The first step in recutting existing checkering is to clean any dirt, lubricating oil, or excess stock finish from the wood. Using a polypropylene-bristled Brownells Gun/Parts Cleaning Brush along with mild soap and water or solvents will greatly speed this task.
Full Answer
How do I protect my stock's checkering panel?
The first step in protecting your stock's checkering is to cover it with ordinary masking tape. Use multiple overlapping strips of tape to completely cover the checkering panel.
How do I clean the checkering on my checker board?
The checkering is now covered with a protective layer of masking tape. After carefully removing the tape, you will probably find some bits of adhesive in the checkering. This can normally be brushed out with a toothbrush. If the checkering is at all worn, I strongly encourage you to go over it with a single line checkering cutter.
Can you repair checkering on an old gun?
With extensive use, the checkering on an old gun might be completely worn smooth. We can re-checker worn checkering while still maintaining originality. Some guns have a checkering style of their own such as the flat top diamonds on LC Smith shotgun checkering. At your request, we can duplicate this. We also repair damaged checkering.
Do I need to finish my stock before checkering?
Stocks should be completely finished before checkering, with all metal removed. Please include instructions, or provide your own pattern. Also, include check/money order or credit card #, including return shipping charges. If undecided about pattern, we can pick one to best fit your stock, and we will quote you.
Can you fix a cracked stock?
0:281:37Fixing a Cracked Buttstock & Forend on a Remington Model 11 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere's no easy way to get glue into them my only choice is to put some glue on the surface. ThenMoreThere's no easy way to get glue into them my only choice is to put some glue on the surface. Then very gently spread the crack apart wicking the glue down.
How is checkering done?
0:008:57Hand Checkering Tools - What They Are and How To Use Them - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn its original and most basic form checkering is simply a series of lightly cut parallel lines.MoreIn its original and most basic form checkering is simply a series of lightly cut parallel lines. They are crossed at about a 30 degree angle.
Can you use wood filler on a gun stock?
Basically, any thing be it a gun stock or furniture will have a similar procedure. You cut out / flatten the bad area, then glue, then shape it with new wood. It works on chips, holes, or if you had to cut out a rotten piece of something old. Don't use wood filler to repair chips!
What is the best glue for a gun stock?
Tim Inman: Epoxy is the only good answer for you. You can find specialty epoxies made for just your kind of troubles available from gunsmith suppliers. They are not “ordinary” epoxies, and they are quite expensive.
How much does checkering cost?
Other Grip MachiningServicePriceHi-Cut$75.00Hi-Cut in conjunction with Checkering$50.00Under-cut$75.00Under-cut in conjunction with Checkering$50.00
What is the purpose of checkering a Gunstock?
Checkering are rows of parallel grooves that cross at a given angle to form little diamond shapes. In the English literature, checkering is often spelled 'chequering'. The function of checkering is to give the shooter more grip on the stock especially when wet or greasy.
What is wood filler?
What Is Wood Filler? Wood filler is a suspension of a sandable material in a solution of hardening resin that has the ability to soak into wood fibers and bond with them. An example the ancients may have used — and one still used by woodworkers today — is a mixture of wood dust (cellulose) and lacquer, varnish or glue.
Can you glue a gun stock back together?
The first step it to take the gun apart so the stock is free and clear from the rest of the gun. Simply gluing the stock back together will not produce a strong enough repair and you must add some structural strength. If you were fixing a loose board in a building you would nail it back in place.
Can you Epoxy a gun stock?
This is the process of using epoxy putty and PVC to create not only gun stock parts but simple 3D shapes that can be handled like 3D printed or wooden objects. These materials are very cheap to source and very easy to work with.
What is flat top checkering?
Early shotguns, from around the turn of the century, were often given flat top checkering, where the checkering consists of incised lines or grooves, without the diamonds brought up to a sharp peak. Care must be taken on this type of checkering to keep the flat diamonds and grooves consistent in size, depth and shape.
How long does it take for a coat of stock to harden?
