Sanding my stock.

[volatpluvia]

What's the whiskering process?       
volatpluvia

[Ed Wenger]

Before carving, molding etc. is cut in, I take the stock down 150-180-220.  I also do a fair amount of scraping before I do anything with sandpaper.  I dampen (not wet) the stock between sanding.  Once all the molding and carving is finished I do the same to the area where wood was relieved.  Where needed I might sand/scrape the carving design, mainly the outline area.  I got sick and tired of spending hours on sanding carving.  Most of the time I sprinkle rotten stone on the design and give it a good scrubbing with a fairly stiff nylon brush.  It smooths everything, knocks off the hard edges, and gives (to my eye) a very nice effect.  After that, the whole stock gets hit with a light grey scotch brite pad (not sure of the grit), and then it gets stained.  I typically don't burnish anymore either.

       Ed

[Bentflint]

Pete, don't be sure about that. These days people like the crustic look. "Brooks". By the way , I love he does to guns.

Steel wool flecks have never gave me much trouble. I think it best to ignore the microscopic. You might say "I have bigger things to worry about". From what I see these days, I think more about architecture than a .002" x .0001" piece of steel stuck in the finish, a problem I have never had. I have no problem turning down work because of things like this, and I don't turn down much.

I give up more work because I don't like to build what people ask me to build. And I will help them find somebody that will.

Volatpluvia, good question. Reread what Jim Kibler (one of my hero members) said.

I gave up trying to sand around carving, I leave it as it scrapes. You can spend weeks of time waisting time. I can do that dinking around in the back yard shooting steel plates with a flintlock.

If you are trying to build a perfect gun, please ignore this post.

Bruce Everhart