Do it yourself Stock making thread

[J_Hensley]

WOW this is a long thread. Some really nice work here. I think I may have posted a thread on here last year. I modified an m14 stock for myself.

 

[J_Hensley]

 

[Rat Rifle]

Nice work J

 

[ChristianSilver]

Getting this one ready for bedding, finished inletting for a Bat and 1.25” straight bbl.
Cut recoil lug opening and make pillars here today and bed first thing in the morning.

 

[ChristianSilver]

Got pillars machined, bored holes for pillars and cut inlet for recoil lug.
Everything fit great, going to enjoy the rest of our Sunday doing nothing…

 

[ChristianSilver]

Trying to dress up my finishing techniques and add a few little touches here and there, really liking the use of machined escutcheons from 6061.

 

[Seagull]

Not a stock this time instead it's a Norfolk island pine bar top

 

[ELR LVR]

Just curious, I know why Walnut is used for stocks
But with Axe handles and such using Hickory and they hold up to some torture for years
, why isn't Hickory used for a gun stock?

 

[joshb]

Just curious, I know why Walnut is used for stocks
But with Axe handles and such using Hickory and they hold up to some torture for years
, why isn't Hickory used for a gun stock?

‘cause it’s not pretty. If I’m going to put 40 hours into making a stock, I’d use a plain walnut blank before hickory.

 

[ChristianSilver]

Just curious, I know why Walnut is used for stocks
But with Axe handles and such using Hickory and they hold up to some torture for years
, why isn't Hickory used for a gun stock?

‘cause it’s not pretty. If I’m going to put 40 hours into making a stock, I’d use a plain walnut blank before hickory.

I agree with @joshb
Not as pretty as Curly maple..
This one here just got its 1st seal coat laid down.

 

[ELR LVR]

‘cause it’s not pretty. If I’m going to put 40 hours into making a stock, I’d use a plain walnut blank before hickory.

Call it the Welder/Steelworker in me which never made me much of a carpenter/woodworker but
I guess I just don't get it then.???
I like Hickory much more vs Plain Jane Walnut
---
I guess I'll be the first to make a Hickory gunstock

 

[ChristianSilver]

Definitely one of the hardest domestic woods in N. America.


Hickory wood is exceptionally hard, ranking high on the Janka hardness scale at around 1820 lbf, making it one of North America's toughest domestic hardwoods, known for superior dent and wear resistance, excellent shock absorption, and suitability for high-impact items like tool handles, baseball bats, and durable flooring, despite its density making it challenging to work with!

 

[dryhumor]

A piece of quarter sawn hickory might be pretty enough to be worth it. Might be hard to find.

Got a little bit of american elm that has a really nice warm buttery look when oiled. I didn’t recover any long lengths of it, wish I had, it was from a 100 year old tree off of the family homestead.

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

A piece of quarter sawn hickory might be pretty enough to be worth it. Might be hard to find.

Got a little bit of american elm that has a really nice warm buttery look when oiled. I didn’t recover any long lengths of it, wish I had, it was from a 100 year old tree off of the family homestead.

American Elm can make a very pretty gunstock. I made 2 or 3 when I was a teenager. We had massive elms on the old home place.
Hickory is interesting wood to work with. VERY tough, makes a great selfbow. Heavy compared to walnut, but nobody seems to mind heavy rifles anymore...

 

[ELR LVR]

American Elm can make a very pretty gunstock. I made 2 or 3 when I was a teenager. We had massive elms on the old home place.
Hickory is interesting wood to work with. VERY tough, makes a great selfbow. Heavy compared to walnut, but nobody seems to mind heavy rifles anymore...

Yes, I was thinking of a heavy stock, and stiff
I need my forends to be stiff to hold up to heavy barrel weights
some stocks I have to put lead in the butt to balance it out, so heavy wood is fine
not in a hurry but started looking for a blank and cant seem to find one large enough for a stock yet
it may have to become laminate
---
one other thing that got me thinking about using Hickory is:
this is my Main beater axe, so it has been left in the summer sun, left out in the rain
and only been finished once with some mahogony wood stain and a coat of tung oil
and it's still pretty dang straight

 

[Leeman]

Definitely one of the hardest domestic woods in N. America.


Hickory wood is exceptionally hard, ranking high on the Janka hardness scale at around 1820 lbf, making it one of North America's toughest domestic hardwoods, known for superior dent and wear resistance, excellent shock absorption, and suitability for high-impact items like tool handles, baseball bats, and durable flooring, despite its density making it challenging to work with!

There's nothing like a nice piece of hickory!