Author Topic: Can Sycamore be used for stock  (Read 2212 times)

Offline warren5421

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Can Sycamore be used for stock
« on: July 04, 2022, 09:40:40 PM »
Can Sycamore be used as a stock?  If it has been used, are there any pictures?  I have an old growth log that came out of an old barn that has a lot of figure in it.  It's 16"x16" with 1" taken off each side to show how well it looks.  I will cut a blank or two out of the log then make the rest into a nice rustic chimney cabinet.

Offline rich pierce

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Re: Can Sycamore be used for stock
« Reply #1 on: July 04, 2022, 11:39:55 PM »
Can it be used? Sure. But it’s soft and weak.

Sycamore


Hard maple

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Offline Ezra

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Re: Can Sycamore be used for stock
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2022, 01:04:55 AM »
Isn’t it pretty twisty too?

Ez
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Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: Can Sycamore be used for stock
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2022, 01:56:10 AM »
Doesn't sound like a preferred choice of stock wood.
Dan

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Offline hanshi

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Re: Can Sycamore be used for stock
« Reply #4 on: July 05, 2022, 10:28:16 PM »
As a trained forestry major I recall it also being "splintery".
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Offline Hudnut

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Re: Can Sycamore be used for stock
« Reply #5 on: July 05, 2022, 11:00:33 PM »
Years ago it was marketed as "amwal", as a substitute stock wood.  Remington used in in some 788 stocks.  I made one stock from it.  Very "fuzzy" when sanding.  The piece you have might be better, but in my experience it doesn't have much to recommend it.

Offline Goo

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Re: Can Sycamore be used for stock
« Reply #6 on: July 06, 2022, 02:11:04 PM »
I say try i and dont worry about what every one says.  Make a practice piece first.
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Offline Metalshaper

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Re: Can Sycamore be used for stock
« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2022, 03:33:43 PM »
My bud used a quarter sawn slab to stock a Under Hammer rifle. The pattern of the grain reminded me of snake skin.
He never complained about it being difficult to shape or stringy, that I can remember?? Always thought it was beautiful!

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Offline B.Habermehl

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Re: Can Sycamore be used for stock
« Reply #8 on: July 06, 2022, 10:10:27 PM »
If it were my wood I’d take a piece and a sharp pocket knife and carve something out of it and decide for your self. Just my 2 cents. BJH
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Offline shortbarrel

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Re: Can Sycamore be used for stock
« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2022, 12:30:39 AM »
 most woods will make a stock if you can manage it when building the stock. the lifetime of the stock could be debatable.

Offline kutter

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Re: Can Sycamore be used for stock
« Reply #10 on: July 07, 2022, 01:43:09 AM »
If it has nice grain, I'd go ahead and use it.
Knowing ahead of time that the wood species isn't what a fine piece of Maple would be in the strength catagory,
Just build according to that. Not everything has to be a big bore boomer.

It's been used for lots of rimfire and some centerfire rifles and some shotgun stocks. It's held up well there. The idea was a cost reduction of course. But some of those pieces of wood occasionaly show up with pretty grain as well..

Offline T.C.Albert

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Re: Can Sycamore be used for stock
« Reply #11 on: July 07, 2022, 06:45:03 PM »
I believe this was also called plane tree wood. Years ago I was advised not
To make a wooden plane from it as it would twist and never stay true.
Can’t say if that’s true because I didn’t try after hearing that.
Tim A
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Offline warren5421

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Re: Can Sycamore be used for stock
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2022, 03:53:25 AM »
I have used quarter sawed to make several pieces of Furnature and have had no problems with the wood.  The log is big enough that I can get a quarter sawed  blank to play with.  If not quarter sawed green wood can dry into pretzel shaped if not weighted down.  All I have is time so am thinking of trying on am old TC.