I read with interest the recent thread on Lehigh butt plate inlets etc. I just happen to be starting a Lehigh for a client, so thought I would show how I do it.
First off clean up your butt plate, make sure the mating surfaces are smooth and even. Lay the butt plate on your stock, make sure the comb of the butt plate matches the comb profile of your stock, and then scribe a line along the inside of the butt plate.
Recheck your layout before you cut.
Cut your line on your bandsaw making sure to keep things square & level, then check your fit
Place your butt plate into position on the stock align the forward extension of the butt plate with your lay out lines. In this case i am using a slight cast off.
I now lay out the cuts that will remove excess wood. No sense dealing with wood that will not be part of the finished stock.
Now cut away the unneeded wood.
Start your butt plate inlet, cutting down into the top of the stock sufficiently to just bring the forward extension just below the level of the wood.
Work your butt plate forward until you get a good fit.
You can now check your fit of the butt plate to to the butt, and screw the butt plate into place.
Ok, I have gotten this far so I am going to post these photos before i screw something up. I will do part two showing the rough shaping of the butt stock. This butt plate instillation took about 45 minutes.
Ron