Cutting method and repair ideas for high gloss stocks

[Twdmar]

What's the preferred method for shortening a high gloss rifle stock such as those found on older Remingtons, Brownings, etc...? I've been using a table saw with a fairly fine blade, but I'm wondering what the experts use to keep from chipping the finish next to the cut. I've tried taping around the cut, but have still had a little chipping. Is my blade still to coarse, or should I be using something different?

Tape doesn't prevent chipping at all, it just holds the chipped fibers there until you remove it.
If I really wanted to keep a stock from chipping, I would put a piece of wide masking tape on the stock on the far side of the cut.
Then I would make a piece of wood(maybe two that fit together so they're easier to remove after) that closely fits the shape of the stock for the far side of the cut where the saw teeth emerge.
Then I would put a wood filler or epoxy between the tape and wood piece so there are no gaps, hopefully it's a tiny amount. Wax the tape and wood support block. If the extra piece is sized correctly, It will support the wood fibers of the stock and also supports the stock on the saw table surface.
But, with a good, balanced blade and well tuned tablesaw, the cuts usually turn out just fine. A table saw cut-off sled helps a lot.

 

[B Nettesheim]

A nice sharp tool steel end mill would be my preference
Clamp the stock to a solid fixture in the mill