First Build Question

[J.Karl]

Hello all, this is my first post and I would really like to say what a great resource this site is. I'm currently building a Jim Chambers Issac Haines and so far everything has gone pretty smooth. Prior to inletting the barrel I checked the orientation for the touch hole and everything looked good. Now that I have the barrel in, the bottom of the pan lines up with the bottom of the barrel side flat, I actually had to scrape a good deal more to get it to that point.  In order to get the touch hole liner to work the barrel would need to come down 1/16" and that's just to get the entire face on the side flat. I drilled a small hole and I only have about 1/16" of webbing left. If I use the the touchhole liner that came with the kit the touch hole will be 1/16" above the top line of the pan, this is higher than all my resources say it should be. Do I need to look at other options. I would really like to avoid just drilling a hole. Any ideas or insight would be greatly appreciated

[Nate McKenzie]

Its best to completely in let the barrel and lock- then drill the touch hole where it needs to be.

[Clark Badgett]

Not an expert by any means, but shouldn't everything be inlet and in place before the touch hole is drilled?

[ddoyle]

Call or write Mr Chambers he will be able to tell you what will work best for what ever situation has arisen. if possible Photographs really help those who know share the right bit of their knowledge with who do not.

[bama]

If you posted pictures it would help. Jim's kits are very well engineered and I would be very surprised if there is a problem in the kit. But, if there is a problem I would call Jim. Jim is a super guy and I am sure would do what ever is required to fix the problem, be it you or the kit.

[thimble rig]

Get some good books on the subject.I f you don't have any.It will save you a lot of money down the road.You can even google duelist 1954 He makes a flintlock rifle on his videos.It might give you a idea of how this go together.

[sz]

J.Karl, PM me your e-mail address and I'll send you all the info you need to build a nice rifle.

[J.Karl]

Here are some pics, I hope.  I have been using Recreating the American Long Rifle and I have the Jim Turpin DVD. I guess that's why I'm confused, the barrel is in and I'm getting transfer color on the bottom three flats in the stock.  In the Jim Turpin video there is a good bit of wood above the barrel at the breech, my kit doesn't have that.  The lock is mostly in and only needs to go over a small amount to be flush with the side of the barrel. The bottom side flat of the barrel is above the bottom of the pan. The only thing I can think of is I need to take the barrel in more but the web is already pretty thin. I appreciate all your responses. SZ I'll send you my email, any references are always helpful. Thanks to all of you for any advice.

[oldtravler61]

J.Karl before you go any farther. Give Jim a call. He makes the kits. He will help you. Before you do anymore. He is a guy an stands behind his products.A phone call is much cheaper than ruining a gunstock. IMHO.

[retired fella]

What Old Traveler said...
.

[Don Stith]

You have already received the best advice possible.   I will add, that it looks like you set the lock too low. I don't know how much flexibility you had on that

[oldarcher]

Like the previous post, I believe that the lock is too  low in the stock. It appears that the barrel is set properly but the lock is low...look at the space between top edge of the lock, I always set the top edge of the lock at the height that I expect to install  the center of the touch hole liner. Your lock is too far down to properly set the touch hole. The question is...was the lock inletted when you got the stock from Jim or did you do it?  Good luck with it.

[J.Karl]

The lock mortise was precut. I called Jim Chambers today and they said I should be able to take the barrel down farther but before I do anything to send them some pictures. So I'll wait to see what they say I should do. Thanks for all your advice.

[frogwalking]

I am just a hobby builder, but sometimes a blind hog finds an acorn.  Make sure the barrel is truly sitting all the way down in the inlet.  If you have inletting black, put some on the bottom flat and press the rear of the barrel down firmly.  If there is no black on the wood, you are not all the way down. Instead of inletting black, I now smoke the piece with candle soot by holding the piece in the flame for a few seconds.  It works well and is much cleaner.  Sometimes a stock may warp after it is made  causing the rear part of the inlet to appear deeper than needed, or as you have the barrel may seem too high.  I always remove the breechplug to fit the barrel as the stock as the part in which the tang fits is sometimes higher than need be.  In that case, you will need to deepen the tang inlet.  Always look a whole bunch before cutting or filing.

[thimble rig]

By looking at the pictures.Is that first line closet to the breech is that where the face of the breech plug is ?If it is  the barrel could be moved back some to get the liner more in the center of the flash pan.

[J.Karl]

Mr. Chambers called me yesterday evening and I would first like to say what a nice fellow. I can honestly say that is the best customer service I've ever experienced. He explained that this particular type of kit has the touch hole set low and gave me a few recommendations to fix the lock inlet that I should have set about 1/16" higher. It also appears I received the wrong liner and that will give me another 1/16" and put everything where it should be.  When you get a Chambers kit not only do you get quality components but great customer service and knowledge. I highly recommend their company to anyone considering a build.

[Kingsburyarms]

+1

He (and his family) are top notch - Glad you are re-gaining momentum -