checkering.

[derwood]

Does anybody out there have gunstock/pistol grip checkering experiance?<br /><br />I have the master set from DEM-BART with tool numbers c-1, F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4 and S-1 in 24 lines per inch.<br /><br />What I need to know is what steps (in order) that I need to start to get this right.<br /><br />I have been practicing and I can do it....but it does not come out CLEAN like I want it to.<br /><br />I know that it has to be the steps I am doing it in from the start that is comeing back to bite me in the end.<br /><br />It comes out with a differant problem every time....Uneven depth or broken dimond tips, some times my lines are just slightly uneven (I HATE THAT....I am a perfectionest when it comes to artful things) or sometimes its all of the above.<br /><br />The more I try to fix it as I am going....the worse another problem gets.<br /><br />I found out that Cedar wood is not a good practice blank to work on....too soft. I have one walnut pistol blank left to work with (it's just a scrap left over from a set of grips I put on a 45 acp awhile back.), after that is gone I have a small piece of cherry to work on and then I'll have to hunt down some wood.<br /><br />The wood I will be putting on my next pistol is Paduke....pumkin orange and slightly grainy when raw, but turns a nice color of plum wine when oiled....I don't want to mess it up with a bad checkering job.<br /><br />No offence guys, but if you can't do this cleanly you wont be able to help me.<br /><br />To date I have: Started by doing my borders to depth and then doing all of my vertical lines, finaly doing my horizontal lines to finish....each one to depth.<br /><br />I tried to correct by not doing my vert. and horiz. lines to depth....but instead outlineing them with the space cutter....that did not work as well as I thought it would, maybe I'm still cutting to deep.<br /><br />I think I might also benifit from a guide of sorts....not sure what I could use for that though.<br /><br />Thanks in advance!<br /><br />checkerwood.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: checkering.

Wow talk about a dying art!<br /><br />Derwood, I am lucky enough to live near Rutland Plywood. They supply Marlin and Ruger with the camo blanks. They make them here (the laminates).<br /><br />They even make a wood laminate that is so hard it can be machined with a mill.<br /><br />I would try scraps of dried walnut to practice on. Have you tried to do any inlay work yet? That is yet another lost art. Brownells catalog sells checkering equipment and books to consult.<br /><br />Good luck,<br />Bob<br /><br />E-mail me and I might be able to scrounge some real hard unique laminate scraps for you to play around with. rpf924@hotmail.com

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: checkering.

Memory may not serve me too well here as it has been quite a while since I did any checkering. You need good light and possibly glasses if you are of a certain age I started out by laying out a pattern in pencil...then cut two master lines...one in each direction, centered in the pattern. Work out towards the edges and cut your border (if used)last. Hickory makes a decent pracice wood.

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: checkering.

I love to checker and can play either as black or red. I also can start out cunning and go to agressive but you got to watch me when it looks like I am on the run. <br />Oh what do you mean gun stocks? Man I know nothing about that except the last time I tried to re finish one it looked better when it had all the scratches and such than it did when I finished. Good luck master carpenter Derwood.

 

[sloopy]

Re: checkering.

umm? why do you have a wood grio unless it is an artifact there are Carbon Firbre grips out there that feel nice. there are also some rubber ones, WHY WOOD!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOD BAD synthetics good

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: checkering.

The only advantage synthetics have is resistance to weather conditions and stability. They are also cheaper...& butt ugly. Nothing compares to the look and feel of good walnut and blue steel. I have a semi-inletted stock from Fajens that I have been meaning to build a rifle around for a long time. I certainly don't need another one but it is one of the nicest pieces of birds-eye maple I have ever seen...for an 03-A3 Springfield...not my favorite rifle for a Sporter but I do have one.

 

[sloopy]

Re: checkering.

um.... a-carbon-fibre-handle-for-a-22-revolver(hard-to-find-but-is-a-cool-gun)is-like-$200-i-think-browning-made-a-22-long-and-mag-revolver-,a-fun-can-shooting-gun-and-my-computer-is-not- using-spaces

 

[sloopy]

Re: checkering.

wood only belongs on boats when varnished or oiled, on land (loghomes) or for a case to hold a 1936 elto pal.

 

[sloopy]

Re: checkering.

I hate infored (cordless) keyboards!!!!

 

[Scoop]

Re: checkering.

Sorry I can not help you. The best of luck Cutwood.

 

[Ross J]

Re: checkering.

