Here's a few pics of a project I'm hoping to deliver by the end of this month. I get a little lazy on the inlet and run it by the numbers. I do keep it undersize and there is plenty of hand inletting left, but I try to hog out most of the wood on my CNC first.
gunmaker

My mill doesn't have enough travel to do the top inlet in one setup, so I have to reposition the blank to run the barrel track. I try to post some more pics later.
gunmaker

looks like excellent work

Very good Gunmaker. How many RPMs are you turning? & welcome to AR.

Fabulous photos. Thanks for posting them.

(nice mill vise)

gunmaker,

I just love work in progress photos...!

Great stuff...Thanks for posting!

Regards,
Dave

Dear Santa, THAT is what I want for Christmas.

quote:

Originally posted by D Humbarger:
Very good Gunmaker. How many RPMs are you turning? & welcome to AR.

Doug
I'm only running 2000 RPM in these photos. My mill has 3 different steps on the pulleys and I have in in the lowest range now. It will spin 6000 max, but I have to change a bunch of parameters in both the control software and the variable speed inverter in the back. I usually machine steel and just left it in the low range. I wish I could be running 10,000 to 15,000, but for now I just keep one hand on the feed rate overide and the other on the dirt sucker to keep most of the wood chips out of my coolant tank.
gunmaker

How ya goinna shape the outside pattern design?

Rick

Glen, me too, but I want the skill to program and run that thing.

Gunmaker, great stuff, keep it coming.

Nice work G.M. Keep up it comeing. All we want is more...more....more.....That's all we ask. Oh yea can I have that by 3:00 so we can ship it by 4:00, and one other thing try not to take so long, Our paper work studies show 2 hours and 45 min. to make a stock. What's up?

Just kidding Jim, two complete stocks a day will be fine.
Stuart
Timan

Nice work!

Jim, Stuart, Chic, and Doug.. all on the same thread...

i need to just sell my tools and go back to mcdonalds (actually, whataburger, but most folks won't know what that is )

Seriously, you gentlemen inspire the rest of us to get it together, and try to do better work.

Jim
I am pretty impressed with your method on this.. and my cnc (it's not a HS vmc, though) will do over 36" of X travel. I reckon I need to crack down and do the g-code to inlet them after I turn them on the electic beaver (my pantograph)

Hey, wait a second.. I see the toolchanger in the first pic.. how cool is that!!

What's your X travel and where are you indicating x0? Just wondering if you added a second vise, moved them to the table limits in X, and clamped them, could you get it in one operation?

I assume you are using the rear action screw for indicating when you flip the stock over?

Nicely done
jeffe

To add to Jeffe's questions, I would be interested in knowing how many tool changes it took to do the work you show in the photos on this thread, and maybe what those tools were.

Just for the heck of it, I wouldn't mind knowing what Mill you have and what type of controls - Yasnac, Fanuc, Allen Bradely, etc. you have on that machine.

quote:

Originally posted by GSP7:
How ya goinna shape the outside pattern design?

Rick

Rick
I was going to post a picture of my new Stihl Wood boss just for fun, but here's the real scoop. I've got a 6X48" beltsander but I only use it as a planer to get the blank flat and grind the recoil pad. Little 9"Bandsaw to profile it, Hacksaw to cut the corners every .5" and the tools you see pictured below. My favorite is by far the Jack plane I got from my Grandpa. The green handle gouges (school project) in the background along with my trusty rawhide mallet can make short work around the cheek piece. The big nail file for a horse can remove skin&bones just as fast as english walnut. And where would I be without my #49 Nicholson pattern makers cabinet rasp?
gunmaker

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
What's your X travel and where are you indicating x0? Just wondering if you added a second vise, moved them to the table limits in X, and clamped them, could you get it in one operation?

I assume you are using the rear action screw for indicating when you flip the stock over?

Nicely done
jeffe

Jeffe
I only have around 16.5" x travel so it takes two setups. I need to build a fixture to hold the ends of the blank that I can slide left and right an exact amount with a dowel pin to locate. All I need to do then is have a program stop, slide the X for the barrel and then rotate it for the floormetal. I was in a hurry to get this project done so I just flipped it around in the vise. My XY zero is the front of the receiver as seen in the first pic. The barrel uses the same zero but I have to pick it up again with my wiggler and eyeball. The steps you see on the sides of the stock were Timan's idea. They are the same depth as the the bottom of the receiver and when I flip it over I touch off the top of the vise jaw for my Z zero. Thanks to Stu for that simply great solution! XY zero for the floormetal is the front screw boss.
gunmaker

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
To add to Jeffe's questions, I would be interested in knowing how many tool changes it took to do the work you show in the photos on this thread, and maybe what those tools were.

