What else could I do...?

[nakneker]

Yeah. My wife and I discuss selling our house and buying land often. Just aint where we want to settle yet career wise. So theres a move in the future one day when the next good opportunity comes around. I keep pushing to move to the coast to live on the water and have a bay boat. I could fill free time with fishing day or night easily if it was at my fingertips!

How fun would that be! I lived in Bristol Bay for three years. Remote, spent the summers in my boat 20-30 hours a week fishing. I go back every four years. I hope that happens for ya!

 

[hoz53]

Some may find this funny, but on noghts like tonight I need something else to do gun related to keep me occupied. I hate sitting around the house and being lazy. I like to be productive.

I reload, I clean guns, I reload bulk handgun ammo, clean up the gun room... And I get to where I have absolutely nothing to do. All my brass is prepped ready to load before I ever go plan to shoot, Ive reloades bulk ammo until no supplies are left. Guns are cleaned, shop is cleaned... Im just a sitting duck twiddling my fingers. I got a 20 vartarg being built... But already prepped all the brass for it...

I hate to say it but I may as well be at work on my days off... Its a pit fall of working nights. Family goes to bed, Im stuck wide awake all night and dont have anything to fiddle with..


So... Question is... What other gun related hobby stuff is there to get into playing with? I cant go as far as getting a lathe and learning to chamber and fit barrels. Garage aint big enough for getting in that deep.

Basically looking to add to the hobby or find a new hobby of some sort...

I know Im nuts.

well you know i am in kind of the same situation as you but take care of my dad who is in a wheel chair. cant leave him very long My shop is a mile or so away from house so i cant just run out back to do stuff. I have tons of projects backlogged at the shop - i cant get to cause i cant spend much time there, but i spend my time sitting at the house not getting much done. frustrating
Learning is something we can do though. You have the computer so there is unlimited stuff you can learn about out there about whatever you want. You could take online college classes. lots of shooting books to read-- if I apply myself i can always find something to do right here at the house. i just dont buy it when people tell me "i dont have anything to do" I sure wished you lived by me. Id give you alot of projects to do.

 

[slm9s]

An air rifle and air pistol can be a lot of fun, shooting in the garage or outside...

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

you could always take up casting bullets...

 

[mikeinct]

Ive honestly thought about doing this for a couple years now. Just havent pulled the trigger. Ive watched a bunch of youtube videos, but havent quite figured it all out. I wouldnt want to black smith my own metal, But Ive looked up and found you can order damascus blanks. The part im stuck on most is permenently fixing handles to it. I cant figure out how after holes are drilled what is used to secure each side of the handle on, before sanding down and contouring.

I use white brass pin stock, Sterling silver rod, Stainless steel, I've used the caps from SS pop rivets, birch dowel rod, almost any whatever you like for "Pins"...& some really strong 2 part epoxy..Then protect the blade, shape away..I like to have the scales mostly to shape before final sanding & finishing...First project, try rebuilding an old favorite knife.. upgrade or replace damaged or just ugly scales....Mike in Ct

 

[JRS]

Knife making can get expensive, very quickly.

 

[Pulpit]

I, like mikeinct, make knives as a hobby. I’m an amateur but I truly enjoy it. I try to do everything myself if possible though I have used blanks before.

Making my own micarta scales, or resin cone scales is fun and rewarding. The leather work is too. I’ve found that friends of mine will commission a knife out of old barn wood from their family farm for me to use as scales so they can present it to their granny as a gift to recall the good old days. The options are endless.

My knives are NOTHING like JRS posted, but it’s a hobby that I do here at home that is better than therapy.

I recommend West Systems 2 part G-flex epoxy with any of the pins Mike recommended. Simple tools, a little time, and you’d have a knife you’d be more than proud of.

Just a thought. Below is a picture of some kitchen utility knives and two hunting knives in sheaths made from the barn wood from a centuries old farm here locally for a friend.

 

[JRS]

I, like mikeinct, make knives as a hobby. I’m an amateur but I truly enjoy it. I try to do everything myself if possible though I have used blanks before.

Making my own micarta scales, or resin cone scales is fun and rewarding. The leather work is too. I’ve found that friends of mine will commission a knife out of old barn wood from their family farm for me to use as scales so they can present it to their granny as a gift to recall the good old days. The options are endless.

My knives are NOTHING like JRS posted, but it’s a hobby that I do here at home that is better than therapy.

I recommend West Systems 2 part G-flex epoxy with any of the pins Mike recommended. Simple tools, a little time, and you’d have a knife you’d be more than proud of.

Just a thought. Below is a picture of some kitchen utility knives and two hunting knives in sheaths made from the barn wood from a centuries old farm here locally for a friend.

Nice

 

[nakneker]

Here is a link to a local knife supply shop. The owner has made knives from fancy to plain. I’ve been in there before checking it out. Their online catalog gives you a look at many scale, blade options and many knife making tools. It’s fun to check out. I have no idea if their pricing in good or not.
http://www.knifeandgun.com/

 

[Pulpit]

Yes, there are some truly talented knifemakers out there who produce genuine works of art that will be generational heirlooms.

I’m amazed at the gifts they are blessed with.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[JRS]

Yes, there are some truly talented knifemakers out there who produce genuine works of art that will be generational heirlooms.

I’m amazed at the gifts they are blessed with.

Thanks for sharing.

www.dholder.com

click on biography. He's an amazing man and craftsman, and is crafting knives on a very limited basis now.

 

[Intheshop]

Broaden your knowledge base.The wider/bigger your foundation,the higher you can reach(for the stars).

Budding wood wackers always like to ask me,"what's your suggestion for my next tool"?.I ended up with a canned response because of the regularity......"buy a welder",with assuming they'd learn to use it.

"A welder?wtf do I need that for"?

And that there is the point of this response.You're looking at the problem/issues from too narrow of field of view.It's the whole,if you're a hammer,everything looks like a nail syndrome.

So,buy a welder.I'd also highly suggest learning some sheet metal skills.Heck the math alone(triangulation) is what snipers do?But on the practical side....welder+sheet metal skills,throw in some HVAC tech?Chit man,inside shooting range....spraybooths...bullet traps...any of this starting to make sense from a firearms standpoint?Good luck,anything beats sittin on a couch.

 

[DirtySteve]

Ive thought about getting into cerakoting work, but cant rally up the money to get started yet.

Cerakoting is not that hard nor does it require a bunch of equipment. You need an air compressor, spray gun/pen and a sand blaster. I use a cheap one from Harbor Freight. It is not the ideal sand blaster but works for my one or two guns per year. The painting gun/pen is about $80 for a nice Ingersall Rand pen gun.

 

[DirtySteve]

The knife making and air guns also seem like a good route to go. And wow those are some awesome knives made by the guys posted above.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

I started working with leather a couple years ago. Made myself a holster for my pistol, leatherman tool, and bolt. Its been a blast and definitely test patience. My next step is making a sling for my old 30-30

 

[m1jeff]

Electronic trainers. Scatt, Noptel, etc. can be done indoors. As long as it's not IR based it can be used outdoors too.

 

[Gina1]

Weight sort 1,000 bullets. Get's old but pays off in ES. (been there, done it)

 

[snert]

I think you just need to come to my house and do the same thing in my reloading room. Lots of stuff in there to do.

After that, I think you should take up tig welding. I need new 1/4 panel patches hung on my 1967 firebird. While you are at it, you could learn how to properly rebuild a Pontiac OHC6 and find all the parts for it....

So i suggest charity work.

 

[wholman]

Get a fishing boat.

 

[Archer]

Get a fishing boat.

That is just another hole to throw money into...been there, done that...