AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Black Jaque Janaviac on December 16, 2015, 08:32:34 PM

Title: How to secure stock for carving
Post by: Black Jaque Janaviac on December 16, 2015, 08:32:34 PM
I realize this is a pretty basic question, but how do you guys secure your stock while carving (relief carving)?

I don't recall seeing much discussion on this with the tutorials.   I see some pictures clamped in vises, but I just know that if I approached this in my usual ham-fisted way I would either crush and break the stock, or I would strike the gouge with a mallet and the stock would come flying out of the vise and hit the ground and break.
Title: Re: How to secure stock for carving
Post by: T*O*F on December 16, 2015, 11:00:27 PM
Sandbags work.
Title: Re: How to secure stock for carving
Post by: Mike Brooks on December 16, 2015, 11:04:47 PM
No need to squash the stock, snug is fine. You won't be striking a gouge hard enough when you're doing relief carving to knock it out of the vise. Easy does it.
 Don't think I could use sand bags though.
Title: Re: How to secure stock for carving
Post by: kaintuck on December 16, 2015, 11:09:48 PM
one vise, swiveled to let buttstock rested on a sandbag...... ;D

or get Paris and Lindsey to hold the barrel, whislt resting the buttstock on a sandbag.....that works for me a lot........... :D

marc n tomtom
Title: Re: How to secure stock for carving
Post by: Mark Elliott on December 16, 2015, 11:36:13 PM
One versa type vise (swivels on two axis if necessary) in the center of my bench with swing arm rests on either end of the bench.   I frequently support part of the work with my body.   
Title: Re: How to secure stock for carving
Post by: jerrywh on December 17, 2015, 12:15:58 AM
This is the best way for a fat old man with a bad back.

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjwh-flintlocks.net%2Fff-me-2.jpg&hash=a1cf711c86d4ab59aae8746bb6462968296c42da)
Title: Re: How to secure stock for carving
Post by: Ky-Flinter on December 17, 2015, 04:37:44 AM
My vise swivels 360 degrees and tilts about 270.  The curved-back blocks have leather faces and allow clamping on non-parallel surfaces. 

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi140.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr27%2FKyFlinter%2F102_7119.jpg&hash=799815d1a3aed89c8d959da640424afa10ff7998)

-Ron

Title: Re: How to secure stock for carving
Post by: frogwalking on December 17, 2015, 07:25:50 AM
I am not much of a carver (yet) but have developed an inexpensive (free) system.  I have soft wood blocks with thick leather glued to them.  Using these between the vice jaws, (and another underneath to hold the correct elevation of the stock in the vice).  I clamp the stock, with barrel installed, as someone said, snug.  The forend rests on a 4 x 4 with a wood block screwed to it parallel to the barrel. for it to snug against.  on the other side, is a wood block attached to the 4 X 4 with one large screw so it will pivot to self align to the forend.  I use a softwood block (with leather glued to the face that touches the forend ) and a thin oak wedge to push between the block against the fore end and the block screwed to the 4 X 4s to safely hold the forend.  This way each end of the stock is held securely with no damage.  To work on the other side, I turn the rifle over and slide the wedge in, this time on the barrel side.  It is slow, but as I said, it is cheap.  If I need a different height, I just shim the whole works up a little.  I am still unpacking and assembling my new shop, so you folks will not have to endure a photo of this Rube Goldberg set up.   If so, it still wouldn't be as much of a shock as the photo of Keb in the clown suit holding a Hudson River fowler with a 6 ft. bbl.  ;D