. I have a feeling the striker based guns might be making things look easy. haha.
-
The #1 tool is David at CGW will help you if you get on trouble
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Stick with it. If I can do it anyone can. I had to walk away a number of times during my 1st attempt of "garage smithing". The frustration was getting me nowhere, fast