SDI- Beyond the Assignments - What tools to buy before SDI?

[@mogasstation4549]

This is a great video. I really wish SDI would just break down a list of provided required and recommended. The labs page has a ton of recommended stuff that they repeat again and again.

[@whatifitisreal]

Thank you keep the content coming

[@tradesmanfirearms]

That’s the plan! Well, until the ADHD calls me in a different direction lol.

[@codyjenn8785]

Hey brother i finally graduated the sdi certificate in gunsmithing program and now im in the associates of science in firearms technology after i get through the English 101 composition class i can't wait to get to do the FTT 210 muzzleloader class.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Great!!! I hope my muzzle loader videos help!

[@Joseph52093]

I'm stoked I found your channel. Love how you break things down. I like it Barney style. Crayon eater here, so thank you for putting things into perspective. Would have never known about the SDI discord. I have applied and am waiting on the VA to activate my benefit's. My application review interview is the day after new years. Hoping to start come February, if not then by March of 2024. Thank you a bunch man, and I'll definitely check out your website and the discord channel. And I'll be damned if I'm not buying that high speed low drag transformers vice you displayed lmao. That thing looks cool as shit!

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Awesome! Welcome and feel free to reach out here or on discord.

[@AndraxusEQ]

Your videos are awesome. Really appreciate the effort you put out there for all of this. I am going through Tools Lab, Hydro-Dipping, and Detail Stripping and all of your stuff has been a great guide.

[@wolfgangalexander5423]

I've been looking into SDI for a minute. All I've read is that it's a business for separating vets from their GI bills. It's good to see some positive reviews on it. Will definitely look more into it

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Thanks. Hope it helps

[@sircrashalot55]

It's an excellent program to get your foot in the door for a gunsmithing business. You will get out of it what you put into it.

[@masonwebster2037]

Video quality was great, but I noticed the biggest difference in audio. The audio is much better than before in my opinion might not change too much for headphone users not sure but from my phone it sounds great👍🏼 thanks for the video as well🤙🏼

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Thanks man!

[@sircrashalot55]

For the classes I went out the some of the local gun shows and bought broken guns to fix and restore. I don't know if they still offer it but when I attended in 2017 I was able to get a dealer account at Brownells to purchase the extra tools and materials I needed for blueing.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

@@sircrashalot55 I believe that’s still true. There are quite a few discounts available while you’re a student.

[@veteran22lr88]

Hey man, thanks. I just subscribed, I am a student for SDI, and I started in December. This is my second video I see. I will continue to support you channel because I like it 👌

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Thanks man! Welcome to the show! Lol

[@Connormitchell73]

Thank you for this video. It was extremely informative and gave me a lot of what to expect. I subscribed and follow your channel now.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Thanks man! Feel free to reach out with any questions!

[@ccanales30]

I accidentally found your channel while looking for reviews of SDI. I start the 15th and am nervous and excited! So i look forward to having your channel as a guide and reference to be as good as i can be. My goal is also to start a gunsmith biz part time with eventually doing it 100% of the time. Thank you for the great videos!

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Awesome!!! Glad I could help!

[@gc5Hayward]

yes I started class today and I received a powder scale. Great video.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Neat, I’d be curious what the lab entails.

[@kraZylegos]

You called it, I saw the Real Avid Vise in one of your vids and then ended up buying one a couple weeks ago and love it. I can’t wait to do the AR10 build with it

[@tradesmanfirearms]

That’s awesome, yea I would say it was the single most useful tool I had during the program.

[@starfox2013]

another top notch video,

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Thanks? Did you notice an improvement to the quality?

[@starfox2013]

@@tradesmanfirearms I did notice improvement I have Notes. I’m gonna get with you in the discord.

[@FightHype187]

Video and sound quality is looking and sounding good excellent good there

[@snakedr22]

Thank you , glad to found your channel . Ill be starting mext month

[@tradesmanfirearms]

I answer every single message so feel free to reach out about anything you have questions about.

[@snakedr22]

@@tradesmanfirearms awesome thank you

[@saileencruileen2163]

Thanks for the videos. How helpful! Definitely going to buy the Master Vice and foot pedal rotary tool. So appreciate the help. I'm 4 months in, with 4 to go. I think I'm gonna stop with the certificate. Too much else in life is taking a hit due to all this schooling. I'm loving it though! Appreciate you!

