Everyone wants to get the best bang for their buck or the most value from their dollar. Unfortunately, it’s getting harder and harder to find that “deal.” Let’s look past the “clickbaity” title and look at seven items that are under $13 that are used daily on my bench.
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Little Bitty Cups – $4.99
These little cups are super handy for everything from cleaning solvent to stock finish. They are made of plastic and have graduations to aid in mixing stuff like acraglas. I label mine with a permanent marker with what I use them for. I have ones for Hoppe’s No. 9, Daly’s Ship N’ Shore Sealer, Daly’s Teak Oil, and everything in between. Adding a little solvent and using it to dip your nylon brush in when detail cleaning is perfect. When you are done you can dump the excess back into the container. They are reusable and I can honestly say I’m still on the same pack of 25 that I bought almost 5 years ago.
File Chalk – $11.04
File chalk is no different than a kids sidewalk chalk. It is used to keep your file teeth clean and free of metal chips. Before filing metal, run your file over the chalk adding a layer in the teeth. This will makes metal chips less likely to get stuck in the teeth, potentially gouging the metal. Apply frequently to get the best results. Just like the cups, this will last you a long time.
Needle Oiler Bottles – $11.89
This 3-pack of needle oiler bottles is great. They allow you to get into tight spots with whatever oil or solvent you are using. I have two within reach at all times; one filled with gun oil and the other with Kroil. When you have a stuck action screw, you can pinpoint where you are applying Kroil, keeping it from running all over the stock. They are made out of high-density plastic that resists breakdown from petroleum-based liquids. The cap is threaded aluminum with a rubber seal, and it comes with a plastic slip cap to keep whatever you are using from evaporating.
Oxpho-Blue – $7.99
Oxpho-Blue is a chemical blue or cold blue, that works great for occasional touch-ups. First, clean the area that you want to touch up with alcohol. Then, use a Q-tip to apply a small amount of Oxpho-Blue onto that surface. Wait until it turns black and wipe it off, applying oil shortly thereafter. This is perfect for touching up worn sights and screw heads.
Screw Gizzie – $9.99
This little tool will save you from burning your fingers when shortening a screw. The Screw Holder Gizzie keeps a screw secure while shortening to length, saving you from dropping it under the grinder or belt sander. Made for size 6 and 8 size screws, I’ve found that it holds a variety of different sizes. I wish I had five more of these.
Neoprene Gun Mat – $10.99
I keep my bench as clean as possible, but sometimes it gets more cluttered than I’d like. This mat allows you to work on a gun on a clean surface. It is made out of neoprene and is basically an oversized mousepad without a sticky back. It may slide around your bench if you have a wooden top, but it works great on a carpet-covered bench as I use. It is perfect for laying on a glass gun counter when a customer brings in a handgun for work.
Hot Stuff Instant Glue – $10.99
Hot Stuff Instant Glue is extremely important if you do any stockwork on your bench. It is used for sealing up hairline cracks as well as gluing down stubborn wood chips that want to splinter out. When you see a problem starting, you can put a dab of glue in the crack, and it will hold that piece together. I’ve spent hours looking for a wood chunk that dislodged during inletting, glued it back on, and it was not noticeable minutes later. This instant glue is super thin and gets deep into the cracks. It dries fast and is ready to be worked in five seconds.
Another one that could easily be added to this article is the hockey puck bench block! Read more about how to make this here.
Use coupon code KTG10 to get 10% off your order of $150 or more at Brownells.
Written by: Kurt Martonik
Kurt is a Gunsmith, Reloader, Hunter, and Outdoorsman. He grew up in Elk County, Pennsylvania, where he became obsessed with the world of firearms. Following high school, Kurt enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Boom Operator, where he eventually rose to the position of Instructor. After his military service, he attended the Colorado School of Trades(CST) in Lakewood, CO for gunsmithing. Following graduation, he accepted a job at C. Sharps Arms in Montana, where he worked as a full time stockmaker and gunsmith.