This will Guide you through the steps needed to make a simple tool to remove the forend of your shotgun for cleaning, maintenance or to swap it for a different one. It is a lightweight tool that can be carried with if your away from home. The style is different then what you would buy and in my experience works better, and best of all it cost nothing to make. I wish I could take full credit for this idea, but I cannot. I have seen this done once before, but I am not sure who made it or where the original idea came from. So to whoever first came up with this idea thank you for the idea and I give you the credit you deserve.

Disclaimer

I hold no responsibility for any harm that may come to you in the making of or using of this tool. Also a extra note that when handling firearms be sure to unload it before doing any work to them and to test for full functionality after reassembling. You assume all the risk when you use tools and firearms alike.

Step 1: The Round Up

Now is time to get all your tools and supplies together. The list is short on this one though.

Materials

A length of half inch pipe (metal is best, but PVC would work as well)
One 16D nail

Tools

Pipe Cutter
Hoof pliers
Ball peen hammer
Anvil
Ruler
Drill
9/64" drill bit
Dremel with engraving bit
Vise

Now that we have all our tools and supplies together we can get started.

Step 2: Making the Pipe

So now is the time to get whatever kind of pipe you were able to salvage up. Keep in mind this cost me nothing to make, but if your not like me and have a excess of building materials laying around you shouldn't have to look to hard to find a scrap pipe for free. The length of the pipe is not really important whatever feels comfortable to you. I made mine around six inches long. So put the pipe in the cutter and start spinning until it cuts through. Sorry no pictures for this step because I forgot to take them while making it.

Step 3: Drill a Couple Holes

This really is as simple as it sounds. Clamp your pipe in a vise and put that drill bit to work. Good to use a little oil if you used a metal pipe to prolong the life of your drill bit. I made the hole for the nail about 3/4" from the end of the pipe. Then I put another at the top about 3/4" inch in as well. This is nice if your forend nut is really stuck and needs a little extra love to come loose. Then you can stick a cheater rod in there if needed.

Step 4: Making the Nail the Right Size

Now it's time to put our muscle to work guys and gals. So go ahead and get your 16D nail and cut the head off with the hoof pliers. Then measure about 1 1/2 inches from the top and make another cut. If you want you could file the cuts of the nail smooth, but it doesn't need to be done. Sorry no pictures again. If you don't have a hoof pliers you could use a hacksaw or angle grinder to cut the nail as well. Hoof pliers is just my preferred choice.

Step 5: Peening the Nail

Now it's time to peen the nail, before I lose it. This takes a little bit of finesse, if you've never done rivets before; but it's nothing to complicated. So go ahead and take your cut nail and back it against your anvil then gently peen down one side of it. Once that is done put the nail in one of the holes in the pipe. Now try and hold it all in place and put the peened end against the anvil and gently peen down the other side. They don't need a lot of work, just enough to make them bigger than the hole so it stays attached to the pipe. Now time for a nice picture.

Step 6: Memory Loss Protection

Now this step is purely for my own good, and is not necessary to the functionality of it at all. Since I have a lot of odd tools and junk laying around, I decided to engrave it. This way I won't stare at it one day and go why do I have this. So get your dremel out if you prefer and use an engraving bit to mark it.

Step 7: Test Run

So now the tool is done, and it's time to see how it works. So take your shotguns forend and put the new tool to work. Well that's about it, real simple and not to time consuming. If you have any questions or need some advice, feel free to ask.