Applying too many coats too fast will give a skin of dry finish on the surface with partially cured, soft finish underneath, that may literally take weeks or months to fully harden. Soft finish under the surface will mar easily, and even gripping the stock hard with the bare hand can leave marks.
How to get diamond height when recutting checkering?
When recutting checkering, the diamonds must be brought up to a sharp peak without waves or inconsistency in the surface height of the checkering. This may take several passes over the checkering with the single line cutter to get the diamond height even within the line of checkering as well as from row to row.
Can I do checkering on unfinished wood?
Although checkering can be done or re-done on bare, unfinished wood, the process works much better if one or two coats of stock finish have been carefully applied and allowed to fully cure. The finish acts to help hold the existing checkering together as well as penetrating the wood to strengthen the fibers.
How long do options expire?
Use the same expiration date for the options you buy and sell. Typically, use options that expire in 90 days or less.
Is the repair strategy risk free?
It's important to note that the repair strategy isn't risk-free. As you can see, it does not protect you from additional downside in the shares you already own -- nor does it offer you a profit above your break-even price. If you think your unwanted stock runs the risk of a sharp near-term decline, just sell it.
When checking a finished stock, does it take allot longer?
When checkering a already finished stock (one that does not have to be refinished) it takes allot longer and cost is higher then the stock that has to be refinished. Time is money when you do this for a living. You should sand off the finish of the area that needs to be checkered so you do not split the grain.
How many cuts to finish checkering?
You then do a light cut of all the pattern. It takes 4 cuts to finish the checkering (with a 60 degree cutter).A little at a time first one direction then the other.One line at a time.Then finish the outline with a 90 Degree finish cutter.
What tool is used to cut a scrap gun stock?
Hand saw – it comes in handy for cutting the scrap down to size. In a pinch, it can be used to cut a flat area out of the stock to fit your repair as well. Hand Plane or Draw Knife – Either of these tools make flattening the gun stock, or the repair piece easy. It is faster than sanding.
Can you use scrap wood for gun stock?
If you know your species but don’t have any on hand, you can buy small blocks from specialty suppliers online. A pen blank would generally be all that you need for most repairs. Surprisingly, Amazon has a lot available. See amazons selection here.
Can you use wood filler to repair chips?
It works on chips, holes, or if you had to cut out a rotten piece of something old. Don’t use wood filler to repair chips! Using real wood will blend better than wood filler and look better.
How to protect checkering on stock?
The first step in protecting your stock's checkering is to cover it with ordinary masking tape. Use multiple overlapping strips of tape to completely cover the checkering panel. The stock had handcut checkering. It was nothing fancy, but it was serviceable and reasonably attractive.
How to refinish a stock?
The first step in refinishing a stock is to remove the action and all metal or plastic components. Don't leave anything on the stock, such as the buttplate, recoil pad, or sling swivel. Once these items have been removed, check the stock for cracks. If you find any, now is the time to fix 'em.
How to cut checker tape?
Use just enough pressure on the razor knife to cut the tape. Once the tape has been cut, pull away any tape that extends outside the checkering panel. If you have done a good job with the razor knife, the tape should come off with little or no resistance.
How to remove stripper from checkering?
A worn toothbrush is handy for later removing the stripper from the checkering. Now take a single-line checkering cutter and go around the outside edge of the checkering pattern. You want this line or groove to be reasonably well defined. You'll see why in the next step.
What do I need to sand checkering?
In fact, it's pretty darn easy. All you need are a few simple tools; I use a razor knife, a plastic picnic knife, and masking tape. With just a little time and effort you can protect your checkering from damage while sanding and later when applying finish to the stock.
How to smooth tape over checkering panel?
Don't worry about the ends of the tape not matching the outline of the panel. Use the body of a pencil or pen to smooth the tape over the panel.
Can you use tape on curved stock?
You can use wider tape, but I've found that the narrower tape is easier to use on the curved surfaces of a stock and it tends to lay flatter with less effort . A plastic picnic knife with the serrations removed is used to press the tape down into the borderlines of the checkering panel.