Stock materials

[joshb]

Maybe like a Juniper/Mesquite laminate ?

Oooh! I like the way you think!

 

[PhilKeil]

Maybe like a Juniper/Mesquite laminate ?

That would be cool

 

[ebb]

I have often wondered why the type of wood used in the old wood framed air planes isn't used in a BR rifle stock . When reading about it they claimed it was strong and light.

 

[PhilKeil]

ebb what kind of wood was it?

 

[INShooter]

The newer bench rest stocks use Balsa wood and carbon fiber. They often weigh less than 20oz.

 

[joshb]

I have often wondered why the type of wood used in the old wood framed air planes isn't used in a BR rifle stock . When reading about it they claimed it was strong and light.

Spruce. Remember the famous Spruce Goose? It was carefully selected straight grain stuff. I’ve wondered why nobody has tried a bamboo stock. Maybe another project in my future.

 

[Bc'z]

Spruce. Remember the famous Spruce Goose? It was carefully selected straight grain stuff. I’ve wondered why nobody has tried a bamboo stock. Maybe another project in my future.

You should get that maple done first.
Then send it up here.

 

[Texas10]

Sitka Spruce. Last time I found some good 18 ft planks for making wing spars was nearly 40 years ago. Japan has been buying it all up to make guitars. Hardly any old growth "straight grain" material left now. But you don't need aircraft grade spruce to make a gun stock. It is considered a soft wood, and does dent easily. Aircraft Spruce and Speciality will sell you all you need.

 

[muleystalker]

Weight is the big factor after talking to Dusty. I've been asked by a couple members how much a paint job weighs. I weighed the stock before sanding/shaping as it came to me rough cut off the saw, after sanding, and agian after wet sanding for polish.
I removed 1oz 4 grams of material before priming. My finish weight was 1oz more than the rough cut stock.
Finished with simtech products knowing what @Preacher stated is a "dent waiting to happen."
I cleared the stock on Saturday afternoon, Monday morning when I went to wet sand for buffing I attempted to "push" my thumb nail repeatedly into the clear not a mark to be seen. I was impressed and said to myself
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
My friend and buddy Mark Skaggs also has a Terry Leonard stock in California redwood.
Beautiful rifle! Mark says "it will dent just looking at it" so I try not to admire it to much.

Hopefully I did Terry Leonard proud on what very well may be his last finished by him stock.
I know the clear is tough as nails and will hopefully provide Cory with many years of service and protection for his stock.
Brett

I have always loved the Redwood stocks that Terry Leonard builds, I have always liked the looks of redwood. I have some old growth California Redwood I'm thinking about making a stock from, I salvaged it from the Hercules powder plant in the town of Hercules not far from where I live. They where getting ready to tear down the plant, I got a bunch of old bricks and some pieces of the 20x8 8' long, clear redwood roof beams, these beams were 60' and more that I cut these out of, it was crazy. I was planning on getting a lot more, I thought I had time but when I went back they were all gone. The site of Hercules was first developed in 1881 as a powder plant and then the town developed from the workers. The wood has some history, over 100 years old. Only trouble is I don't shoot benchers and trying to figure out what type of stock to build with it, I know its a really soft wood, may to a F-Open stock. Maybe laminate some hard wood and carbon fiber in the middle. It sounds like the clear coat you used would be the ticket though.

 

[joshb]

Here’s a Leonard stock in Redwood. This is my best gun. 6ppc. Scary accurate. Somebody made it pop! Bc’z??

 

[Bc'z]

Here’s a Leonard stock in Redwood. This is my best gun. 6ppc. Scary accurate. Somebody made it pop! Bc’z??
View attachment 1147298

Not me!
That looks alot like the other rifle of Corey's, but nothing like the redwood stock of Mark's.
Something I learned from my brother who taught me the dye process..
You can have 2 pieces of wood from the same tree, do everything the same in your process, and have 2 very different outcomes.

 

[joshb]

I have always loved the Redwood stocks that Terry Leonard builds, I have always liked the looks of redwood. I have some old growth California Redwood I'm thinking about making a stock from, I salvaged it from the Hercules powder plant in the town of Hercules not far from where I live. They where getting ready to tear down the plant, I got a bunch of old bricks and some pieces of the 20x8 8' long, clear redwood roof beams, these beams were 60' and more that I cut these out of, it was crazy. I was planning on getting a lot more, I thought I had time but when I went back they were all gone. The site of Hercules was first developed in 1881 as a powder plant and then the town developed from the workers. The wood has some history, over 100 years old. Only trouble is I don't shoot benchers and trying to figure out what type of stock to build with it, I know its a really soft wood, may to a F-Open stock. Maybe laminate some hard wood and carbon fiber in the middle. It sounds like the clear coat you used would be the ticket though.

If you have an extra hunk you’re not going to use, I’ll buy it from you! 36-42 inches long will do.

 

[joshb]

Not me!
That looks alot like the other rifle of Corey's, but nothing like the redwood stock of Mark's.
Something I learned from my brother who taught me the dye process..
You can have 2 pieces of wood from the same tree, do everything the same in your process, and have 2 very different outcomes.

Yup! Even the way the light hits this one changes it. In the wrong light, this stock just looks brown.

 

[Ringostar]

Spruce. Remember the famous Spruce Goose? It was carefully selected straight grain stuff. I’ve wondered why nobody has tried a bamboo stock. Maybe another project in my future.

I picked up some laminated bamboo boards to try a couple stocks. I just haven’t had the time to start them yet.

 

[muleystalker]

Here’s a Leonard stock in Redwood. This is my best gun. 6ppc. Scary accurate. Somebody made it pop! Bc’z??
View attachment 1147298

Now thats what I'm talking about, its beautiful.

 

[Bc'z]

Mark's Terry Leonard done in California redwood with burlwood forend and butt plate.
Keeping with the Christmas spirit....
It's a dasher

 

[spclark]

I was gonna suggest Sitka spruce... building spars right now with some I sourced last year from a yard in Madison WI that caters to iceboat builders in that area. Some I’ve had stashed from the ‘80’s I sourced from a yard in Elgin IL that’s long gone, sadly.

Good quality stuff’s still available (for a price) from marine suppliers like Boulter Plywood up in Mass.

I’d be leery of anything called juniper for woodworking if you have any tendencies towards allergic reactions. Besides that, once dried it splinters badly and - unless you luck into really well-cured material -it’ll be moving around long after you’ve grown frustrated with it.

White and yellow cedar are better choices if available, while those can still give some folks a bad case of runny nose & watery eyes, to say nothing about bronchitis if you inhale the wood dust.

 

[joshb]

Mark's Terry Leonard done in California redwood with burlwood forend and butt plate.
Keeping with the Christmas spirit....
It's a dasherView attachment 1147586 View attachment 1147588
View attachment 1147590 View attachment 1147585

I like that tree in the last picture. The big one above the rear of the scope. That would make some nice stocks!

 

[joshb]

I picked up some laminated bamboo boards to try a couple stocks. I just haven’t had the time to start them yet.

How’s the weight of it?

 

[Ringostar]

How’s the weight of it?

The bamboo boards that I got, are lighter and stronger than most hardwoods. I got 1’x4’x3/4” boards from Woodworkers Source in Phoenix. They also have a store in Tucson. They sell a lot of exotic woods, and will box and ship through UPS. Check them out online. I’ve bought bubinga, bacote, shedua and maple from them also.