Hand Carved Stock, Almost there!

[spitfire_er]

This has been a project of mine for the past year or so. It's a piece of 3 ply fiddle back maple with fiddle back "roasted" caps. Glued this blank up about 5 years ago and finally getting around to it. Other than the bandsaw rough cut and a about 10 small drill holes for the magazine well, this stock has been carved completely by hand. This is about 95% finished at this point. Still need to do some detail work, final fitting to me and sanding along with butt pad. I have it all on video and will be crunching about 20 hours of video into about 10 minutes or so when it's all finished.

 

[VaRandy]

This has been a project of mine for the past year or so. It's a piece of 3 ply fiddle back maple with fiddle back "roasted" caps. Glued this blank up about 5 years ago and finally getting around to it. Other than the bandsaw rough cut and a about 10 small drill holes for the magazine well, this stock has been carved completely by hand. This is about 95% finished at this point. Still need to do some detail work, final fitting to me and sanding along with butt pad. I have it all on video and will be crunching about 20 hours of video into about 10 minutes or so when it's all finished.
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A beautiful piece already!

 

[Ggmac]

Nice work .

 

[hogpatrol]

Nice job and I like the rollover cheekpiece. What action and caliber do you plan for it?

 

[boltfluter]

Spitfire,

I am always at the talent that is on this site. That is an amazing job for hand carving. I would have no clue where to start. Looking forward to finished pics. Should be a beauty.

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[CharlieNC]

Thats a beauty. Besides talent, a lot of tenacity to invest the time required.

 

[joshb]

Nice work! That's the best way to do it. Slow and steady! I've found that a good palm sander with 80 grit is my best stock forming tool. I just glued up a blank with tiger maple outside of a cherry center. How do you do the "roasted" caps? That's pretty. Josh

 

[spitfire_er]

Thanks everyone. It's been a lot of work to date I think 20 some hours into it a little at a time. It's going to have an old 1917 Enfield that's been cut down to a model 30 looking reciever in 338 WM.

Nice work! That's the best way to do it. Slow and steady! I've found that a good palm sander with 80 grit is my best stock forming tool. I just glued up a blank with tiger maple outside of a cherry center. How do you do the "roasted" caps? That's pretty. Josh

The caps look great but they are pretty brittle in comparison to the other maple. I broke a couple pieces off, but that was early on the process.

I bought those caps from a local woodworking store. Was the best I could come up with between all their fancy exotic woods, nothing had any good figure. I guess it's standard maple that has been "roasted" or cooked at a higher temp to get that "burnt" look. Not sure how you would do it yourself. The cooking process ends up leaving it pretty dry and brittle. Quite a bit lower moisture content than I would like, but I'll give it a shot and I'm hoping it will stabilize a little after leaving it sit in my basement for an extended period of time.

 

[shortgrass]

Is it not inletted?

 

[spitfire_er]

Is it not inletted?

It is completely inletted and bedded. I just need to cut out such things as bolt stop, bolt handle, and notch for rail along the reciever opening.

 

[BIG D]

It is completely inletted and bedded. I just need to cut out such things as bolt stop, bolt handle, and notch for rail along the reciever opening.

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Nice work. Easy to tell when someone enjoys doing something, walking around in sawdust with white socks. Lol

 

[spitfire_er]

Nice work. Easy to tell when someone enjoys doing something, walking around in sawdust with white socks. Lol

Lol, yeah I needed to get a few quick photos and forgot my shoes. That stuff sticks to socks like Velcro.

 

[BIG D]

Lol, yeah I needed to get a few quick photos and forgot my shoes. That stuff sticks to socks like Velcro.

Been there done that. Nice work!

 

[spitfire_er]

Could anyone give me any advice about getting a good base color on this stock. Once upton a time I had a really old vintage Tiger Maple stock that looked amazing with a nice golden color. The stripes popped but it wasn't too over the top. I am thinking maybe a med/dark honey color. I have read that many guys specifically in the instrument world will use an alcohol based die. Apply, dry, sand, apply, dry, sand... rinse and repeat to desired color and top coat with oil or topping of choice.

You guys think this is a sound option. I'm not worried about the top oil coat (I have my process), just getting the color I want. I've never been one to pre-treat with stain of any sorts, but I think I may need to to get the color.

Here's a photo of that old rifle. It was the first one I built using a refinished vintage stock off ebay. I would like to try and get close to this color.

 

[joshb]

Hi. I use Watco Danish oil. It comes in various shades, from Natural(clear) to darker shades. I use a coat of Medium Walnut for my first coat. If I want it darker, I just do another coat. When I'm happy with the color, I use the clear for the additional coats. I have some maple to try it on. I'll do it tomorrow and send some pics. I think the walnut would give you what you want. You might want Fruitwood for the "golden" color. I don't have that. Josh

 

[spitfire_er]

Hi. I use Watco Danish oil. It comes in various shades, from Natural(clear) to darker shades. I use a coat of Medium Walnut for my first coat. If I want it darker, I just do another coat. When I'm happy with the color, I use the clear for the additional coats. I have some maple to try it on. I'll do it tomorrow and send some pics. I think the walnut would give you what you want. You might want Fruitwood for the "golden" color. I don't have that. Josh

Thanks those look great, especially the last one!

 

[joshb]

Here's a sample. You can see how the end grain sucks up the dark walnut in the top section. Next one is one coat medium walnut. Next one is 2 coats dark, no end grain. Next one is 2 coats medium. You can see why I use the medium. Josh.

 

[spitfire_er]

Here's a sample. You can see how the end grain sucks up the dark walnut in the top section. Next one is one coat medium walnut. Next one is 2 coats dark, no end grain. Next one is 2 coats medium. You can see why I use the medium. Josh.

Hey, thanks for that. I think you are right about the fruitwood and getting a more golden color. I do recall reading that in another write-up somewhere. I think that medium would certainly bring out the grain a little, but I really am looking for the golden color.