Welcome everyone to the TFB Armorer’s Bench! As mentioned in the little blurb below, this series will focus on a lot of home armorer and gunsmith activities. In this article, I decided to take a second to reminisce and look back on all that we have covered in our new series this year. Even though this article will not be the last of 2022, it will be the last before the Christmas article. TFB Armorer’s Bench started in August of 2021 so 2022 has been the first full year in its short history. 2022 has been a little more hands-on and intensive in terms of having projects to talk about so it is nice to have this break from the day-to-day and sit down at the bench and feel like progress has been made. Let us jump into all that we have covered in this 2022 TFB Armorer’s Bench Wrap-Up!
Note: The numbers associated with the articles are how they appeared in chronological order starting in 2022. We are probably approaching 100 total very soon!
Closer Looks: 2022 TFB Armorer’s Bench Wrap-Up
2022 was full of Closer Look articles. These articles to me are shorthand reviews. I am open and transparent about their features and all thoughts and opinions are my own, whether it is/was sponsored content or not. 2022 started with TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Professional Gunsmithing File Set. I still enjoy using this file set and appreciate the package it is presented in. I think my favorite Closer Look article this year was the TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler Lite. Getting to know this method of cleaning and polishing brass was a brand-new experience for me and it opened doors for future articles to share.
#1 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Professional Gunsmithing File Set#2 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Frankford Arsenal DS 750 Scale#3 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Wheeler AR Maintenance Mat#5 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Wheeler Precision Micro Screwdriver Set#11 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Wheeler AR Armorer’s Ultra Kit#12 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Wheeler AR Receiver Lapping Tool#14 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Platinum Series Precision Scale#15 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler Lite#17 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Frankford Arsenal Media Separator#18 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Platinum Series Case Prep Center#20 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Intellidropper Powder Measure#22 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Ballistic Precision Chronograph Kit#46 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Strike Industries Collar Adjustable Gas Block
Using Tools: 2022 TFB Armorer’s Bench Wrap-Up
This was more of a vague heading but it is a fitting one. To go with the Closer Look articles I tried to provide a little more of an in-depth review as well as short tutorials on how tools and procedures work. The first one this year was TFB Armorer’s Bench: Using The Wheeler AR Receiver Lapping Tool which was a really enjoyable process and a good chance to talk about how this extra step may help accurize your rifle. My favorite of these types of articles has to be TFB Armorer’s Bench: Cleaning Up and Fire Bluing Screws. Any time I take something in rough shape and bring it back to life is very rewarding.
#13 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Using The Wheeler AR Receiver Lapping Tool#16 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Using The Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler Lite#19 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Using The Platinum Series Case Prep Center#21 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Using The Intellidropper Powder Measure#23 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Using The Ballistic Precision Chronograph Kit#27 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Cleaning Up and Fire Bluing Screws#32 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Cleaning a Suppressor with a Wet Tumbler#38 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Using an M1 Carbine Bolt Disassembly Tool#39 TFB Armorer’s Bench: It Isn’t Bluing – Using Cold Blue
Commentary: 2022 TFB Armorer’s Bench Wrap-Up
Arguably one of my favorite articles to write on TFB Armorer’s Bench and at the same time the most exhausting. I like writing these types of articles for the same reason I like writing articles in general. They may be helpful and informative and that makes the time spent working with and writing them worthwhile. The literal “Commentary” articles themselves are particularly enjoyable because they can be both informative as well as refreshing to me personally. I do not have a giant library of guns to show pictures of mechanisms, features, and problems. It is a pleasant surprise when one finds their way to the bench to lend the chance. My favorite one so far is a tough pick but it is the TFB Armorer’s Bench: Commentary on The Colt 1877 Revolvers.
#4 TFB Armorer’s Bench: An Education on Chamber Casting#6 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Education on Bluing Types & Processes – Part 1#7 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Education on Bluing Types & Processes – Part 2#9 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Techniques and Types – Punches#25 TFB Armorer’s Bench: M1 Garand Gas System and Ammunition Solutions#34 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Commentary on The Winchester 150 & 190 Rifles#40 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Commentary on The Colt 1877 Revolvers#42 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Commentary on the Remington 74 Series
Disassembly, Assembly, & Installation: 2022 TFB Armorer’s Bench Wrap-Up
These three processes are prevalent occurrences on any gunsmith or armorer’s bench. I love taking things apart because I enjoy learning about how they work. One of my favorite things to see is what one company will do to avoid another company’s patents. Maintenance is the obvious default occurrence on the bench and it is something I am passionate about since it prolongs the life of a firearm. My favorite would have to be the TFB Armorer’s Bench: Disassembly and Maintenance – Explorer II/AR7.
#8 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Mauser 1914 Field Strip & Old Gun Precautions#10 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Diagnosing and Assessing a Remington 1858#24 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Diagnosing and Assessing an S&W 642 Airweight#28 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Complete AR15 Assembly – Lower Receiver#29 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Complete AR15 Assembly – Upper Receiver#30 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Beretta 92X RDO Optic Installation#31 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Disassembly and Maintenance – Explorer II/AR7#35 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Franklin Armory 10/22 Binary Trigger Installation#36 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Henry Large Loop Installation
Tips, Tricks, and Other Things: 2022 TFB Armorer’s Bench Wrap-Up
The last heading on the list is a mish-mash of tips, tricks, and other things (for lack of a better name for a third category). Tips and tricks are the life hacks of this series and sometimes they do not come easy to me. The problem is I have done this for so long I am sort of numb to it. Tips and tricks become just how you do things. These are nice because it forces me to take a step back and put myself in younger shoes. My favorite of these is probably the TFB Armorer’s Bench: 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Gunsmithing since it is simple but true.
#26 TFB Armorer’s Bench: By The Armorer Book – Glock Maintenance#33 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Not Broke Don’t Fix It – Polishing Feed Ramps#37 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Ten Odd Tools on My Bench#41 TFB Armorer’s Bench: 10 Random Quick Tips and Tricks#43 TFB Armorer’s Bench: 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Gunsmithing#44 TFB Armorer’s Bench: Things in My Portable Gunsmith Kit#45 TFB Armorer’s Bench: A Peek at My Gunsmithing Library
Closing Thoughts: 2022 TFB Armorer’s Bench Wrap Up
In closing, I want to say thank you to everyone that has tuned in so far for this segment. I went to school for this kind of stuff and practice it quite a bit in my day-to-day but it is a huge luxury to be able to refresh myself, help others, learn new things through others, and share this fantastic world of gunsmithing and working with firearms technology and its tools! Thank you all and have the happiest of holidays and a wonderful 2023! See you then!
Note: I plan on having one more Armorer’s Bench article before the end of the year as an “All I Want For Christmas” sort of article. It will most likely go live on or around Christmas. Happy Holidays!
As always, thank you for reading TFB! Be safe out there, have fun while shooting, and we will see you next time for the TFB Armorer’s Bench! Also, let us know what you think in the comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.