Main Discussion Area > Muzzleloaders
TC stock makeover
Eric Krewson:
While I worked down the cheekpiece I lowered and rounded the wrist, here I am checking how even I have it rounded off.
I am going to refine the lock and sideplate panels, I use an old compass with the point cut off to give me an even line to work to around the lock mortise. I don't like wide lock panels like many people leave on CVA and Traditions kits, they make a gun look clunky.
Eric Krewson:
Lock panel reshaping time;
TC lock and side plate panels are just plain ugly, I didn't take a picture of the lock panel before I started reshaping it but is was as ugly and plain as the side panel.
I started the shaping using a rat tail file to define the panel.
I used small gouge to get close to my lines on the border, I took a picture but it was out of focus so I deleted it.
I used a variety of files to blend the wood around the lock panel into the stock and finished up with a piece of sandpaper wrapped around a chainsaw file.
I will call this done, the perspective of the photo makes the nose of the panel look narrow but the width is constant around the circumference of the lock. Now on to that ugly side panel.
Eric Krewson:
Shaping the side plate side.
I needed to make a pattern of the lock mortis to transfer to the lock plate side.
Transferred;
On TCs there is some ugly wood at the breech that looks better if it is transitioned into the stock alongside the barrel.
Removing the excess, I did the same on the other side of the tang and left no sharp corners.
Transitioned, I may replace the piece of wood at the corner of the tang and hooked breech. It is oil soaked and chipped out.
I started shaping the panel with a small gouge, progressed to a rat tail file and then scrapers and sandpaper.
This is very soft walnut that splinters easily, pieces kept chipping out around the edges so I am going to call this done.
Eric Krewson:
Getting down to the wire, I did the final wood removal with a file and removed as many of the file marks as I could find with a card scraper.
I went over the stock with a damp paper towel and dried it off with a heat gun to raise the grain.
These whiskers came up after the wetting in spite of a good sanding before I wetted the stock.
The wetting and sanding makes every file mark you thought was gone show up, I removed them with a cabinet scraper. I whiskered the stock twice and had a smooth surface after the second time, no whiskers.
This was once a very rough stock, now it would pass for new. I will look it over with a new set of eyes tomorrow, if it looks OK I will start sealing the wood with a walnut stock sealer. I checked my bottle of Birchwood Casey walnut sealer and found it had set up. I filled the bottle with mineral sprits and stirred the contents up. Next I did a test with the resulting goop on a scrap piece of walnut to see if it will dry and do the job, I will check my test piece in the morning.
Pappy:
That thing is looking really good Eric. :)
Pappy
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version