[Ratdog68]

My buddy, Andy (whose 1860 I fixed) decided he's got no use for a couple of hand tools he's had forever. They're "Dem-Bart" gunsmithing checkering tools. A "single" row starter, a "triple" row starter, one that rides in the furrow made by either of the first two to cut subsequent parallel ones... and a couple of spares of the "single" and follow up cutter. From the original boxes they came in... looks as though it was originally a Tacoma, WA company and moved to Snohomish, WA. They're still in business at www.dembartco.com too. :cool: I need to learn the feel of these puppies.

[Das Jaeger]

How are your eyes , it takes eyes to see that sport .
They been THEE company for eons by the way .
Sounds like he appreciated your efforts . :D

Jaeger , better start learnin um ! :D

[Ratdog68]

When I take my glasses off, detail work is just fine... that's why I've quit wearing contacts after nearly 25yrs. Can't seem to get the right focus with the bifocal lenses, or the right mix of reading glasses with 'em... or the right diopter affect of bifocals of the glasses... so, off come the glasses when I need to see it up close like. :D

I'll bet I could get more for the boxes they came in (on eBay) than what I can buy the tool for NEW today. These have their original price tag on 'em for $2/ea. :D They're not that price today.

He got some smoked salmon today. Me thinks I'll start making some beef jerky tomorrow. Got the smoke racks in the dish swisher right now.

[Das Jaeger]

order the Dembart book of checkering then from Brownells , tis a handy little devil . :D
Let me know if you ever need it , will order it up right cheap like . :)
One thing to know for sure when your laying out your patterns and checkerin the wood , DON'T cut your borders till your done , hee hee hee .
There I just saved you ten years till you figured it out yourself . It will save you the misery of trying to figure out how to salvage a stock when you have just one little tiny over-run from a OOOPS went to far on that one , crap episode . :D ..Dembart also makes a tiny littel riff to finish out your lines once you have the body cut in , then if your a bit shy on any lines you riff it to the border . Makes it so much easier .

Jaeger :D

[Ratdog68]

I likes the idea of the book. I was even considering wandering on up to their location in Snohomish and seein' if I can find some gray haired type that's willing to give a feller a few pointers. I'll take some coaching wherever it surfaces though.

I gathered from the paragraph I read on their web site that the border being done last was a good plan of attack. It makes perfect sense to me.

[alemonkey]

I have the same problem, Ratdog....I have to take my contacts out whenever I work on my guns because I can't see close up with them in. I'm only 33 and I'm getting close to bifocal territory.

You'll have to practice and show us some of your work. I'd like to learn how to checker but I don't think I have the patience.

[Ratdog68]

LOL I'll have to see whether I have the patience for it too. :D Luckily... it took me until last year to have to do the bifocals routine... I'll be 50 soon.

[madcratebuilder]

Layout is everything. Do that right and make the that first cut as perfect as you can and the rest goes better. Hand gun grips are fairly easy to do. I found going all the way around a rifle stock to be a challenge. I bought a couple of old Ruger 10/22 stocks for $10 ea to practice on. My first one looks like a snake crawled across it. A stock cradle is a must.

[Ratdog68]

I fully understand the importance of those points... and couldn't agree more. It's just like doing basketweave on leather... gotta get it right with the first pass, and be careful to keep your alignment from there on out... just a different medium, tool, feel. Yup... definately needs to remain secure while cuttin !