Author Topic: Bending pre-carved stocks (Read 10023 times)

Ezra · « **on:** July 16, 2008, 03:31:47 AM »

Hey Guys,

I have a nice maple pre-carved stock that has some side to side warpage (not twist) about 4/5ths the way down the barrel channel. It is about one inch off to the right than it should be. Are there ways to properly deal with this or do you just set the barrel in and force it over? I really do not know.

It is a Lancaster style pre-carved stock with a 44" Rice .50 caliber barrel. Thanks.

Ez

Roger Fisher · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2008, 03:45:59 AM »

Good soaking with hot water wrapped towels then slowly clamp her over using planks and clamps with shims. She should then stay when she dries.

Its been a number of years but I had a stock that the channel gapped open. Now this was clamping her the dangerous way that is with the grain. Hot wet towels long blocks along the stock side clamped slowly dried slowly and she stayed. I can't recall if the forestock was already shaped or not. In any case it worked.

Then I could sleep again at night.

lew wetzel · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2008, 04:08:22 AM »

ezra,i have had two stocks like that and just working the barrel into the barrel channel should be fine,unless yours looks like a boomerang.....the forend of a stock seems to have alot of give and should welcome the barrel just fine....

Dphariss · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2008, 07:05:59 AM »

By the time the forend is thinned in the completed gun this should not be much of an issue. Unless its a really sharp bend.

Dan

J Shingler · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2008, 01:13:23 PM »

As said above, but if it is really bad thin it down close to final width first to releave some of the stress. There really in not much wood up there and when thinned down and should follow the barrel without much problems.

rick landes · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2008, 05:59:24 PM »

Most probably realize this but wood does have stress in it that will be relieved to some extent with the shaping. In fact I have has pieces that twist as I have thinned then particularly in the forward barrel channel area. Sometimes the barrel holding the stock in place will do the job of alignment, sometimes a bit of moisture is needed...just depends on the stock.

PINYONE · « **Reply #6 on:** July 17, 2008, 06:10:49 PM »

I have an old stock that is warped or twisted just past the rear entry thimble- has anyone ever used steam to soften and straighten the twist?

rick landes · « **Reply #7 on:** July 17, 2008, 06:42:22 PM »

I have not used steam as such from a wood bending type steamer, but often a very damp cloth heated with an iron to directly steam the wood in the area needing it will help. Go very slow with the back bending/twisting/ As the piece drys it will want to return to its original twisted state. Small counter pressures are best. Can you fix the stock into a vice to steam and then add some clamping pressure. Then repeat.

The steam will not do the finish well so be pre-advised

northmn · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2008, 08:18:44 PM »

Fom dabbling in making self bows I ahve used steam and heat to try to fix set problems. Wood can straighten with either but has a very strong tendency to gradually work back. The stresses that caused the warpage are still there. Same with arrows. I ahve tried straightening arrows with heat and find them to go back to the original bend. Sometimes a hook straightener which applies a rather sharp force to the bend will hold them (it also tends to break a few). My point being that if it fits to the barrel don't mess with it.

DP

sydney · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2008, 08:20:04 PM »

Hi Pinyone-- I have used steam to put cast-off in modern shotguns
Wrap the area to be bent with cloth strips which will hold the heat
Using clamps slowly move the stock over-work slow and lots of steam
Let cool overnight
Slow is the key word
Let me know if more info is req d
Sydney

creekbottom · « **Reply #10 on:** July 18, 2008, 02:18:01 AM »

I like the Hot water and towel wrap

wireman · « **Reply #11 on:** July 18, 2008, 08:01:16 PM »

I had a precrave stock that the barrel channel was bent i put the barrel in and wet it down and set it out to dry,i did not clamp the sides with wood so when it dryed the barrel caused the barrel channel to open up A LOT

so make sure you clamp a couple 2by4 or something to the sides

coopersdad · « **Reply #12 on:** July 19, 2008, 07:56:39 AM »

Putting castoff in an otherwise straight stock using steam is interesting and something a couple of my guns could use. I've seen some photos of it being done to double shotguns using a clamping fixture, hot oil and heat lamps. I fear a loud "crack" is what my result would be. Any suggestions for success would be welcome.

sydney · « **Reply #13 on:** July 19, 2008, 10:32:31 PM »

Hi Coppersdad- On bare wood i use steam but on modern stocks with finish i use
cooking oil heated to about 300 deg s-Wrap strips of cloth at the bending point
This will hold the oil/heat when you start to bend
Clamp the action to a 2 x 4 and shim up at the bending point
I use rubber as this will not damage the checkering
The butt is now off the 2 x 4 about 1/2 to 3/4"
Start to slowly spoon hot oil at the bending point
using a clamp start to pull down the butt to the 2 x 4
Any resistance to the clamp stop and keep adding oil at all times
The butt slowly move
Lots of oil and slowly clamp down is the key
You should bend further than you want as it will set back slightly
Let stand overnight
Let me know if you need more info
Sydney

coopersdad · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2008, 05:20:46 AM »

Thanks! That's what I needed. How long is the whole process, ie how long do I pour the oil before it's ready to move?

J.D. · « **Reply #15 on:** July 20, 2008, 05:41:57 AM »

I seem to remember a good tutorial on bending stocks on the old board, or possibly in the archives.

ironwolf · « **Reply #16 on:** July 20, 2008, 06:34:37 AM »

What Dpharis and others have said is true. Relieve some of the wood and the bend will be straightened by the barrel.
I would seriously advise against using hot oil on a raw, unsealed stockblank. I think the poster was referring to a modern stock with a poly style finish.

Kevin

sydney · « **Reply #17 on:** July 20, 2008, 08:02:12 AM »

Hi-coopersdad-- I am talking about a modern stock that is finished
I apply the oil for about 5 min before starting to apply pressure
Gently start turning the clamp-any resistance then i wait
keep applying oil -then another 1/2 turn on the clamp
Its a slow go but you will soon get a feeling for
how much pressure to apply and it seems to
bend very easy- slow and gently is the key
let me know how you make out
Sydney

Top Jaw · « **Reply #18 on:** July 29, 2008, 01:38:42 AM »

You can use Sydneys method with boiling water instead of oil on an unfinished stock. I've done two stock this way to put some cast off in a couple of pre-carves. This was in an old archived post I think by Allen Martin. (Although, I used a ratchet strap tied to my truck bumper instead of the clamps). As stated, you have to go farther than the amount of castoff you want because there will be some natural spring back.

Regarding your question, it would be difficult to try to get a bent forestock really straight because of the spring back effect. However, I'm sure it would help your forestock quite a bit if you just clamp it with the barrel in and sides supported, hit the bent area with some boiling water, and leave it for a couple of days with maybe a fan blowing on it to help dry. I would be worth a shot to me, and you might take quite a bit of the bend out by simply doing this.

Top Jaw

Madcaster · « **Reply #19 on:** July 29, 2008, 06:43:55 AM »

That was a great post on the old board,will it be posted here in the archives section?

News:

Author Topic: Bending pre-carved stocks (Read 10023 times)

lew wetzel

J Shingler

PINYONE

northmn

creekbottom

wireman

J.D.

ironwolf

Top Jaw

Madcaster