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Great! I’m glad I could be of help!

[@Bones_tac]

Great video as always!

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Thanks

[@johntaton13]

Rolling down semester 5 getting close to wrapping it up.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

The finish line is in sight! What’s next?!

[@johntaton13]

More school! I need a bachelor's degree. I want to teach this amazing stuff. I am following your adventures closely!

[@tradesmanfirearms]

@@johntaton13 I agree, I would enjoy that as well. I already had my bachelors when I started.

[@happyjoy77edgin73]

Thank you for the info. I'm new to all of this, considering your school. Question, can one get financial aid to recieve help for all supplies needed? Also, will I eventually need a specific gun or so for practice later or stuff like that ? Again very new with this. Online courses 😊

[@tradesmanfirearms]

@@happyjoy77edgin73 you don’t need anything to take the courses. They provide all the tools you really need. You don’t need a specific firearms but you do need at least 1. Feel free to ask any other questions. I’m not affiliated with the school. Just a student. But anyway I can help I will.

[@happyjoy77edgin73]

@tradesmanfirearms Thank you so much, I feel better. I've been burned before and wanted to make sure that I heard everything right. I was really surprised that they send everything to you even for the online students. Joy from Tennessee. 😃

[@tradesmanfirearms]

@ sure! Let me Know if you need anything.

[@ThePeerlessScarred]

Dude you deserve a Real Avid sponsorship - that would be siiiiick

[@ThePeerlessScarred]

Also - if anyone has questions regarding attending SDI without using a GI bill - I am a perfect example of that and am more than willing to help people who are on the fence about it. Send them my way!

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Thanks man!

[@Jaqobee]

@@ThePeerlessScarred I'm on the fence about it. I will be using two Pell Grants and a Federal Loan.

[@ThePeerlessScarred]

@@Jaqobee I paid out of pocket but I totally understand. The school does a phenomenal job post graduation on getting you into the industry though so it’s well worth it

[@Jaqobee]

@@ThePeerlessScarred do people ever look down on you for having gone to SDI?

[@Kawaiijihad]

Aspiring gunsmith, I've been working with guns since I was 11 (few can say that these days). Even if I don't go to SDI mainly due to a poor upbringing & 0 college, I'll follow this channel purely for the education. I'm delighted to see a channel committed to it's craft without any fillers. I'd like to give a genuine thank you, and to ask your shop/company name I'll look into ya if you're close enough 💪

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Thanks. I’m in Montana. And I’m not really close to anyone. Lol

[@lamborn3D]

Worth looking into whether or not you qualify for federal student aid. I'm broke as a joke and have 3 kids, and I'm hoping that will cover most of the cost.

[@Roman6Alpha]

Thanks, this is just the info I needed.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Great!!!

[@mikewinkleman8250]

Absolutely agree, Real Avid tools are innovative and awesome. Also, the sound quality is better, so money well spent. I appreciate the fact that you’re like, take it or leave it but here it is. Lol. Take care.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Thanks! I am really trying not to be like everyone else. I’ll never do patreon, or ask for subscribers, or sell merch. If people watch and subscribe I want it to be because they like my content and find it helpful, not because I begged them in every video.

[@mikewinkleman8250]

@@tradesmanfirearms mission accomplished.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

@@mikewinkleman8250 thanks

[@corbinbrown1137]

So, I'm starting to look into SDI and I stumbled upon your channel with all of the SDI videos. I was wondering, do you have to make these videos for SDI or were these just to help out other students? Like I said, I'm just starting to look into them. Thank I'm advance.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Both? Most of my videos were assignments given by the instructor. But enough other students started commenting on my assignment videos about how much it helped them that I started making videos for those people. SDI hasn’t contacted me or told me to make videos. I’m not monetized on KZbin. No one is paying me if that’s what you’re asking.

[@toniamayes]

you mention the GI bill, but another option if you're a spouse of a retired vet with 100% disability rating, you can use chapter 35. Its super easy. Doesn't pay as well as GI bill, but my husband had no idea what he was doing and never transferred his to me like he thought. Fairly typical of him so Im trying to get him to finally use his funding for his A&P. Id prefer he get a degree, but he won't put in the work. Anyway its another form of funding and they also do Fafsa.

