Long ago I inherited some checkering tools and I have always wanted to try it. Now that I'm retired I have the time. Is it foolish or is it something a guy can do. Any and all advice gratefully accepted. Thanks, Mike
The good checkers on this forum (I'm not one of them but I've done checkering) may disagree but to me there is two things one must master.....one is the pattern to be checkered.....the other is meticulous attention to filling that pattern. You must do both!
Pick up some .22 rifles and have at it.....the worst you can do is destroy a cheap stock!
As TM T says.....get Monte Kennedy's book as it has some good patterns to copy and emulate. After that it's merely a lot of practice.....
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Posts: 28849 | Location: western Nebraska | Registered: 27 May 2003
You can do it .... decades back I checkered a few .22s, IMO the last one was equal to a professional altho I chose simple patterns, however, it took me much much longer than a pro would take .... and I decided that it was not a smart use of my time.
If your retried, your eyes will soon get bad in all probability and you will start getting headaches..I still do it but I don't enjoy it anymore and in time will farm it out..I recently farmed some out as I had my eyes operated on and the results were OK, but not great or it was just too darn expensive..Guess I will stick with it as long as possible.
I own a copy of Joe Balickie's DVD on checkering. It is very thorough and gives a lot of tips. It would be money very well spent for you to purchase a copy from Brownell's.
I have to agree with Ray here. I'm retired also....and I still enjoy checkering, but I can't do it more than an hour session at a time. My eyes just won't take it.
I'm also using quite a bit of magnification. The work is still good, but my pace isn't for the impatient! Patterns develop pretty slowly!
Posts: 768 | Location: Wisconsin | Registered: 18 January 2001
Don't know what kind of Time" you're talking about, but it has always taken me two days to checker a conservative two piece pattern (under fore arm and over grip) No..not 16 hours, but probably 12...so don't despair...this takes time and LOTS of practice. Kennedy's book is a good place to start..this is what makes millionaire stockmakers!!!!HA!!!!
Posts: 2221 | Location: Tacoma, WA | Registered: 31 October 2003
I'm supprised no-one has mentioned a cradle to hold the stock in various positions.
My little experence with checkering is that anyone can do their own if they don't mind a few errors, but a pro will need patience and some artistic bent.
Posts: 2355 | Location: Australia | Registered: 14 November 2004
Hi All, Thank all of you for your input. I am going to give it a try and see what happens. I really do appreciate all of your help and advice. Thanks, Mike
