DIY Checkering?

[Prerylyon]

Anyone ever try it?

Shared experience, advice, words of wisdom appreciated; I picked up an older rifle recently in decent shape, other than it has a very plain walnut stock I would like checkered. Weighing the pros and cons of either sending the stock to someone that knows what they're doing to get it checkered, buying a new unfinished stock with checkering, or starting another hobby (as my wife rolls her eyes!)?

The rifle isn't anything special, so I do view the current stock as potentially expendable.

Regards,

 

[JimP]

While I have thought about it a time or two I don't know if I would try it myself.

But before you try it on a stock get a 2x4 and try it. But even a cheap set of tools off of Amazon are going to be pricey.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Checkering is like any precision, detail work, you need lots of practice. I used to make stocks and did checkering. ( made about 200 stocks)

You need a good set of tools. The wood you do must be pretty hard, like a good dense walnut. Cheap low density wood generally does not checker well. You need a good holding fixture. You will probably have to design and build one yourself. Get some scrap wood for layout and practice. A good bench mounted, extension light with a magnifying glass helps. I have a jewelers head set that has a magnifying lens in it.

I taught myself, but I am sure there are good books out there too.

 

[buckbull]

You could also try woodburning. You might not have to invest that much and still get a unique design.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I had a guy who did laser engraving do some faux checkering on the forend of my lever 73. A little hard to see, but very functional and is easy to grip.....no slipping of my hand. Reasonable too. I think it cost me $125.00.

 

[Slugz]

Funny story. As a middle grade officer on the carrier I lived in a two man room with a man who grew up in the High Sierras . Well rounded outdoorsman who could do anything he put his mind to. Handed me Theodore Roosevelts The Wildernes Hunter book and forever changed my life. One cruise he brought a chunk of walnut and all the tools to practice checkering. Mind you a cruise is 6 to 10 months long.

It took him that long and another year before he dared touch a stock he said.

Those guys are artists with specialized tools. If ya got the time and money give her hell and try it. For me well worth the money to give to the gunsmith.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

It was a great book!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My Dad was an avid trapshooter (so was I). I restocked his Winchester M12 with a beautiful piece of presentation grade walnut and checkered it. Made it about 40 years ago.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Forend didn't come out, had to retake the px. Also included a Savage .22 I restocked for my F-i-L.

 

[Prerylyon]

Totally on the fence with this; might not jump in the pool this yr, but something I'd like to try at some point.

Beautiful work on those stocks, 'CC.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Totally on the fence with this; might not jump in the pool this yr, but something I'd like to try at some point.

Beautiful work on those stocks, 'CC.

I don't checker any more, can't really use my hands a good as when I was young. If you decide to try this, I'll give you a set of good quality checkering tools. Let me know.

 

[Prerylyon]

One of our local gun shops has a bargain bin with all kinds of interesting stuff. There's always some wood gunstock odds and ends in there. Was thinking of starting with an old gunstock to use for practice before tackling something more ambitious; maybe begin with re-cutting old, worn checkering?

 

[Prerylyon]

Interesting link to an old Popular Mechanics article with plans for a checkering cradle:

https://books.google.com/books?id=RdQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA176&lpg=PA176&dq=diy+gunstock+cradle&source=bl&ots=BInVJUwIvK&sig=ACfU3U2R82adRTmGmhLe1mhHuBVV0RNl5Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiA5aXQg9f2AhXqJDQIHaDOAH04FBDoAXoECBcQAg#v=onepage&q=diy gunstock cradle&f=false

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

One of our local gun shops has a bargain bin with all kinds of interesting stuff. There's always some wood gunstock odds and ends in there. Was thinking of starting with an old gunstock to use for practice before tackling something more ambitious; maybe begin with re-cutting old, worn checkering?

Great place to start. If you want the checkering tools, PM me with your mailing address and I'll get them to you.