Mate,
We all want a dream armourer's den/wksp, but we must be practical in a 1st line repair shop, which will limit the requirements.
1st Line regardless of Militia or Regular forces. Although Militia may be limited in the scope of their repairs, the equipment required should be similar or mirror any 1st line wksp.
What I do beleive is the norm is (of course in secure caged area preferred too):
Hope this can give you some good ideas, and this should be in scope.
For specialty tools for work but 'personal' use, we have the tool guys (Snap On etc)come by on a regular basis. Our RAEME lads buy stuff they need to compliment their issue tool boxes, and write it off on tax. Example: I wanted a digital verniers, so I bought one, and I use it often.
- floor mounted drill press w/acc's,
- cordless drill w/acc's,
- dremel tool w/acc's,
- hand engraver,
- floor mounted grinder/wire wheel/buffer,
- good lighting, also portable fluro light w/magnifying glass (fixes to workbench),
- quality workbench(es)
- parts washer/bath w/exhaust-ventilation fan (there is some good ones out which use non flammable/non toxic liquids),
- standard armourer's tool box(es),
- appropiate PPE (gloves, eye/ear protection etc),
- inspection gauges for wpns held/auth to repair etc,
- selection of locktites, paints, CLP/lubes etc w/appropiate safe storage locker,
- a 'healthy' qty of repair parts for wpns, stoves, lanterns etc - all for your level of repair,
- a current library of wpns and related EMEI/EMER/CFTOs and other printed manuals for quick reference,
- computer w/printer, hooked up to your CF system and MIMS (or whatever you use there),
- generic workshop expendible stores/materiels (wet/dry sand paper etc),
- an abundance of servicibility tags :nod: ; and
- PP&S as required
If not an entitlement, as long as one can justify a genuine need for equipment, it should not be too difficult using the chain of command to have this stuff LPO'd thru the CQ/RQ route.
As a Tp SGT and A/ASM, I often countersigned paperwork to action these requests, andn rarely things got knocked back at the TQ/RQ level, but as usual things did take an outagous amount of time to get, and this was with my time in the ARA.
Modern weapons when repaired are component changed only these days, so the need for old fashioned 'fair dinkum' armourer's workshops are now gone.
In larger wksps say for FTR action or 3rd Line heavy repair, phosphating equipment, degreasing tanks etc are the norm, as are paint booths, grit blasters, ovens for powder coating etc.
You can use oxy/acet, TIG and arc welding gear thru your GE and other EME wksp areas. Also other related eqpt which they hold which might come in handy.
I dont think there is a reason for tap and dies etc at this level, but you might find those in a veh section in which you could borrow if needed.
Although I have been out of the CF loop officially almost 15 yrs, could you please advise me why RCMP is used in your CSS Unit, along with the unique rank/grade after MCPL. Maybe I've been out too long to remember.
Regards, and of course Arte et Marte,
OWDU
RAEME Cousin
