38 replies to this topic

[JWR]

I'm in GA and would definitely sign up. I've been wanting to take a class, and this would be the perfect opportunity.

JR

[Addict]

I would love to take the class! I would need about 6 weeks notice to make things copacetic with work, but barring famine and flood, count me in!

Addict

[stik]

This is something I would be interested in. I have been a "basement/garage gunsmith" just tinkering with stuff for since the AWB bann sunsetted. But building AR's are like putting together LEGO's compared to 1911's, and I've built alot of AR's. I have ruined more thumb safetys, slides and barrels than i care to mention just learning the hard way (luckily I was able to salvage most frames, or put a dedicated .22 LR top end on it and made it a functional practice gun/range toy. I know I've ruined more than $600 worth of stuff, plus I don't have time to take a full on machine shop course to learn the basics of a mill due to work schedule. However, to take a Friday of vacation and spend Fri, Sat and Sun in the future learning how to build one from the ground up would be well worth my time and money, but that's my own opinion and everyone has different goals and opinions. But keep us posted on a future GA class if you can make it happen.

[feederic]

Even though I'm all the way in Kommiefornia, I'll definitely do it!

Edited by feederic, 28 March 2011 - 12:53 PM.

[ncopenshooter]

I'd be in for coming to Georgia. I have a nice (well as nice as they can be) Rock Island/Armscor 1911 in 38 Super that's been sitting in the safe as a project gun of sorts, for just such an occasion. While turning a pigs ear into a silk purse is maybe unrealistic, the slide to frame fit is good and feel that from there, anything is possible.

Like others, I don't have access to a mill, so the big thing that I'd like to get out of the class is to true the frame & slide rails and then learn how to do mods on my own (fitting safeties, trigger jobs, etc.). Heck...if I could get a new barrel fit, I'd be tickled.

Dave

[kgunz11]

Dave,
Your case is the perfect example of what those without the machine tools can learn from the class. While it is possible to fit a barrel with a mill and lathe, both Matt and I still do ours by hand. It allows us to "feel" what is going on and allows us to cut things for proper fit/lock up and achieve the best accuracy results. As well, no machines are required for fitting safeties, doing trigger jobs, installing sights in factory sight cuts. All of those are things one could pick up from the class and go home and start working on their own projects at their dining room table.

[G-ManBart]

I'd be interested in the MI class...might have a 60x120" shop building to fill with related equipment before long

[gng4life]

Bobby, I'd be interested in the GA class...Let us know...

[dskinsler83]

Any more talk of these classes been thrown around? Would you be able to buy a mini mill from like harbor freight after this class and some hand tools and build your own pistol after this????? I would so love that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kgunz11]

With the interest in this class being spread about such a large geographical area, Matt and I are in a holding pattern on this one. We both offer one on one instruction in our individual shops but you'll have to contact us to get further information on that.

[JimmyZip]

Yeah, I would love something like this here as I have access to a mill and a lathe at work. MIG and TIG too. It would be worth it to me.

[dskinsler83]

So if you are saying that I could come down for a one on one class and come home and be able to use a mini mill and hand tools and build 1911 pistols from the ground up then i am game!!!!

[kgunz11]

So if you are saying that I could come down for a one on one class and come home and be able to use a mini mill and hand tools and build 1911 pistols from the ground up then i am game!!!!

Slow down cowboy. I'm not saying a mini mill from Harbor Freight is good for anything, much less working on pistols. I will say that I've built a complete gun with nothing but hand tools all the way to cutting the sights just to do it. None of it is very good on the hands, especially checkering. I'm saying you can come spend a few days in the shop and gets hands on experience building a pistol and be able to fit slides, barrels, sights, safeties, do cosmetic blending, tune extraction and ejection, and various other small chores with nothing but hand tools. You MIGHT be able to use a mini mill for frame to slide fit chores, but it would struggle with that.

Most of what we do, to do it like we do, requires precision measuring instruments and tools. All of my machines have digital readouts on every axis that read to 0.0001" (not a typo) or less. The work holding tools we use are precision ground and very precise as well. That's not to say none of it can be done by hand with a good eye, just saying it all comes down to the operator.

After attending a class with Matt or I, one could buy a short block kit from STI and complete the build on their own at the dining room table with minimal investment in tooling. The benefit you get by being in the shop verses video or manual is you get to actually ask questions and sometimes perform the work yourself if the build at hand is yours.

[dskinsler83]

Oh I see lol....but still just being able to finish a short block kit or update standard pistols would be fun