I'm thinking of buying a nice rifle stock blank that, as a result of drying, has a slight curve (warp) roughly where the fore end to the magazine well would be. This warp is less than 1/2 inch. It is on the length of the stock, that is horizontal, not a vertical movement. Do y'all think it will cut and stay straight or will it move after cutting to a stock shape?

My uneducated guess is maybe.

Heck I've had straight blanks move after shaping. If it were mine and since I have a duplicator. I would rough cut it then set it aside for at least a couple months or more. Then do the final shaping.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
My uneducated guess is maybe.

Heck I've had straight blanks move after shaping. If it were mine and since I have a duplicator. I would rough cut it then set it aside for at least a couple months or more. Then do the final shaping.

+1

Have it semi inletted and let it sit in a warm, drafty place for a couple of months. It's not just the stresses in the wood. Even a few percent change in moisture can cause them to move. Blanks hold their humidity quite well. Once the bulk of it's mass is removed and the grain opened the water flows in and out of them like a perforated screen door.

Thanks for the advice, I guess I'll take a chance on it. I've actually got an Allen duplicator, but I've never used it and probably won't. That goes along with all the blanks I'll never use, more than likely. I just like fine wood.

quote:

I've actually got an Allen duplicator,

Man I wish I had that problem.

I'd be happy to store it for you.

Wow, you should use it at least once, or give it to someone who will.
As for the bent blank, it is good that it did warp/straighten itself out in this stage, instead of later when it is in the shape of a stock. Part of the drying process Most likely the stress is relieved now. Of course, once you cut it, anything might happen.

I'd rough it out a bit then put it aside for a year or so. One of the guns I made in CO warped a bit when I moved back to humid New York.Still shoots a good bit better than 1".

.
I've heard about those people who collect wood and tools and never use them. I used to think they were just weird ducks. As it turns out The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons had a meeting in some after hours speakeasy or dive and between the 7th and or 14th martini they decided that it was a legitimate medical or mental disorder and actually gave it a name. Some sort of (*****isum) or (*****itus) if memory serves. The sufferers seem to get over it after they die, or after their wives start adding up all the receipts. Well that ends the same both ways so I guess it's one of those terminal sorts of illnesses. To bad too. Most of them seem like nice guys. Well, outside of that silly wood and tool hording thingy.

No bullshit !

Most blanks have moved some since they were cut.

Get it duplicated and have them leave a little extra wood on the forearm and don't cut the barrel channel full size.
Paul, you might check and see how old he is. Kenny

Have it semi inletted and let it sit in a warm, drafty place for a couple of months. It's not just the stresses in the wood. Even a few percent change in moisture can cause them to move. Blanks hold their humidity quite well. Once the bulk of it's mass is removed and the grain opened the water flows in and out of them like a perforated screen door.

I had one of those doors, was war surplus off of a submarine.

BTW my stocks were always finished inside and out with " waterproof " Polyurethane !

quote:

I used to think they were just weird ducks.

Guilty, but at least I keep the economy moving along.

I bought the duplicator quite a few years back from a guy in Pennsylvania (made for a long drive to get it, I know that) who bought it from Allen (I suppose) and, used it to cut a few blanks and decided that wasn't what he wanted to do. I bought it and all of his blanks. IIRC correctly, I figured the duplicator at 10 grand. Oh well, easy come, easy go.

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:

quote:

I used to think they were just weird ducks.

Guilty, but at least I keep the economy moving along.

I bought the duplicator quite a few years back from a guy in Pennsylvania (made for a long drive to get it, I know that) who bought it from Allen (I suppose) and, used it to cut a few blanks and decided that wasn't what he wanted to do. I bought it and all of his blanks. IIRC correctly, I figured the duplicator at 10 grand. Oh well, easy come, easy go.

10 grand is a bargain for an Allen.

Curved blanks: If the curve goes the correct way think cast off!!! I put 3/8" to 1/2" cast off in my stocks, makes lining up those iron sights a lot easier. Of course the pattern must have the correct cast off in it.

Carving: I like to rough out 1/8" oversize then let the blank hang for a month or so before the final to size carving.

Setting the cutter 1/8" oversize: Note the shim under the cutter.

heck it is just a bunch of scrap metal. Right??

Problem with having a nice duplicator you don't have room for excuses.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
heck it is just a bunch of scrap metal. Right??

Problem with having a nice duplicator you don't have room for excuses.

Yea I touched an Allen once, those things will make a Cougar meow!!! Very nice machines.

quote:

Originally posted by WoodHunter:

Yea I touched an Allen once, those things will make a Cougar meow!!! Very nice machines.

I remember years and years ago going out to Northfield Minnesota on a few occasions to Don Allen's shop. Wow. They were building those machines there and Norma was kind enough to let me stand in a corner and watch a couple of times. But the most fun was walking through all of their wood blanks. There must have been thousands of them there. Of course I didn't have any money, but it was still fun.

Gato: What's worse is spending years building a shop most guys couldn't even dream about, ten times as nice and many have spent a lifetime earning a living in. Filling it with tools of just about every kind made. Then screwing up your back and can't hardly make it in there, or do much when you do.

I sure hope the next guy is young enough and loves to tinker as I always have. Pure torture to have all this and not be able to use it.

Many times I've wished to have had a duplicator too. Close to running out of space for more equipment though and still couldn't use it.
'Hell of a situation,
George

quote:

Originally posted by georgeld:
Gato: What's worse is spending years building a shop most guys couldn't even dream about, ten times as nice and many have spent a lifetime earning a living in. Filling it with tools of just about every kind made. Then screwing up your back and can't hardly make it in there, or do much when you do.

I sure hope the next guy is young enough and loves to tinker as I always have. Pure torture to have all this and not be able to use it.

Many times I've wished to have had a duplicator too. Close to running out of space for more equipment though and still couldn't use it.
'Hell of a situation,
George

From what I have seen, guys that have a shop or a hobby in their retirement years actually live a lot longer than those who don't. The old adage, "if you don't want to live you are going to die" certainly holds true.