Checkering tools? - The Firearms Forum

swanshot · 04-14-2004, 04:15 PM

Thought I might have a go at doing some restocking. See if I can do it.
Anyone had experience whith checkering, and/or advice on checkering tools?
Make that; chequering, if you prefer the traditional spelling.

inplanotx · 04-14-2004, 04:36 PM

Swannie, I'm no help on doing the checkering, but you can find tools for it at this place.

brownells

CountryGunsmith · 04-14-2004, 05:58 PM

I've used both traditional hand tools and electric set-ups. I prefer the hand tools if I am only working one stock every now and then, especially if there are sharp curves, corners or border work. The electric set up works great for covering large areas.

Best bet is start relatively coarse, say 20 lpi. Use the simpler patterns that actually transfer to the stock. Go slow, and cut shallow lines to start your pattern. You then use the 2 or 3-line tools to lay out the bulk of the panel. Use a single edge tool to work into the points and up to the borders. After the pattern is laid out, go back and deepen the lines until the diamonds point up.

Remember that checkering is done AFTER the first few coats of finish are applied. The finish helps the points stay together and will give you a cleaner pattern. Once you are done with your pattern, a light finish coat will seal the lines.

Dem-Bart or Gunline, doesn't matter. You don't need to buy the expensive 'Master' kits at this point, just make sure you have a good basic set, a joiner, and a riffler.

swanshot · 04-14-2004, 07:03 PM

This is exactly the advice I wanted.
Now, to see if my skills are up to it. I have a beautifull piece of timber to work with. Two years ago it was a large continiaster tree in our back yard. Neighbours didn't like it hangin over their fence so instead of sayin somthing, they just poisoned it.

This timber is very hard, middle to heavy weight, with an interlocking grain, polishes to a high finish and has a lovely figure.
Pale brown with dark figure. This has just gotta look good, and there's only one way to find out if it is stable enough.

Thanks again.

SouthernMoss · 04-14-2004, 08:22 PM

Hey Swannie! Never heard of a continiaster tree, but the wood sounds lovely. Post a pic of the wood if you can, so we can see how it looks. And be sure to post progress pics while you're working on it.

inplanotx · 04-14-2004, 09:04 PM

Sure would like to see that one myself! Post away, Swannie!

swanshot · 04-15-2004, 12:07 AM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SouthernMoss
[B]Hey Swannie! Never heard of a continiaster tree, but the wood sounds lovely. Post a pic of the wood if you can,

For you fair lady, anything

swanshot · 04-15-2004, 12:37 AM

Woops! We'll try that again
Hard to get straight pieces out of, but I reckon I can get 1 decent stock and as many pistol grips as I care for.
This piece is about a foot long.

swanshot · 04-15-2004, 01:38 AM

Damnit! I got it wrong again. A horticultrulist I aint

The lovely Mrs swanshot read the earlier post and asked "what the hell is continiaster". It's Cotoneaster, a European tree, deciduous, with masses of red berries in season.

Xracer · 04-15-2004, 07:09 AM

Wow......that's nice lookin' wood, Swannie!

swanshot · 04-15-2004, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Xracer
Wow......that's nice lookin' wood, Swannie!

lovely, isn't it? It's gonna be fun seening what I can do with it
I've got plenty of scraps to play with, so I don't have to trash the good bits finding out how to work it.

SouthernMoss · 04-15-2004, 09:00 AM

That's beautiful, Swannie! Can't wait to see the results.

BlueTic · 04-15-2004, 08:46 PM

That is a nice lookin piece of wood Swanshot. I just picked up a piece of Lacewood from your neck of the woods - gonna restock my 700.

SouthernMoss · 04-15-2004, 10:49 PM

Nice, Blue Tic!

swanshot · 04-16-2004, 06:13 AM

Lace wood I don't know. It looks very like what we call Queensland maple. Do you know it by any other name?
But whatever, it's a nice lookin piece.

BlueTic · 04-16-2004, 07:39 AM

Yes - it also goes by Queensland Maple. I can't remember which part of AusiWorld it comes from. I think it is also called plane oak in England. Wish I'd of seen cotoneaster before, that will make a real purdy stock!!!!

swanshot · 04-16-2004, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BlueTic
Yes - it also goes by Queensland Maple. I can't remember which part of AusiWorld it comes from. I think it is also called plane oak in England. Wish I'd of seen cotoneaster before, that will make a real purdy stock!!!!

Contoneaster you can't get as a comercially milled timber. It's one of those timbers used by wood turners and carvers. Ya just gotta get luckey.
The Queensland maple is a nice timber that you'll find easy to work because it is very consistant, no nasty surprises

The little bit of playing I've done with Contoneaster to date suggests that I'm gonna have to cut, file, route it to shape.
The grain is all over the place so it can't be shaped with planing tools, spokeshaves etc.

Another timber that Is very nice, and I considered using is Olive, but once again ya gotta get lucky, find a tree that's going and mill it yourself. A lotta work.

BlueTic · 04-17-2004, 07:28 AM

I don't know about checkering though - I'll send mine out and have it done. I'm a bit worried that checkering will tear out some of the "eye" spots in this type of wood. Course now - if you are like me - this is a low priority project, I've got honey-dooos stacked up to get done before I can play with my stuff.....

inplanotx · 04-17-2004, 09:18 AM

My hands are not steady enough any more to even consider checkering as a hobby. Would have liked to though!

04-14-2004, 04:15 PM	#1
swanshot Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Perth western australia Posts: 1,436	Checkering tools? Thought I might have a go at doing some restocking. See if I can do it. Anyone had experience whith checkering, and/or advice on checkering tools? Make that; chequering, if you prefer the traditional spelling. __________________ If you don't bleed you haven't bin trying --> Last edited by swanshot; 04-14-2004 at 04:17 PM..

