New stock for my 22-250

[Evan]

Thought I'd share my work on a new stock for my 22-250. Started with a blank from Richard's Microfit. Unlike my previous blank (http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/my-20-vartarg-custom.3969176/) this one has all matched colors and minimal voids.


Few passes through a bandsaw and some work got me here:

and the rough inlet:

 

[Evan]

Looks like this:

So I roughed up the inlet and put playdough in the various spots:


And it came out like this with Devcon:

In hindsight, I shouldn't have wasted time cutting out the trigger and ammo well. I should have stripped the action and bedded it, then inletted the rest of the way. I ended up having to recut everything anyway. Live and learn.
Some work with a plane and rasp got me here:

 

[Evan]

And here it is at the moment:


Need to do some sanding and final shaping before the clear coat, but I think this is pretty close to the final shape!

 

[17VLD]

Looks like it will finish up well.PPG Deltron automotive clear looks great on wood and is very durable.Looking forward to seeing the finished product.
Matt

 

[Ken]

Thanks for the step by step. Just plain envy by us fumble fingers.

 

[Evan]

Looks like it will finish up well.PPG Deltron automotive clear looks great on wood and is very durable.Looking forward to seeing the finished product.
Matt

I'd, at some point, like to try spraying them. I've had really good luck hand rubbing minwax poly, which is what I've planned for this one

First coat of poly, hand rubbed in:

I'll sand it all away and rub in another coat. Rinse and repeat until all the pores and lows are filled in!

 

[ebb]

1954 Chevy in the background??? My dad taught me to drive in a 2 tone blue on blue 54 inline 6, 3 speed . 53s were almost identical.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Most of us already know, Richard's Micro Fit stocks are crap!! I think I'am on number 10 or 12? Lost count over the years. Every minute you put into sanding and finishing make it YOURS!! Well worth the effort. Don't ask Paul (forum boss) about Richard's Micro Fit stocks. You'll get a REAL opinion.
You mentioned something about "sharp fast spinning tools" in a milling machine? Tell that to Richard's Micro Fit. That phrase seem to get past them at times.

 

[thatguyshm]

I used a cheap Amazon HVLP touch up gun to spray my wife's Microfit after many hours correcting their "99%" inlet. I spent more time fixing and sanding them I did in paint work, and I must have put close to 10 layers of clear after using a filling sealer. Every now and then I pull the buffer out and re-wax the stock, it looks so good and was an amazing wedding gift.

 

[Evan]

1954 Chevy in the background??? My dad taught me to drive in a 2 tone blue on blue 54 inline 6, 3 speed . 53s were almost identical.

It's a 53 business coupe that I bought off the original owner. Drove it in original condition for a couple months and there wasn't a single trip that it didn't leave me stranded fixing something on the side of the road. I wasn't too happy with that and made the decision to hot rod it. Found a 91 corvette for cheap and I grafted the suspension and drivetrain under it so it now rides on the corvette's fully independent aluminum suspension with disc brakes, positrac diff, L98 (the last of the small blocks) and a 6 speed manual.

Most of us already know, Richard's Micro Fit stocks are crap!! I think I'am on number 10 or 12? Lost count over the years. Every minute you put into sanding and finishing make it YOURS!! Well worth the effort. Don't ask Paul (forum boss) about Richard's Micro Fit stocks. You'll get a REAL opinion.
You mentioned something about "sharp fast spinning tools" in a milling machine? Tell that to Richard's Micro Fit. That phrase seem to get past them at times.

Yeah, that is true! Until I find or someone recommends another available source for blanks, I'm kinda stuck with them.

 

[NorCalMikie]

IMHO, Richard's Micro-Fit Stocks is the best thing out there. Selection and price can't be beat. They are known as "Gunsmith stocks". A smith can get after one and end up making a Silk Purse out of a Sows Ear. You can get one of the MANY styles at a killer price, put time and effort into it and end up with a real looker. Better than waiting a year+ and spending big $$$$ for a custom made stock.

 

[Evan]

IMHO, Richard's Micro-Fit Stocks is the best thing out there. Selection and price can't be beat. They are known as "Gunsmith stocks". A smith can get after one and end up making a Silk Purse out of a Sows Ear. You can get one of the MANY styles at a killer price, put time and effort into it and end up with a real looker. Better than waiting a year+ and spending big $$$$ for a custom made stock.

Oh I agree. Great pricing, a lot of choices, and reasonable-ish lead times (it varies); the trouble comes in when someone doesn't understand what they're getting.

I'm reasonably happy with the blanks I've bought. The last one had a mismatched color piece glued on to make a 3" forearm with some gaps and voids, which was not terribly cool. It finished up ok with nice rich colors, and the color change on the one side is just part of the off-kilter charm.

This one arrived with matched colors for the glued on piece and minimal gaps and voids, so that was a nice change: getting what I ordered. I'm pleased with the green. It's a very deep, rich emerald green. Very nice!

Oh by the way, this is 4 or 5 for me. 2 or 3 premades and 2 blanks.

