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Welcome everyone to the TFB Armorer’s Bench! As mentioned in the little blurb, this series will focus on a lot of home armorer and gunsmith activities. In this article sponsored by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal, I decided to take a closer look at the Wheeler Professional Gunsmithing File Set. I have had and worked with this gunsmithing file set for a while now but have heard of doing a closer look since I wanted to gain a better idea of their worth. All of that being said let’s jump right into it!
TFB Armorer’s Bench: Closer Look – Wheeler Professional Gunsmithing File Set
Welcome to our recurring series of Armorer’s Bench which is made possible and brought to you by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal who are our sponsors. Here, we at TFB hope to inform, entertain, and even inspire any would-be gunsmith or armorer out there. Ideally, with the information I provide and with the help of our sponsors, you can have some useful knowledge pertaining to the conservation and improvement of firearms technology while at the same time sharing experiences and teaching each other new tips and tricks along the way in the comments. Digging deep into what it is to be an armorer or gunsmith has significance but what is important is what those people do to show they’ve earned that title. I am happy to share my experiences and knowledge and hope it is informative!
Make your personal safety a priority:
- Practice proper gun safety. Always make sure before the firearm hits your bench that it is unloaded and safe to be handled.
- Wear the proper safety equipment. The main one would be safety glasses (decent ones) since parts are often under spring tension and you may work with high RPM tools. Other honorable mentions would be latex gloves or a respirator when working with potentially harmful solvents and oils. Also hearing protection when working with loud machinery or test-firing firearms.
- Modifications, alterations, and customizations will void your firearm’s warranty 9.5 times out of 10. Please take that into consideration before attempting any at-home gunsmithing.
- If you are unsure about proper safety practices, disassembly procedures, or warranty standards, stop, put down the tools, and consult a competent gunsmith.
Brief Overview: Wheeler Professional Gunsmithing File Set
So as I mentioned, I have had this Gunsmithing File Set for a little while and held off doing one of these closer looks. In that time I made a few discoveries. This file set is extremely basic no matter how much I may approve of its premise. As a gunsmith, I believe one of the real defining factors that give a gunsmith his title is the ability to use a file properly. This kit gives you a very watered-down sense of “gunsmithing files”. I do appreciate the dinner files but the roles they are trying to fill are usually filled by stones of varying grit.
All of that being said, I think this is a good file set. It would be pretty tough to set up a “true gunsmithing file set” because at the heart of its files are an extremely expendable chunk in the gunsmith or armorer toolset. It wears out over time and it is hard to have a better one than the next. This is a versatile file set.
I really like the inclusion of the chalk so that you can coat the file teeth before working with softer metals which would normally get easily stuck in the file teeth. I like the file brush especially since they are a blessing when the teeth of a file do get clogged. The case is my biggest grip.
The case is a nylon shell or base with see-through soft plastic slots for the file set. Had the interior of the pockets been lined with a more durable and less tear-prone material I would like this set up very much but at the moment I can take it or leave it. The file brush is a tool that especially mar and bites at the fabric and plastic which is unnerving.
Specifications and Highlights: Wheeler Professional Gunsmithing File Set
The MSRP of the Wheeler Professional Gunsmithing File Set is currently $64.99. To me, as far as what you get all packed up in one kit, I think this is very fair. For that price, you get a bunch of different files and a seldom utilized file brush. The packaging or case leave something to be desired but for the price, something has to go wrong so to speak. A hard case may be better or just a soft one lined with fabric that isn’t easy to tear.
The Wheeler® Engineering Professional Gunsmithing File Set is perfect for many different gunsmithing jobs. The set comes with a wide grade of files from a rough rasp all the way down to a super, extra fine diamond plate. Whether you are reshaping a wood stock or smoothing out an action, this set is perfect for you.
