Does the 'East Valley' need a armorer/smith for black rifles? (Or should I start doing gun work again?)

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Tim McBride

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May 4, 2018
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With Derek gone and a few others shutting down, is there a demand in the East Valley for a modern rifle smith and armorer?
I still have the vast majority of my tools from the old shop, and am considering doing just modern semi auto work part time again.

Thoughts?
 
I have two Robinson Armament XCR projects that need attention above my skill sets...do you work on the XCR platform? I’m in east valley and would be interested!
 
semperfisurveyor said:
I have two Robinson Armament XCR projects that need attention above my skill sets...do you work on the XCR platform? I’m in east valley and would be interested!

My brother and I both have early XCRs and want most of the Picatinny rails milled off. Tim, would you be able to do that?
 
Are you thinking of just doing "bolt together" type jobs or jobs a bit more complicated?
Do you have a mill?
A lathe?
Will you be set up to media blast, parkerize, and refinish firearms?
What is your definition of "modern semi-auto"? Does that include AKs, HKs, and FALs?

I suppose if you were doing it out of your residence so not paying the overhead of rent, anything no matter how small is possible. The question is, how big? I think there are plenty of places in the EV that can just bolt stuff together for a customer, its the jobs beyond that that I think quality smiths are lacking the ability to do.
 
lew said:
semperfisurveyor said:
I have two Robinson Armament XCR projects that need attention above my skill sets...do you work on the XCR platform? I’m in east valley and would be interested!

My brother and I both have early XCRs and want most of the Picatinny rails milled off. Tim, would you be able to do that?


If I get set up on my own again, yes. Right now everything is still in boxes and on pallets.

I do have access to another shop that I have been helping out. Shoot me a PM with a photo of which XCR you have and the rails you want cut, and I'll see if we can knock it out down there.
 
Mr_Maim said:
Are you thinking of just doing "bolt together" type jobs or jobs a bit more complicated?
Do you have a mill?
A lathe?
Will you be set up to media blast, parkerize, and refinish firearms?
What is your definition of "modern semi-auto"? Does that include AKs, HKs, and FALs?

I suppose if you were doing it out of your residence so not paying the overhead of rent, anything no matter how small is possible. The question is, how big? I think there are plenty of places in the EV that can just bolt stuff together for a customer, its the jobs beyond that that I think quality smiths are lacking the ability to do.

Yes on a mill and lathe.
I'm thinking of doing both again(simple and custom mill/lathe stuff). Parkerizing I've got the experience, but I'd need to buy a new tank, I gave my old one away. I've got a sandblasting setup still here.
As for "modern" what I mean is I don't want to work on junk .22s and other stuff like that anymore. And other then threading I have no desire to work on bolt guns.
 
semperfisurveyor said:
I have two Robinson Armament XCR projects that need attention above my skill sets...do you work on the XCR platform? I’m in east valley and would be interested!

Just depends on what you want done; trying to gage interest in getting set up with my own 'small' shop again.
I have no desire to sell stuff anymore. No more NFA sales in my future. Just tired of the oversight.
 
Tim McBride said:
Yes on a mill and lathe.
I'm thinking of doing both again(simple and custom mill/lathe stuff). Parkerizing I've got the experience, but I'd need to buy a new tank, I gave my old one away. I've got a sandblasting setup still here.
As for "modern" what I mean is I don't want to work on junk .22s and other stuff like that anymore. And other then threading I have no desire to work on bolt guns.

In that case I'll be Customer #1. I need blasting and parking and some easy mill work done on several projects.

Your comment about junk 22s made me laugh! :lol:
 
Mr_Maim said:
Tim McBride said:
Yes on a mill and lathe.
I'm thinking of doing both again(simple and custom mill/lathe stuff). Parkerizing I've got the experience, but I'd need to buy a new tank, I gave my old one away. I've got a sandblasting setup still here.
As for "modern" what I mean is I don't want to work on junk .22s and other stuff like that anymore. And other then threading I have no desire to work on bolt guns.

In that case I'll be Customer #1. I need blasting and parking and some easy mill work done on several projects.

Your comment about junk 22s made me laugh! :lol:

I'll let everyone know if I get set back up for serious work. I can possibly do the mill work if you shoot me a message with what you want done. I have access to a friends setup shop that I've been helping at. If we have the stuff do do the work down there, I can help out.
 
Tim McBride said:
semperfisurveyor said:
I have two Robinson Armament XCR projects that need attention above my skill sets...do you work on the XCR platform? I’m in east valley and would be interested!

Just depends on what you want done; trying to gage interest in getting set up with my own 'small' shop again.
I have no desire to sell stuff anymore. No more NFA sales in my future. Just tired of the oversight.

Looking to get a portion of the rails milled off then refinished.
 
semperfisurveyor said:
Tim McBride said:
semperfisurveyor said:
I have two Robinson Armament XCR projects that need attention above my skill sets...do you work on the XCR platform? I’m in east valley and would be interested!

Just depends on what you want done; trying to gage interest in getting set up with my own 'small' shop again.
I have no desire to sell stuff anymore. No more NFA sales in my future. Just tired of the oversight.

Looking to get a portion of the rails milled off then refinished.

I could do the rail milling, but I am not set up to do any refinishing right now.
 
John Kuhns said:
No offense intended but there is still Derrick Martin and I last heard Bob Pultz was operating out of AJI.

Fair point. Bob is actually in the space my shop used to occupy.
 
Do it, Tim! My old EVC3 shirt is looking pretty worn, and I could use another... ;)
 
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