About to start a new stock project with Purpleheart wood.

[sparky123321]

Just got back from driving 2 1/2 hours(each way) to pick up some Purpleheart wood for a new stock project. It will be very similar to the last one I did in Zebrawood. A heavy benchrest stock with parallel forearm/butt, slight drop to the comb for recoil and a forearm between 3-4". I don't like using the "normal" wood when I go thru all the time and effort to make. I always make 2 simultaneously because it's not uncommon to have some type of failure somewhere along the way throughout the process.

I specifically picked Purpleheart this time around because the first stock I every made was made out of furniture grade plywood that I stained purple. My shooting buddy hated the purple, so I'm using this wood just to piss him off.

 

[joshb]

Nice! I like your style! Building a stock that’ll tick off your friend. I built a Yellow Creedmoor for that purpose!

 

[sparky123321]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with an evil streak!

 

[ebb]

It is brown cause the wood has oxidized, when you start to work it and remove some wood it will be really purple underneath. A friend made a bunch of pieces for a set of stairs and a table on a job he was on and gave me some scraps. I have nothing big like what you have, I bet it wasn't cheap. Really nice job on the zebra wood stock!!!! My friend gave me a bunch of lacywood also, and I will some day make a stock with it.

 

[sparky123321]

Thanks. It's pretty purple already. Just doesn't look it so much in that photo, but if it gets more purple when sanded and finished even better.

Wasn't that bad. $90 and if all goes well I'll get 2 stocks out of it.

 

[ebb]

If the purple heart I have in any indication it will get a lot more purple. Some of the pieces my friend had were so brown I didn't think they were actually purple heart. One stroke of the sand paper or a plane and it was purple again.

 

[dolek]

That will make for a beautiful stock,just like that Zebra wood stock you made .That is outstanding work .When I work with purple heart, I sand it just before putting a sealer on...the purple pops and does not get darker with UV/etc . By leaving it exposed to the air you can "time" it as you like and seal it at any stage of purple you like . I am sure you know all that,just mentioning it for others . Please post as you progress,looking forward to see how it turns out.

 

[Snuggie]

That is some beautiful wood! Please let us see the progress of it!

 

[sparky123321]

Will do. Was hoping to get the boards squared up and laminated today, but got back too late from my road trip.

I always laminate 2-3 boards for stability. I normally fold over and then flip one board 180 degrees to get to most stable configuration out of one long board. Also, two additional boards get laminated onto the forearm to achieve the desired width.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Gonna be cool

 

[300_whisper]

That second stock is gorgeous! Great work!

 

[Papa Charlie]

You do some awesome work. The Zebra stock is beautiful and the Purple Heart is going to be outstanding.
I hope you post pictures of the process in as many stages as you can. Be great to document each step.

 

[outasite`08]

Just got back from driving 2 1/2 hours(each way) to pick up some Purpleheart wood for a new stock project. It will be very similar to the last one I did in Zebrawood. A heavy benchrest stock with parallel forearm/butt, slight drop to the comb for recoil and a forearm between 3-4". I don't like using the "normal" wood when I go thru all the time and effort to make. I always make 2 simultaneously because it's not uncommon to have some type of failure somewhere along the way throughout the process.

I specifically picked Purpleheart this time around because the first stock I every made was made out of furniture grade plywood that I stained purple. My shooting buddy hated the purple, so I'm using this wood just to piss him off.

sparky,, I admire talent like this. I enjoy the pics.Keep posting as you progress,please. My finish tools are made by Stihl and DeWalt.

 

[sparky123321]

With boating and Harley season starting in earnest any day now it's probably going to be a slow process. Also, in a new house since the last stock build so I still need to get my equipment dug out and set up. If I really worked on it seriously it would probably take me about a week to get 2 shaped, inlet and finished.

It's very important to me to keep everything square and parallel, so all my primary cuts are done on a properly setup table saw. After that, sanding of those areas is only done by hand using long automotive hand blocks. One reason I'd never consider a stock produced on a duplicator.

 

[JFrank]

There’s a Harley Season??

 

[joshb]

It's very important to me to keep everything square and parallel, so all my primary cuts are done on a properly setup table saw. After that, sanding of those areas is only done by hand using long automotive hand blocks. One reason I'd never consider a stock produced on a duplicator.[/QUOTE]

That’s where my head is, these days. I bought a duplicator thinking it would speed up the process and be more accurate. Not so for me. I’ll use it to form most of my butt and grip areas but the forearm, inletting and bottom of the butt are done in my jigs or by hand. The last three stocks I made never touched the duplicator.

 

[joshb]

There’s a Harley Season??

We have to get you out of that cave!
Look up an old band called Steppenwolf and listen to “Born to be Wild”!

 

[boltfluter]

That Zebra wood stock looks awesome, and has some beautiful lines!! You have a gift with wood! Nicely done!

Paul

 

[Bc'z]

Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

 

[Intheshop]

At the risk of being labeled safety d**k.....

Please,get on top of your dust management on,.... was gonna say exotics but screw that.... make it,ALL woods.

At the very least,if done "nicely"...and can be quite adequate,provide a predictable air flow so that as you're working at the station you are UPWIND. Shoot for around 1-2 mph airflow. Think walking speed.

A cpl bx fans and a "realtime" assessment of how the particulates flow is about 90% effective. Throw in a nice 3M facemask(which I hate,saving them for the spraybooth) would see ya'll pretty dang covered.... almost up to OSHA stds.

Next up is systems that catch most of the "stuff" at the machine head..... then you can ditch the mask.

Squirrel cage "blowers" are about free and can be engineered to very high stds. AND have potential for the beginnings of indoor shooting. Just don't look at this as a "problem".... look at it as an opportunity. Wood wackin,and welding fume containment puts you within pissing distance of spray booths and indoor shooting ranges.

Oh,and PH has silicate in it that will play heck with your tooling about like it does with your lungs. Very best of luck with your project.