Hey Sloopy, I'll give you good reason to differientiate between wood and synthetic mate!<br />A few years ago on a stalking trip into the bush my friends and I got onto a good size pack of wild pig. Now with no dogs you have some work to do to get ready to shoot or knife. We chose to shoot. <br />I had no trouble moving through the pig fern (as high as my eye) with my good old trusty .303 Lee Enfield complete with wood stock etc. My friend had a 20.05 Remingtom with composite stock and we could all hear his stock bruching against the pig fern all the way in. Obviously the pigs didn' stay around in his area to shoot. Difference was,<br />Me and my wooden stock = x2 pig.<br />Him and composite stock = no pig.<br />There's a big difference between hungry and not mate! For me wood every time.<br />Ross

 

[derwood]

Re: checkering.

OOOHHHHHH Sloopy...."Why Wood"....here I go haven to learn ya again.<br /><br />Composite Stocks are great:<br /><br />It is very strong.<br /><br />It does'nt warp with a weather change like wood sometimes can.<br /><br />It will resist being scratched well.<br /><br />Its cheaper to produce than uniqely figured wood is to buy....for sure.<br /><br />It can be made In all kinds of colors and shapes....heck....you can even make it camoflaged.<br /><br />It does'nt take a person to make it....just a machine.<br /><br />It will never be made with love or an artful hand.<br /><br />It will never take more than a button pusher to make one....or a thousand and one.<br /><br />It will never be made in someones workshop at home buy someone who has pride in there work and studied under a master craftsman for years to learn the art of stock makeing.<br /><br />It will never....ever....be as elegant and beautiful as a finely crafted stock made from wood.<br /><br />It will never be looked at as a work of art 100 years from now as are many rifles today.<br /><br />It will always be a gun or a weapon....never....in my opinion....a rifle.<br /><br />Just because you can make something out of a matireal that works better in some ways does'nt mean that its better all around....it looses something by not retaining the traditions of skill and craftmanship and personal pride in createing a work of art that is also a practical tool....made with your own hands....and with your heart and soul.<br /><br />Thats "why wood".<br /><br />Would you feel the same way about a sail boat that you bought as one that you made with your own two hands.<br /><br />Do you understand now?<br /><br />Thanks yall.<br /><br />Bob-vt I will e-mail you soon....my server and I are haveing a problem with my mail right now.<br /><br />I would like to learn to inlay....probly give it a shot sooner or later.<br /><br />I just have to get this down first....inleting is hard enough....inlaying must be realy tricky.<br /><br />Relentless....I will give it a try that way and see how it comes out.<br /><br />The tools I have create and extra fine checkering pattern....thats what makes it so hard to get this right.<br /><br />Its like learning how to work on an engin by starting out on a Jaguire instead of a lawn mowwer.<br /><br />If I make even a little mistake it shows up like a ketchup stain on a white shirt.<br /><br />Checkerwood.

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: checkering.

DERWOOD...With all your hobbies,kids,job and posting I'm wondering how you find time to sleep!!!!!THANKFULLY AND RESPECTFULLY>>BART SR.

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: checkering.

I was going to keep my mouth shut about the lpi but never was very good at that. You might try your hand with some of the 18 lpi tools and see if that helps any. Of course you could just buy a set of Pachymars and go work on the boat

 

[derwood]

Re: checkering.

Shoot....18 lines per inch would be a walk in the park after 24 lines per inch.<br /><br />I have a bunch of (5" stack) articals from old gun magizenes that my father collected while he was growing up.<br /><br />They have all kinds of stuff for gunsmithing projects. If you need an idea....I may have an artical on it.<br /><br />I got to looking through it and found 3 articals on checkering....I am going to sit down and read them tonight.<br /><br />There are articals for building swirly jigs and chamber reamers and cartridge traps for the stock of your rifle and lord knows what elese in there.<br /><br />I sure am glad He gave them to me....I have used them a couple of time now to save the day.<br /><br />I'll let ya know how it turns out.<br /><br />Bob-Vt....I'm going to email you tonight....lord willing and the puter gods looking the other way.<br /><br />Well sloopy....did you get the jist of what woodwood had to say?<br /><br />Checkerwood.<br /><br />P.S. Sleep??? what's that? Do you need speical tools to do it? After I get done with every thing elese....And work....I'll have to give it a try. Post me with the blueprints....you don't have to stop moving to do it do you?

 

[texsguns]

Re: checkering.

18 lines/24 lines per inch walnut'plywood 'carbon fiber no noise/ againts brush vrs to noisey ' weather changing maybe thats why i love my solid silver grips on my s/s .44 lol