 

[Evan]

I wanted to share a moment of faith in the stock finishing process. Some folks have mentioned it, but I've never seen it photographed. I finished the raw wood in 60 grit. I didn't use finer paper than that. I've got 3 coats on my gunstock: first coat of poly, I sanded it back off with again with 60, leaving a handful of tiny low spots with poly still in them; 2nd coat, again with 60; third coat tonight I sanded with 100 and then 220. each time you coat and then sand, you'll see stuff like this:


If you want the most perfect stock ever, you'll sand until it is all perfectly smooth and no poly remains. I don't know if you could actually do it though; I haven't ever tried. This is my creation, and it is a human thing, so I leave the scratches and dings, and I will just continue to layer on top of them to fill them in with poly.

Also, looks like I got some quilted birch!

Actually it's tool chatter from the unsupported forearm while cutting. Looks cool to me. It's staying too; I'll keep layering over it.

When it's all done, it'll be smooth and level on the surface, but it'll have all these little human marks and character in it. I'll try to catch them in photos and post up so you guys can see what I mean. Some will like it, some will think I'm being lazy. Doesn't feel lazy though; it takes a lot of layers to fill that stuff in nicely!

 

[284winner]

I wanted to share a moment of faith in the stock finishing process. Some folks have mentioned it, but I've never seen it photographed. I finished the raw wood in 60 grit. I didn't use finer paper than that. I've got 3 coats on my gunstock: first coat of poly, I sanded it back off with again with 60, leaving a handful of tiny low spots with poly still in them; 2nd coat, again with 60; third coat tonight I sanded with 100 and then 220. each time you coat and then sand, you'll see stuff like this:
View attachment 1104684
View attachment 1104685
If you want the most perfect stock ever, you'll sand until it is all perfectly smooth and no poly remains. I don't know if you could actually do it though; I haven't ever tried. This is my creation, and it is a human thing, so I leave the scratches and dings, and I will just continue to layer on top of them to fill them in with poly.

Also, looks like I got some quilted birch!
View attachment 1104686
Actually it's tool chatter from the unsupported forearm while cutting. Looks cool to me. It's staying too; I'll keep layering over it.

When it's all done, it'll be smooth and level on the surface, but it'll have all these little human marks and character in it. I'll try to catch them in photos and post up so you guys can see what I mean. Some will like it, some will think I'm being lazy. Doesn't feel lazy though; it takes a lot of layers to fill that stuff in nicely!

It's come a long way since that block of stock you purchased. Looks nice. Look forward to seeing the finished product

 

[Texas10]

Are you essentially using the poly as a guide coat for sanding? At what point are you done sanding the wood and only leveling the finish?

Curious minds would like to know.

 

[CharlieNC]

So this arrives as a block of wood which is semi inletted for the action? Not even closely shaped to the various styles advertised and shown on their web site? Given the extensive time to shape a stock from the block, think I'll consider another option.

 

[Evan]

Are you essentially using the poly as a guide coat for sanding? At what point are you done sanding the wood and only leveling the finish?

Curious minds would like to know.

Pretty much, but I'm not super aggressive. I'll leave the lowest spots untouched, sanding maybe 90 or 95% away. As I get to 3 4 or 5 coats, I work up in grit to 320 and then begin sanding just until smooth. I'm looking for the little dings and pits in the birch to be filled up flush with the wood around them.

 

[Evan]

So this arrives as a block of wood which is semi inletted for the action? Not even closely shaped to the various styles advertised and shown on their web site? Given the extensive time to shape a stock from the block, think I'll consider another option.

It's just a block. No inlet or anything. This isn't for everyone; it takes a lot of time, but it is pretty straightforward. I do it as a kind of meditation. I like to sit and think about nothing but working the stock. Nice calm activity.

 

[CharlieNC]

It's just a block. No inlet or anything. This isn't for everyone; it takes a lot of time, but it is pretty straightforward. I do it as a kind of meditation. I like to sit and think about nothing but working the stock. Nice calm activity.

Thanks for posting the pic of the block as received. The photos on their web site are very misleading, essentially showing finished products vs what is sold. I was on the verge of ordering, but not now.

 

[Evan]

Thanks for posting the pic of the block as received. The photos on their web site are very misleading, essentially showing finished products vs what is sold. I was on the verge of ordering, but not now.

Yeah, they don't do a great job of representing what you will actually get, and I think that is part of why there's a reputation around here.

I think it would be much better to post pictures of actual shipped products next to the customer finished so that folks can see what they get, and what it can look like.

What I got was a "laminate blank". I got the blue coral for my 20VT and was disappointed in the quality and the color. The color was nothing like the web pictures. This irish moss blank was much better all around.

When you order one of their stocks, you'll get a stock that looks like a beaver's coarse interpretation of it. It'll finish up great, but I have had to start with my rasp, then move to 60 grit paper, then on up, just to give you an idea how coarse the delivered product is. Their inleting isn't great either, but it cuts down the time required considerably, so it's worth it. The whole thing is just very much DIY.


EDIT: For those interested, here is an update on the rifle:
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/my-new-22br.3981971/