I'm ordering a rifle stock and it's going to arrive unfinished. I'm familiar with hand-rubbed oil finishes and, even though I might prefer a very shiny stock, I'm going to use oil because I'm competent with it.
The stockmaker offers to install a recoil pad, but I think I should get the stock without one so I can finish the entire butt end. I like the way oil penetrates into the endgrain and the recoil pad would prevent that. However, I do want to get a recoil pad, and since I'm going to have a smith install the action and barrel anyway, I figure I'll have him do it after the finish. Question 1: Does this approach make sense or should I just have the stockmaker do the pad?
Now, the stockmaker says that there will be some wood removal required, which is why I'm taking it to a pro (the stock is "96% inletted"). But the order of the process gets muddied: if I finish the stock first, the smith will be removing some finish when he inlets the stock. But if I don't finish it first, I'd have to have the smith fit the action and barrel, then I'd finish it, and then I'd have to get the action and barrel in there perfectly again. Maybe all this is not an isssue if I use an oil finish, which tends to penetrate fairly deeply. Question 2: In what order should I do this?
Thanks for your help. I'll be sure to post pics when it's all done (don't hold your breath--I'm looking at 10 weeks).
The stockmaker offers to install a recoil pad, but I think I should get the stock without one so I can finish the entire butt end. I like the way oil penetrates into the endgrain and the recoil pad would prevent that. However, I do want to get a recoil pad, and since I'm going to have a smith install the action and barrel anyway, I figure I'll have him do it after the finish. Question 1: Does this approach make sense or should I just have the stockmaker do the pad?
Now, the stockmaker says that there will be some wood removal required, which is why I'm taking it to a pro (the stock is "96% inletted"). But the order of the process gets muddied: if I finish the stock first, the smith will be removing some finish when he inlets the stock. But if I don't finish it first, I'd have to have the smith fit the action and barrel, then I'd finish it, and then I'd have to get the action and barrel in there perfectly again. Maybe all this is not an isssue if I use an oil finish, which tends to penetrate fairly deeply. Question 2: In what order should I do this?
Thanks for your help. I'll be sure to post pics when it's all done (don't hold your breath--I'm looking at 10 weeks).