[@codyjenn8785]

Hey brother i have a question i just finished firearm finishes and engraving tomorrow i start the shooting sports management class is shooting sports management easy like all the other classes.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

I expected to hate that class and it ended up believing one of my favorites. It focuses a lot on the starting of a business. I happened to be going through that process when I took the class . Like everything else in SDI, you get out of it whatever you put into it.

[@knightsdaggerHTX]

I'm planning on attending classes shortly. Do you have any bolt actions for sale? I sold my Mauser (Don't worry it was a 1893 Spanish 7mm). But wanted to buy another bolt gun in .308. Want to support you and your channel.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

I really appreciate the support however I don’t generally keep inventory. As of right now I do firearms sales for individuals on demand. Basically if you know what you want I will seek it out from vendors and quote you the best price I can do.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Good luck in school however and please feel free to reach out anytime.

[@knightsdaggerHTX]

ok, will be back with you on that,once i make my mind up and thanks. keep up the good work@@tradesmanfirearms

[@someguy803]

Buy a good tap handle. The one they send you for the fastener lab broke on me after the first two turns on the first hole I was trying to tap. I was lazy and didn't want to search through all of my stuff to find mine but I wish I did because 75% of the video assignment was me cursing and trying to tap the first hole. I couldn't even finish the assignment because the tap handle wouldn't hold the extractor bit.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

@@someguy803 great advice! That tap handle definitely leaves something to be desired.

[@lawabidingsavage]

So glad I found this channel! Hopefully I win the Canik Rival lol. No but seriously, if I want to get a drill press that will be good for the school and my personal gunsmithing uses (not for business), should I get one that is in the range of $150-200 at harbor freights? Or is that $80 drill press actually fine for everything I’ll need to do? Thanks

[@tradesmanfirearms]

If you can afford the bigger floor model ones then you should go with them. There are some videos on KZbin about modifications that turn them into really nice machines. The cheaper desktop model is find for class work but you’ll want to upgrade the same way I did. Also I sent you an email, did you see it?

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Harbor freight is also improving some of their lower end models and the one I showed here is actually clearance to make room for the newer models. They might be better.

[@Dexamus1]

I've heard that there are essays due for the gunsmithing class..... What kind of writing would be necessary to learn how to work on and repair firearms?

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Ehhhhh. There’s not a ton of essays. You have some writing prompts but it’s all relevant to the subjects. You might write about shop equipment you plan to purchase in the future and why you chose that equipment and things like that. Anyone complaining about the writing hasn’t been to college before.

[@Dexamus1]

@@tradesmanfirearms the others weren't really complaining. But I'm the one trying to understand why any essays would be necessary to learn how to gunsmith. Long, unnecessary writing was my problem in community college. What does writing have to do with acquiring gunsmithing skills?

[@tradesmanfirearms]

@@Dexamus1 I suppose they do what they can from a remote perspective. Their main goal is to understand that the student understands the material. You also have the option to do videos in place of the writing on a lot of assignments.

[@Dexamus1]

@@tradesmanfirearms Ah. Gotcha. Thank you for responding.

[@thelethalpredator672]

​@tradesmanfirearms , that's good that they offer that option. I'm 18, graduating highschool next month. Looking at sdi. I'm currently in and have been in drafting/pre engineering tradeschool that is offered for free by my highschool. And writing isn't really my strong suit. Neither is talking or making videos but I have been learning that part as I've been doing some youtube videos. My first year at the tradeschool, the first half was drafting which was learning how to make and read blueprints, and then this year is pre-engineering where we included drafting and learning using equipment like 3d printers, cnc mills, laser cutters, etc. And the process of turning an idea into anything through prototyping and design. I've always been into firearms since my dad and older brother got me into them at a young age, probably 8 years old if that. Didn't really start getting fully into them until I was 16 when I got my first gun(1022). Love taking it apart, cleaning, maintaining them, to the point my brother asks me to clean his guns for him or fix something on them. In general, I'm very mechanically inclined and have a decent photographic thought process on how stuff works and goes together and apart. Also been watching your videos just to see if it is for me or not. Thank you, been very helpful so far! And more I watch, the more I want to go through and commit to it.

