Stock finishing. 99% inletted Richard's stock.

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mickeydim468

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I received my stock from Richard's Microfit yesterday. I took lots of pictures before I did anything to it. I want to document the whole process with pictures and words and maybe find a free web hosting site, so that I can do sort of a "How To" website on stock shaping, finer points of inletting and bedding the action, and finishing the completed stock, from a beginners point of view. This is the first stock that I will be finishing, so, what better time to write about a beginner's perspective than now, right?

I would like some help along the way, but I don't have questions yet about finishing. I would like to keep this thread open so I can come and ask questions etc, and as sort of a progress report to keep you all informed on how it's coming. I will post some pictures as I go as well.

I do have some questions right now, but not so much about rifles or refinishing, so I will start off by listing them below.

1) Does anyone know of such a free hosting site?
2) Has this been done to death, so much, that it would be a waste of my time to do it again?
3) If so, can you give me addresses of some examples of sites that have done this?

I am sure I will have questions coming up, but for now I am just doing A LOT of sanding and shaping. I worked for about 4 hours last night, sanding until my hand was having so many "Charlie Horses" that I couldn't hold the sanding block any longer. So I gave up and went to bed! :what:

I appreciate your help and any advice you can give me.

Thanks!

Mike
 
Mickey,

I have used PHOTOBUCKET.com for about 18 mths-- 2 years with no issues. Its easy, fast, and FREE, although you can upgrade if you want.



HTH,

CI


PS: post pics as soon as you can about the Richards stock!
 
I bought a 96% inletted stock from Richard's, and there was much more than 4% for the finish inletting. I was happy with the stock and will buy from them again, but it wasn't close to 96% inletted. Fit the action and barrel first before you start shaping and sanding.
 
Hey Hoghunting,

Thanks for the advice! My action nearly fits, I am only going to need to relieve a very small amount to get it in completely. It is a very tight fit, but it is very close.

Why do you say to do that work first? I was going to save it for last, and do that just before applying the finish.

Al,
Thanks for that link. Good info there. I will keep it in mind.

Crushbup,

Thanks. I will check it out. I just want to do more than one page and have the possibility to expand it in the future. Can you do it with Google?

Irish,

I will get some of the pics posted soon. I have just been really busy sanding and etc... But I will try to do it either tonight or tomorrow.

Mike
 
Fit the action and shoot it. If the recoil lug/action need to be bedded, then you can do it without damaging the finish. And after shooting it, you might decide you need to make other changes to the shape.
 
Makes sense. Thanks! I will start working on the action tomorrow then. I will probably have it done before noon and I can go shooting in the afternoon. Gee I love how a plan comes together.

I promised pics and here they are. I will be adding pics all the time to this site for now until I find a web host for a web page. I will post here when I add some, so you guys can go and check.

Here is the link. My .300 Win Mag Weatherby Vanguard picture album!

I hope you enjoy. Some of the pictures are a bit blurry because the lens on the camera was dirty, and I didn't know it at first. Now it is too late, I have altered the as received stock so I can't get more of how it was. I will try not to let that happen again.

Mike
 
sites.google.com

You can pick a template and move from there. It should be plenty flexible for this.
 
Here's a good thread for you.
Click to expand...
That is a great thread, dfariswheel really knows how to finish a stock.

mickeydim468, that is an exceptionally good looking stock. Look forward to seeing the final product. You should end up with a rifle that looks like a nice Mk. V.

:)
 
Thanks Crushbup!

In the middle of trying to take pictures, sand the new stock, shoot in the rimfire match, work, and be a dad, I will try to work on authoring a website. I think for now, I will just use Picasa for you folks here on THR to see the progress and will do the website last.

Thanks Maverick,
It has a lot of figure to it even though I could only afford the Semi-Fancy grade Claro Walnut. I am very happy with the wood. It seems very easy to form, so far!

As Hoghunting suggested, I am going to work on inletting the action today, and try to get out to the range this afternoon with it. It is pretty close to fitting completely now, so I do not have much to do on it. I hope! ;)

I will bring a range report if I can actually follow these plans today. It turns out that today is a beautiful sunny day!

Mike
 
I took it out and shot it as I hoped for. I had to buy some Federal Power Shock 150gr ammo to try. After sighting in the scope and then moving the scope, and then re-sighting in the scope, I was able to shoot this attached target, showing a 5 shot group above the orange dot, and 2 shots from before moving the scope. I ran out of targets, so I had to shoot the 5 shot group on this one that already had the 2 holes.

Anyway, the group measures around 1.5 to 1.75" I think. I haven't gotten out the calipers and measured. I am too tired to do it tonight, since they are down in the basement. I am not sure what this result tells me, but I was hoping you guys could help with that.

Mike
 

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Looks like it may be touching the bbl and causing it to string, or have unpredictable shot placement due to changing pressure from shot to shot. Either way I would ensure that the stock is floating properly.

