Barrel & ram rod channel machining

[Keb]

I've been cutting in my own for ever but decided to take a blank to a stock carver to save some time & effort. I got a quote and dropped the stuff off and waited for the call. It didn't take long, maybe 2 weeks. I went to pick the stock up and the ram rod hole busted out of the bottom of the stock. I looked at it and tried to figure out what to do. Well, the machine man got angry when I told him the stock was fire wood now and I could never sell a finished gun with a patch like it would need to cover it. He proceeded to tell me how it was my fault because he cut to a pencil line on the stock AFTER the barrel channel was cut. He told me it wouldn't have broke out if he had not cut it. He then started banging a piece of wood on the work bench, telling me how much he gets an hour for his work, what a poor gun builder I must be, and more stuff I choose to leave out of this post. Anyway, More words were exchanged and then I ask him the price for the stock. He said nothing so I didn't pay him. I took my stuff and left. As I was going out the door he told me to never bring him any more wood to cut. I told him I didn't see that as being a problem after the customer service I received. After I got home and was looking it over, I noticed he had a price penciled on the stock. $90.00 for the barrel channel and N/C for the ram rod hole.
I have thought about what happened for 2 days & I think I am going to send him a check for machining the barrel channel anyway.

[rich pierce]

You're a peacemaker, Keb.  Good man.

[tallbear]

Keb

Send your barrel to Dave Rase or Mark Wheland next time.I can attest to the fact both stand behind their work!!!!!!!!!!!

Mitch Yates

[Keb]

I've pretty much decided to continue cutting my own in at least until the arthritis stops me.

[Mike Brooks]

I wouldn't pay for. I'd also ask for a replacement stock.

[Dennis Glazener]

After I got home and was looking it over, I noticed he had a price penciled on the stock. $90.00 for the barrel channel and N/C for the ram rod hole.
I have thought about what happened for 2 days & I think I am going to send him a check for machining the barrel channel anyway.

Keb,
You always have to live with yourself, I would probably do the same then later think how dumb I was for it but if I didn't do it then I would feel even worse!
Just because some people act like the north end of a south bound mule is no reason for us to follow suite
Dennis

[bob in the woods]

I would never have anyone do any work on a stock/blank, who wasn't familiar with long rifle stocking.
Same as a " carpenter/ cabinet maker is not the guy I'd choose to repair an acoustic guitar or violin.
Just my 2 cents.

[T*O*F]

I'd probably pay him for the barrel inletting, then fill the ramrod hole and re-drill it myself and cover the breakout with a forestock inlay.  Stuff happens!!!  If I was on his end I would have asked you, "What do you want me to do to make things right."  Anger solves nothing on either end and everything goes south when it happens.

[kaintuck]

So....your wanting to pay someone for ruining your stock?
Like paying your mechanic for fixin a flat when busted the windows out of the car door......

Nope.....I don't give bonuses out for bad work, or being treated bad!

Dave keck at knob mountains, dunlops woods..great people,!!!
....develop better professional contacts, there are are those that will stand behind the work, and/or make it right!

Besides.....this guy didn't know how to drill the RR correctly.....I have done some myself by hand....I measure measure measure.....drill slow, clean chips every 1/4"......so far, I have 5x5 correct.....because I think I care when I do something. Sounds like he tried to blame you!.....it was his hands on the drill!

Nope....wouldn't pay him anything.

[Keb]

woods bob; the fella is a stock carver and has been in business carving BP gun stocks for years.

TOF; I patched the blow out which isn't the issue. I'm sure the patch will not be noticeable when the gun is finished. I had to add a 1/4 inch  patch to the belly leaving less than 1/8" between the belly & hole. I think it looks acceptable now but that patch will always reflect my work, not his.

Kaint; I'm going to pay him for what he did do, not for what got messed up. I'm not paying for the busted out hole. It's not that he didn't know how to drill the hole, he certainly does. He just cut too much off the belly I believe after the hole was drilled then blamed his mistake on my pencil lines. I was a tool & die maker for 35 years. The 1st thing I learned is everyone makes mistakes. Owning up to them is the hard part. Accepting the blame for one's own mistakes is humbling and hard on the ego.

[Topknot]

Keb, your decision was the right one. What some must remember is that you went to him and asked him to inlet it, even though he didnt know what he was doing. I applaud you for holding up to your end of the deal.

                                                                 topknot

[Acer Saccharum]

I was a tool & die maker for 35 years. The 1st thing I learned is everyone makes mistakes. Owning up to them is the hard part. Accepting the blame for one's own mistakes is humbling and hard on the ego.

Very thoughtful observation.

Tom

[Pete G.]

Every thing you do comes back to you in one fashion or another. You did the right thing.

[Don Getz]

Many years ago, back when Jim Chambers made a pattern for his early lancaster rifle, he offered  a stock to me that had the
ramrod hole come out on the underside of the stock.    It was done by Bob Lepley and he glued a dowel into the hole and
redrilled the ramrod hole.   I bought the stock from Jim and I then talked Bob Harn into building a rifle from it.  It was probably
one of the best contemporary guns I have ever owned.  I had it for many years and sold it to a collector last year.   As for the
patched ramrod hole, you could see it if you examined it closely.   I also remember when Allen Martin came over to our shop
and he had a gun that he was building and it had a hole in the wood just behind the entry pipe.  Allen just removed too much
wood and went thru to the ramrod hole.   We talked him into finishing the gun and to just make the hole to look like it was
just "worn" thru.  He did and it was a great gun, sold it..........Don

[Keb]

It's not my 1st ramrod hole to bust out through the fore stock.
At least I did this one. And yes, that is blue paint.