Includes 1: 8″ half round file, 8″ flat file, 6″ square file, 6″ triangle file, 6″ round file, 4-n-1 Rasp, File Cleaning Brush, Super Extra Fine Diamond Plate, Stick of File Chalk, Small Flat Coarse Grit Diamond File, Small Round Coarse Grit Diamond File, Small Triangle Coarse Grit Diamond File, Small Flat Medium Grit Diamond File, Small Round Medium Grit Diamond File, Small Triangle Medium Grit Diamond File, Small Flat Fine Grit Diamond File, Small Round Fine Grit Diamond File, Small Triangle Fine Grit Diamond File.
Closing Thoughts: Wheeler Professional Gunsmithing File Set
For the price and what you receive, I believe the Wheeler Professional Gunsmithing File Set has merit but I would understand someone going out and making their own set for their own needs. This does come in a compact kit but the case leaves something to be desired. Very useful for everyday general-purpose gunsmithing.
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 brought to you by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal! Also, let us know what you think in the comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
Pro Range Glasses, Clear
The Caldwell® Pro Range Glasses feature a stylish wrap-around design and are a great choice for all shooters. They feature an adjustable nose piece and temples for all day comfort. The scratch resistant lens meets ANSI Z87.1 standards and offers 99.9% UV protection.
Universal Bench Block
Made of non-marring urethane, the Universal Pistol Bench Block is perfect for use on M1911 pistols as well as other firearms such as 10/22s.
Stainless Steel Dial Caliper
Reloading ammunition requires attention to many critical cartridge dimensions, including case length, neck and base diameters, overall length, primer pocket depth, etc. Verifying these dimensions is quick and convenient with the Frankford Arsenal® Stainless Steel Calipers. These calipers are accurate to within .001″. The calipers allow you to measure inside and outside diameters, plus depths. You will find them useful for many measuring tasks on and off the reloading bench. Packaged in a convenient and protective case.
Professional Gunsmithing File Set
The Wheeler® Engineering Professional Gunsmithing File Set is perfect for many different gunsmithing jobs. The set comes with a wide grade of files from a rough rasp all the way down to a super, extra fine diamond plate. Whether you are reshaping a wood stock or smoothing out an action, this set is perfect for you. Includes 1: 8″ half round file, 8″ flat file, 6″ square file, 6″ triangle file, 6″ round file, 4-n-1 Rasp, File Cleaning Brush, Super Extra Fine Diamond Plate, Stick of File Chalk, Small Flat Coarse Grit Diamond File, Small Round Coarse Grit Diamond File, Small Triangle Coarse Grit Diamond File, Small Flat Medium Grit Diamond File, Small Round Medium Grit Diamond File, Small Triangle Medium Grit Diamond File, Small Flat Fine Grit Diamond File, Small Round Fine Grit Diamond File, Small Triangle Fine Grit Diamond File.
AR Maintenance Mat
The Wheeler Delta Series AR-15 Maintenance Mat is perfect for any AR-15 owner. It features a screen printed expanded view of an AR-15 Carbine to easily identify the parts of your rifle. The Mat is made of a dark gray non-marring padded neoprene material with a durable non-skid rubber backing to protect firearm finishes while helping to keep track of small parts. Excess oils and solvents are absorbed into the mat, keeping the surface clean and dry. Each mat is machine or hand washable with mild detergent and water, and can be rolled up to easily fit in your range bag.
Tipton ULTRA GUN VISE
The Tipton® Ultra Gun Vise features a completely modular interchangeable design to allow virtually any shape firearm or crossbow to be cleaned and worked on with ease. The ball and socket articulating clamp pads allow for the pads to adapt to any surface. The dual clamp technology rigidly holds any firearm shape in place, while the rigid steel tube frame structure allows for complete access to your firearm or crossbow. The front and rear clamps are both height and length adjustable, and feature fast-turn knobs allowing for quick clamping. The solvent-resistant accessory and tool trays are movable and removable to stand up to even the toughest jobs.