:)
 
What size were your groups before replacing the stock? Is this the same ammo you were using with the old stock? As Maverick suggested, is the barrel free floated? Without tightening the screws, does the action move in the stock? Since you are going to all the trouble and expense of replacing the stock, you might as well bed the action and recoil lug for a perfect fit. Then try the same ammo. If you don't get better results, try different types of ammo until you get tighter groups.
 
I had planned to bed the action, I still think I need to relieve some wood in the barrel channel too. It seems your opinion is to go forward with my plans to do this work. But, that I should do it before doing any further work on the sanding and finishing of the stock. Is that right?

Mike
 
What size were your groups before replacing the stock?
Click to expand...

If you look at the additional pictures on that picture hosting site for this rifle, you can see that they are not too much different than what I showed here. The test target from the factory showed a 1.25" 3 shot group. Part of what I am trying to do with the new stock is to improve upon that.

When I finally got the action into the stock and got it tightened up, I noticed that the action seemed to sit too low into the stock. To the point that the thing on the bottom of the bolt. I do not know what the technical term is for that piece. But that piece that makes contact with the trigger to fire then rifle, hits the wood right behind the tang screw. Also, the tang sits about 1-2mm below wood level. Does this mean I need to relieve more wood, or does it mean that I need to build up below the action about 1-2mm. If I relieve the wood on top, then I have to relieve at least 1mm throughout the barrel channel to get it to free float. The barrel was not completely free floating during the test firing yesterday, but I was not sure what to do after the action seated too low. So I just went out and shot it. :)

Mike
 
The test target from the factory showed a 1.25" 3 shot group. Part of what I am trying to do with the new stock is to improve upon that.
Click to expand...
Shouldn't be a problem if you fit it properly. I would finish inletting the stock, then bed the action (don't bed the bbl, at least not yet), then finish the outside of the furniture.

The barrel was not completely free floating during the test firing yesterday, but I was not sure what to do after the action seated too low.
Click to expand...
Well there is your problem...and a good one to have (in comparison to others). Without seeing the barreled action in the stock (I don't know that I would be able to tell from photos, but they wouldn't hurt) I can't tell whether meat needs to be removed from the channel or added below the action, but FME (very little with custom stocks) the barrel channel and sometimes beside of the action is the only parts that need stock removed for proper inletting...so I think you just need to take a rasp to the barrel channel and hog out some of the excess.

:)
 
I think you just need to take a rasp to the barrel channel and hog out some of the excess.
Click to expand...

I think before I do that, I need to bed the action and bring it up about 1mm first. Otherwise, all of the metal will sit too deep into the stock. I can take more pictures later today after work. I will show you what I mean.
 
I think before I do that, I need to bed the action and bring it up about 1mm first. Otherwise, all of the metal will sit too deep into the stock.
Click to expand...
You're absolutely right...definitely need to bed the action before cutting out more of the bbl channel, but you might want to remove a bit more from the chamber end before you bed (if needed)...but if you don't it isn't a big deal, a Dremel is a heck of a thing. ;)
 
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I plan to bed at least the first 2" of the barrel near the chamber, no matter what. I will make sure to have enough room in that area of the barrel channel before I do the bedding.
 
I plan to bed at least the first 2" of the barrel near the chamber, no matter what. I will make sure to have enough room in that area of the barrel channel before I do the bedding.
Click to expand...
Yep, that is what I'm talking about...I too would bed the chamber.

:)
 
If you need to raise the action for bedding, just tape the barrel so it won't fit all the way in the barrel channel, and it will hold the action higher. Snug the action screws when bedding, not too tight, as you don't want to pull the action further into the stock. Make sure that when the floorplate is screwed to the action, the magazine box is not bound. The box needs to have some up and down travel to it as the wood shrinks, you don't want the action to bend around the magazine box.

After I bedded my action, I took out enough wood in the barrel channel and glass bedded the barrel channel. I wrapped the barrel with 0.020" thick vinyl tape, and added another strip of tape on the lower portion of the barrel for 0.040" clearance from the stock. I didn't extend the 2nd layer of tape to the top of the barrel channel as I didn't want such a large gap showing between the barrel and the stock. You need to take out quite a bit of wood, but the glass bedding is very strong and will seal the channel.
 
You guys are great! This is why I became a member of THR! The wealth of knowledge available here is priceless! So, are the relationships with the members I have met (online) and chatted with.

I like the tape idea. I have some black tape that is intended to wrap natural gas line that I had thought about using. I am not sure the exact thickness, but it is about the thickness of a business card. I didn't think about adding the second piece under the barrel unseen. This is a great idea! Thanks!

Mike
 
From the look of it you can easily bring the barrel (and action) down a little in the stock. Lookin' good;

Mav.
 
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