[@adamdoyle3990]

Hey brother, I couldn't agree more with your video. I still have a few months to go before I'm done with the Associates program. How do I find the SDI discord? I need to get on that. I just hit a brick wall with the BUS 101 course text. I hate the format of the digital library.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

discord.gg/sonoran-desert-institute that should get you there. You won’t regret it.

[@adamdoyle3990]

thanks brother. discord is a game changer. most of the classes have downloadable course texts but the BUS 101 class has that garbage digital library. You're a life saver. @@tradesmanfirearms

[@timjohnson8390]

Im into my 7th week at sdi and its certainly not what i expected

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Yea, it’s college.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Plus guns

[@timjohnson8390]

@@tradesmanfirearms What I mean is that when I went to school to work on cars we worked on cars. In SDI you write papers and haven't touched a gun yet other than my own. There's a ton of book bs but no hands on yet

[@tradesmanfirearms]

@@timjohnson8390 yea I get that. It certainly a challenge teaching this stuff remotely.

[@chrisfernandez6502]

@@timjohnson8390yup. 2 weeks down and noticed the same and heard a few other former students say the same. I guess I was expecting more hands on learning, not book work, papers and making sure I cite information.

[@whatifitisreal]

Also I tried to reach out to you about the contest

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Send me an email Talon.Jayne@tradesman firearms.com :)

[@whatifitisreal]

@@tradesmanfirearms will do

[@1911smokinggun]

Buying tools?... Buy Once, Cry Once. Always get the best you can afford and hide the receipt from the wife.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Sound advice! Lol

[@sapper1-3g57]

Solid advice

[@saileencruileen2163]

Or the husband, in my case! Then hide the tool as well... lol

[@tradesmanfirearms]

@@saileencruileen2163 hahaha

[@mogasstation4549]

What’s the best way to contact you?

[@tradesmanfirearms]

@@mogasstation4549 you could email me? [e-mail]

[@ink.or.die.337]

Somebody tell me what bah money is lol.. i got some money from sdi, but that happened myabe every 4 or 5 months

[@Ryuus1]

bah, money is what people using the gi bill get while enrolled in classes. It varies depending on where you live and the cost of living in that area.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

“Basic Allowance Housing” @Ryuus1 nailed it except that when you’re an online student it is a set amount nationwide. If you attend in person it varies.

[@tomliemohn624]

I"ll enter a dissenting opinion that if you are planning on being a gunsmith, buy the tools you actually will use rather that something bottom tier that the "school" sends you. Lastly, I never went to school as a gunsmith, I went to school as a machinist and I work on guns as much as I can. I have lots of local and national gun shops who send me work that can only be accomplished in a machine shop. Further, I can stop working on guns and get a job in another manufacturing field if I want to. SDI has some real gamey marketing programs and I don't think they help the industry, or those who aspire to work in it, much. You can call yourself a gunsmith, but having a specialty is really where you start making a name for yourself.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

@@tomliemohn624 I couldn’t agree more. I’m not sure your opinion is dissenting lol. I start school for machining next month. :)

[@paulshields5340]

isn't the Real Avid tools made in China

[@tradesmanfirearms]

It’s a Minnesota based company that really seems to genuinely care about the products they put out. I don’t know if the individual products are produced in China but it doesn’t seem that way. I would encourage you to give them a try. I haven’t been disappointed.

[@gc5Hayward]

I got guns-enough but thanks!

[@tradesmanfirearms]

No such thing. The answer to the question “How many more guns do you need?” Is always the same…. “One more.”

[@Ryuus1]

Better quality and sound on the video. Clean up your bench. You don't have a project going. Congrats on finishing up yesterday.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

Hahaha, I always have a project! Lol. I spent most of the weekend cleaning up the shop. I am going to start a series of videos building out my gunsmithing office in the back of the shop.

[@Ryuus1]

@@tradesmanfirearms better than me right now. I have most of my stuff in my office at the range and set up and tear down every time I start a project.

[@tradesmanfirearms]

@@Ryuus1 you’re almost done!

[@Ryuus1]

@@tradesmanfirearms almost 4 more weeks

[@yetisuncle666]

You need to take an English 101 class before you start. Some instructors are ridiculous hard asses on proper sentence structure. the fact that you know the material is beside the point. But if you use a comma instead of a period you'll flunk an assignment. Some of them are relentlessly ridiculous about it. Because gunsmithing is a course that proper sentence structure is critical and all.