04-14-2004, 04:36 PM	#2
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Swannie, I'm no help on doing the checkering, but you can find tools for it at this place. brownells __________________

04-14-2004, 05:58 PM	#3
CountryGunsmith Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Deep Piney Woods of East Texas Posts: 5,116	I've used both traditional hand tools and electric set-ups. I prefer the hand tools if I am only working one stock every now and then, especially if there are sharp curves, corners or border work. The electric set up works great for covering large areas. Best bet is start relatively coarse, say 20 lpi. Use the simpler patterns that actually transfer to the stock. Go slow, and cut shallow lines to start your pattern. You then use the 2 or 3-line tools to lay out the bulk of the panel. Use a single edge tool to work into the points and up to the borders. After the pattern is laid out, go back and deepen the lines until the diamonds point up. Remember that checkering is done AFTER the first few coats of finish are applied. The finish helps the points stay together and will give you a cleaner pattern. Once you are done with your pattern, a light finish coat will seal the lines. Dem-Bart or Gunline, doesn't matter. You don't need to buy the expensive 'Master' kits at this point, just make sure you have a good basic set, a joiner, and a riffler. __________________ The autonomic nervous system provides for involuntary muscle function - the work of breathing, digestion, and so forth. On some folks, that's a pure waste of ingenuity.

04-14-2004, 07:03 PM	#4
swanshot Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Perth western australia Posts: 1,436	Thanks Country Gunsmith This is exactly the advice I wanted. Now, to see if my skills are up to it. I have a beautifull piece of timber to work with. Two years ago it was a large continiaster tree in our back yard. Neighbours didn't like it hangin over their fence so instead of sayin somthing, they just poisoned it. This timber is very hard, middle to heavy weight, with an interlocking grain, polishes to a high finish and has a lovely figure. Pale brown with dark figure. This has just gotta look good, and there's only one way to find out if it is stable enough. Thanks again. __________________ If you don't bleed you haven't bin trying Last edited by swanshot; 04-14-2004 at 07:07 PM..

04-14-2004, 08:22 PM	#5
SouthernMoss Admin Tech Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SW MS Contributor Posts: 10,651	Hey Swannie! Never heard of a continiaster tree, but the wood sounds lovely. Post a pic of the wood if you can, so we can see how it looks. And be sure to post progress pics while you're working on it. __________________ My Second protects your First "I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand." - Susan B Anthony

04-14-2004, 09:04 PM	#6
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Sure would like to see that one myself! Post away, Swannie! __________________

04-15-2004, 12:07 AM	#7
swanshot Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Perth western australia Posts: 1,436	[QUOTE]Originally posted by SouthernMoss [B]Hey Swannie! Never heard of a continiaster tree, but the wood sounds lovely. Post a pic of the wood if you can, For you fair lady, anything __________________ If you don't bleed you haven't bin trying

04-15-2004, 12:37 AM	#8
swanshot Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Perth western australia Posts: 1,436	Woops! We'll try that again Hard to get straight pieces out of, but I reckon I can get 1 decent stock and as many pistol grips as I care for. This piece is about a foot long. Attached Images __________________ If you don't bleed you haven't bin trying Last edited by swanshot; 04-15-2004 at 12:45 AM..

04-15-2004, 01:38 AM	#9
swanshot Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Perth western australia Posts: 1,436	Damnit! I got it wrong again. A horticultrulist I aint The lovely Mrs swanshot read the earlier post and asked "what the hell is continiaster". It's Cotoneaster, a European tree, deciduous, with masses of red berries in season. __________________ If you don't bleed you haven't bin trying

04-15-2004, 07:09 AM	#10
Xracer TFF Admin Staff Mediator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Minn-eeee-sota, ya, sure, you bet! Posts: 9,144	Wow......that's nice lookin' wood, Swannie!

04-15-2004, 09:00 AM	#12
SouthernMoss Admin Tech Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SW MS Contributor Posts: 10,651	That's beautiful, Swannie! Can't wait to see the results. __________________ My Second protects your First "I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand." - Susan B Anthony

04-15-2004, 08:46 PM	#13
BlueTic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: WA Posts: 652	That is a nice lookin piece of wood Swanshot. I just picked up a piece of Lacewood from your neck of the woods - gonna restock my 700. Attached Images __________________ If you don't like my rights - please leave my country!

04-15-2004, 10:49 PM	#14
SouthernMoss Admin Tech Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SW MS Contributor Posts: 10,651	Nice, Blue Tic! __________________ My Second protects your First "I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand." - Susan B Anthony

04-16-2004, 06:13 AM	#15
swanshot Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Perth western australia Posts: 1,436	Lace wood I don't know. It looks very like what we call Queensland maple. Do you know it by any other name? But whatever, it's a nice lookin piece. __________________ If you don't bleed you haven't bin trying

04-16-2004, 07:39 AM	#16
BlueTic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: WA Posts: 652	Yes - it also goes by Queensland Maple. I can't remember which part of AusiWorld it comes from. I think it is also called plane oak in England. Wish I'd of seen cotoneaster before, that will make a real purdy stock!!!! __________________ If you don't like my rights - please leave my country!

04-17-2004, 07:28 AM	#18
BlueTic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: WA Posts: 652	I don't know about checkering though - I'll send mine out and have it done. I'm a bit worried that checkering will tear out some of the "eye" spots in this type of wood. Course now - if you are like me - this is a low priority project, I've got honey-dooos stacked up to get done before I can play with my stuff..... __________________ If you don't like my rights - please leave my country!

04-17-2004, 09:18 AM	#19
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	My hands are not steady enough any more to even consider checkering as a hobby. Would have liked to though! __________________ Last edited by inplanotx; 04-17-2004 at 09:18 AM..