Just for the heck of it, I wouldn't mind knowing what Mill you have and what type of controls - Yasnac, Fanuc, Allen Bradely, etc. you have on that machine.

22WRF
Here's my order of operation
Top line program
T1 .750 rougher
T7 .375 carb
Receiver inlet
T2 .5 Ball
T3 .375 X 2 Degree taper
T4 .1875 ball
T5 .25 carb
T6 .25 drill--- I plunge the .25carb for center drill first
Barrel track
T2 .5 ball
Floormetal
T3 .375 X 2 Degree taper
T5 .25 carb

I have an older '92 vintage Milltronics partner 1 with a 6 position tool changer. Tool #7 and the Wiggler are just inserted by hand. The control is milltronic's own made in USA. One of the boards fried a while back and I had to send the CPU box in to be upgraded to new parts with much more memory. They don't make the older boards anymore and the newer stuff they installed included many new features, thread milling etc. They even threw in a copy of the offline programming software that I can use on my laptop anywhere. The offline stuff looks and works exactly like the CRT you see on top of the control. All this upgrade for the low price of $2500.
gunmaker

quote:

Originally posted by Timan:
Just kidding Jim, two complete stocks a day will be fine.
Stuart
Timan

Sorry Stu the best I can do is 9 a week. Two a day sounds unreasonable and I'm afraid the quality might slip a little.
gunmaker

gunmaker
Beautiful work, makes my mouth water.
What cad-cam package are you using to program your work.
Thanks
Glenn B.

Sorry, not ok,need 10. x s' 4 guys in the stock shop, hell that's only 40 a week. Can't you do three a day? Ok Ok I'll quit with the sarcasm.
But that is how it really was at "big D" custom rifle drive thru. Would you like cheese with that for Only $3900.00 more. No, let's see if it shoots first. Headline reads..........A man dies today after picking up his rifle at Big D.
he apparently died from holding his breath on the way to the range.
Silly, getting way too silly here. Okay Right.
And now for something completely diferent.
bye

quote:

Originally posted by bglenn:
gunmaker
Beautiful work, makes my mouth water.
What cad-cam package are you using to program your work.
Thanks
Glenn B.

Thanks Mr B.
The milltronics control software has a very limited DXF input that only works in 2D. I use this only on rare occasion. It's usually faster for me to just use the conversational programming and enter all/only the info needed. I don't have a cad/cam package now, but I'm looking into some solid modeling from Ashlar Vellum. I like their Argon entry level modeling software and for around $1000 I think it's worth it. Then I'd need a CAM package that will digest "solid food" and doesn't cost more than a small island.

Here's a few pics before first coat of finish. Looks a little light but it will darken with a little Tru-Oil.
gunmaker

as far as cad/cam goes, try alibre .. it's a solidworks knock off, and the cheap copy is only a little annoying

jeffe

jeffe
I looked at some info on alibre. Looks like it does both cad/cam. I tried the Ashlar vellum Argon solid modeling software and since I've spent a ton of time already drawing with their 2d 3d cad I picked it drawing in Argon fast. I'm really just looking for a full 3D+CAM program sometime in the future. Something that will work with a 4th axis or at least be able to upgrade to that later.
gunmaker

great stuff....keep it coming...

Here's a few pics of first coat of finish.
gunmaker

Does anyone know of anyone who offers a service whereby they just do machine inletting of a blank like Gunmaker did here. Most places only offer the whole package so that you have to take the designs they have in their pattern inventory.

Gunmaker

Really really nice shaping work!!!

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
Does anyone know of anyone who offers a service whereby they just do machine inletting of a blank like Gunmaker did here. Most places only offer the whole package so that you have to take the designs they have in their pattern inventory.

Gunmaker

Really really nice shaping work!!!

Thanks
I think I might know someone who does just that.
Here's a few pics of the other side. The shadow makes it look a little chunky. Trust me it's not. In the pic on the peg (close one) it has been wet sanded to 600 grit. I try to post some pics of checkering layout and progress when I get there. I'm letting the finish set a while first and will be polishing the metalwork this weekend.
gunmaker

As you can see, I'm new here. I know
Customstox is Chic Worthing, and he has a
posted wesite.

