Answer

You might want to ask this in the webcasts for a better answer. But, as far as parts inventory goes, software isn’t going to organize it in the shop and help you find it, it’s just going to help you bill out for parts. If you’re looking for business software, there are a number of options. Some use QuickBooks, other use more specialized software designed for repair shops or even gunsmiths. The more dedicated you get, the more useful the software will be, although usually more expensive. You can buy firearm oriented point of sale software that will not only track parts inventory but handle gun sales and the 4473 as well as A&D record book.

As for shop organization, a number of the GunTech issues have segments on how Bob and Ken organize and set up their shop. Ken walks through some in issue 2. The Day in the Life DVD with Bob has some information as well. I’ve found more shop organization tips from woodworking and other shop web sites and magazines, as well as various catalogs. Get a ULine catalog if you want to drool over parts organizing bins and accessories. The cardboard boxes work reasonably well. These work on simple shelves or you can buy entire rack systems. I’ve also gotten some organization items from retail display outlets and catalogs.

Lastly, take a look at the various shop tours on YouTube or internet sites. You’re bound to get an idea that can work for you.

Good luck. And don’t forget to come back with pictures when you do manage to get organized. Jeff

Question Follow Up

Thanks Jeff for your reply. I have and use QuickBooks but not for inventory (thus far anyway). I guess I was more looking for advice on “I have all of these parts, some work on multiple firearms and some don’t, so how the heck do I arrange/file/organize them on a shelf to find them later on and know what I have? My thoughts are that I can’t organize them by firearm make/model because again, multiple parts work on multiple guns. Organizing them by part number to me will not work because I would have to know every part number for every part (might be time consuming when I buy parts guns having to look up every part number to file them) to include ones with the multiple part numbers.

My thought is to organize them by the part themselves and then by the part number/numbers I do know, for example, ejectors, extractors, firing pins etc. That way even though I may not have the exact part, I might have one close that I can modify to work and if they are all in the same place, I can look through them and see what is there and what may or may not work. I have no idea if this will work out or not and before I go setting up a more involved “system” aside from what I have now (I keep very few parts at the moment so is very easy to deal with) I was hoping to get some advice as to what has been proven successful and what has not by those of you that have been doing this for a while.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks again Jeff and I will look-up the videos and such as you suggest. MM

Answer

There is an old, classic, gun shop and gunsmith about an hour from me that has their inventory organized along the lines you mention. They have cardboard parts boxes, the kinds you see in auto shops and hardware stores, and items are in envelopes or the packages they came in. They have smaller boxes with specific types of parts, extractors, ejectors, etc. that are in labeled envelopes. Then they have larger boxes that have parts for specific guns, usually with parts guns.

For example, they may have hands/pawls for several revolvers in a box labeled for them, with envelopes labeled to what they fit. Maybe S&W K-Frame, S&W J-Frame, etc. But then they may have a larger box labeled S&W J-Frame that has parts for J-Frame revolvers, including hands/pawls. When they order a new part, they often get two or more. First, in case they screw up the first one, but also for stock. These end up in the specific boxes for that type of part. But they also have parts guns, take-off parts and salvaged parts that get tossed in the box for that gun.

Other gun shops in my area have different ways of organizing things and more than one has boxes of stuff randomly hanging around the shop. I’ve bought parts from them before and the answer to “Do you have…?” is always “I might, give me a few days to look around.” The advantage for me is that they often come back with “I have it, but it’s in the frame of a gun we pulled the barrel and cylinder from for another project. Want the whole frame too? I’ll give you a discount.” 🙂

There’s no easy method, so you need to adapt what works for you. It’s probably a lot easier if you work on a few specific types of guns, like 1911s, Glocks, Cowboy Action guns, etc. But my feeling is that I’ll always have that part that I can’t find until the new one is delivered by UPS. 🙂

If you get a system set up, post pictures. And if you can tell me where the second vacuum cleaner belt that came in a two-pack last time I needed one is hiding, it will save me from ordering another two pack just to find the second one after the order is delivered. Jeff

Answer

I use the see through plastic tackle boxes, labels on the ends as to type of gun they fit, if I know for sure. Then there are several boxes of ASST parts , stuff I have picked up in mixed parts deals…those , I try to group parts according to function , extractors, firing pins , etc stocks are in cardboard boxes , as are the extra mags , special parts , like the 1897 mag tubes , are labeled as to ga , mfg , and type, TD vs solid frame. Trying to come up with a better system myself, but thrashing away like this until then

Bill (now WHERE is that part)? Bill

Answer

As an aside to this, I’ve settled on using plastic boxes from Walmart for guns to be repaired. Brownell’s sells “bench boxes” that are stackable but rather expensive compared to a standard plastic box with lid of a similar size. This works for handguns and I keep each firearm, along with parts that will go in/on it, in the box until or as it is being worked on. If I get a gun apart and need to order a part, it can go back in the box on the shelf and I can work on a different one until the part arrives. I number the boxes and put the box number on the repair order, with a copy of the order inside the box.

Question Follow Up

Thank you everyone for the tips and advice. I currently have my shop tore down for a complete redesign and figuring out how and what I am going to do regarding parts has been my hardest issue. I like the idea of the numbered boxes for the handguns and know right where I will put the shelving for it. The clear boxes for storing parts works great as you can see what is within without opening it up but they get expensive fast! I can tell already that this is going to always remain a work in-progress no matter what as things will change over time as the demands of the customer changes. Oh well.

Thanks again everyone.

Regards, MM

Answer

By the way, wait to build shelves until you get your storage system designed, then build shelves to fit. U-Line and other suppliers have the parts boxes and envelopes, choose the ones you want first so you don’t end up with seven inch deep boxes sliding back on a twelve inch shelf and stuff getting stacked in front.

Also, Ken showed what he uses (Bob set it up) in the last pro student web class. Jeff