But who is Gunmaker and Timan? Are they
professionals too? And why don't they have
posted sites if they are?

Great work guys!

quote:

Originally posted by Don Slater:
As you can see, I'm new here. I know
Customstox is Chic Worthing, and he has a
posted wesite.

But who is Gunmaker and Timan? Are they
professionals too? And why don't they have
posted sites if they are?

Great work guys!

I dunno, but I'd bet either could make a fine living at it if they wanted to. There are dozens of reasons to have and not to have a web site though. Means nothing either way.

Terry

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:

quote:

Originally posted by Don Slater:
As you can see, I'm new here. I know
Customstox is Chic Worthing, and he has a
posted wesite.

But who is Gunmaker and Timan? Are they
professionals too? And why don't they have
posted sites if they are?

Great work guys!

I dunno, but I'd bet either could make a fine living at it if they wanted to. There are dozens of reasons to have and not to have a web site though. Means nothing either way.

Terry

If you do a search of Timan's recent posts you will note that in one of them he actually provides everyone with his name, his whereabouts, and the fact that he is a fulltime gunmaker who does some machining work on the side.

I don't recall seeing any posts by Gunmaker which would indicate his name or that he is a fulltime gunmaker, but as you can see from his posts, he has admitted to once being employed at what he and Timan call the Big D, which I would assume might be Dakota Arms. Therefore, that fact, plus the photographs that each has shown here on AR of their current work, shows that both are eminently qualified to be full time gunmakers.

I am looking forward to seeing a photo of the entire completed project, wood with checkering and metal all done up with all of the custom excessories!

I haven't had much time to devote to this project recently. My Father-in-law passed away a week ago and we made the trip to pay our respects and help with all that had to be done.

I probably won't get this finished in a week. I'd rather take the time and do it right the first time. If this were my day job then things would be different.

Here is a few pics of some metal work. Polishing isn't done, but it's coming along.
gunmaker

I used a Chapman safety this time but didn't like the instructions. I couldn't figure out how his method would keep the pivot screw in place. I ended up boring a 3/16" hole from the bottom of the shroud and a 3/32" hole through the top. After tapping the safety 6-48 I turned the head of a socked head cap screw to .187" and left a short threaded portion then turned the rest .093". I guess I thought everytime the safety is applied the screw will tighten up into the safety lever. Next time I'll have to get a hold of Mr. Burgess and use one of his safety lever kits. I wonder what they cost?????
gunmaker

that almost looks like a bead blasting job or a aluminum oxide blasting job.

what action did you start with.

Looking good to me. Do you have a more overall shot of the rifle for us?

I believe the gunmaker is Steven Dodd Hughes. I believe that he has posted such. Butch

Sorry butch you don't win the booby prize. The name's James.
gunmaker

Gunmaker,James... Are you being a mistrey, secret gunsmith, Incognito?

Nice work though

22WRF
You are correct. It's bead blasted. I use my blaster in between grits while polishing. It really helps when chasing pits and hard spots on a bolt weld too. I've still got 240 to go and maybe 320 if some polishing lines still show. Then off to the hot blue tanks at Gander Mountain. The customer isn't paying for rust blue, my preffered finish. The action is a VZ24 and floormetal is FN junk off an 09 Belgian made Argentine. I really like the VZ action. It looks to me like they knew what they were doing. I didn't like the Belgian floormetal. The machining on it pales in comparison to my DWM 09 parts. I haven't worked on many FN commerical actions, but if the machine work is anything like this floormetal I would have to wonder why so many like them better than a DWM or VZ action.

333
I just took a few pics while I was checking my polishing progress. I didn't want to polish below the wood line and just installed the action only / no barrel / to check. I'll post some compleated or close to compleated pics as I get there. Keep checking back!

gunmaker...............................James!

quote:

Originally posted by GSP7:
Gunmaker,James... Are you being a mistrey, secret gunsmith, Incognito?

Nice work though

I do this work after my day job. I do have a type 07 FFL but have too many projects at the moment to take on any more right now. Wish I could do this as my day job again. Then I'd welcome some new work. Just not while working for anyone else.
gunmaker

Will do. All of these custom guns and photos of work in progress give me the ideas for my 'perfect fit' rifle.