Author Topic: Wade's first one_ pics/completed (Read 46542 times)

WadePatton · « **Reply #25 on:** September 30, 2011, 07:43:35 AM »

Well well, the bbl started sinking. Had a couple of days off working on shop improvements. But the night was nice and the shop in better shape so got a couple hours of scraping in tonight.

it's about halfway down. soot n scrape.

I'll have to start the tang inlet to make room for lifting the bbl out. Won't take much as I'll use some heavy copper wire for a handle.

WadePatton · « **Reply #26 on:** October 06, 2011, 03:27:19 AM »

a friend loaned me some gouges. that helped a little. smudge, gouge, scrape. repeat if necessary. preferring grease pencil (eye liner) to soot as cleaner and faster.

Have about 5/16" to go at the breech, but won't be able to work on it for a while.

WadePatton · « **Reply #27 on:** October 06, 2011, 11:12:22 PM »

dang nabbit, i left the camera out in le shoppe.

But am proud to say that I finally dug around and found some tool-making tutorials with pictures still attached to them and was inspired to make a tool today unlike any i have ever encountered before. I took a ratted out screw-driver, poked a hole in an oak block (formerly known as a slat in a bar-stool), sharpened the tip/side, installed set-screw after pinch-screw failed, and proceeded to scrape maple with a whole new squareness and depth control easily attained.

The bbl is just falling into place now and i'm not so befuzzled anymore.

I have been rather frustrated with pictorials where the pictores* no longer exist. But then i can get a name from here and go "off campus" to figger out what it is/means. The old learnin' about it two-step.

*was granted poetic license in 1989. this means i create words** and my misspellings are intentional. usually.

**no charges apply, feel free to expand your vocabulary with mine productions.

WadePatton · « **Reply #28 on:** October 07, 2011, 12:27:36 AM »

also as well as padding my post count, do note that i'll be away from the computer (and rifle) for a few days. details later.

cheers.

rsells · « **Reply #29 on:** October 07, 2011, 04:55:26 AM »

Wade,
Does your John Anderson live in Tullahoma, TN? IF so, he has been a good source for help to me in the past. Good luck with your build.
Roger Sells

WadePatton · « **Reply #30 on:** October 07, 2011, 06:01:06 AM »

Tha's he. He's building 3 and tolerating me. He's the tolerant sort you know.

rsells · « **Reply #31 on:** October 07, 2011, 05:34:36 PM »

John is a super guy. He helped me a bunch when I first joined the AMM. Please tell him I said hello.
Roger Sells

WadePatton · « **Reply #32 on:** October 24, 2011, 06:12:50 AM »

It's beginning to looka likea rifle-a very chunky rifle with lotsa more work to be done.

(the build was interrupted by a surprise redfishing trip.)

Yesterday John and I carved the rr channel and poked the hole and sawed some excess offa the front end. Still have about 1/16 to get the bbl down where i want it...and I'm gawdawful slow at that part. My technique is developing...no gaps big enough to throw cat through yet.

wmaser · « **Reply #33 on:** October 24, 2011, 09:41:32 AM »

I'm doing as John says now: inlet bbl, then tang, then lock is the order i'm working in now.
[/quote]
May I suggest a different sequence? I inlet the barrel, then the tang, then the ramrod hole before the lock. That way if the hole strays away from the barrel you can go back and lower the barrel channel a bit to maintain a slim, sleek stock. When you are satisfied with the barrel and ramrod locations, then inlet the lock.

WadePatton · « **Reply #34 on:** October 24, 2011, 06:02:23 PM »

The rr channel and hole were drilled two days ago. Methinked I said that above.

The hole is fine. I'm letting the bbl down another 16th.

then tang.

then lock.

time to grab a cuppa joe and a smoke some bbl.

WadePatton · « **Reply #35 on:** November 03, 2011, 08:25:22 PM »

Good almighty grief this thing is taking forever. Had to stop to start pre-logging my forest. Hate to cut the woods up, but the Poplar is ready to go and I'm in a bad $ way.

So let me ask this about that. Granted I have an old-time builder assisting me who has many years of study and experience (and all those books as well), but I'd like to ask here of this sub-collective about the differences in TN and Southern Mountain rifles. Or even early/late TN. Trust me i've read everything in the archive with TN or Tennessee in it. There was one particularly good post...not much else. And experts (especially experts) tend to disagree.

Most specifically at this point, I'm thinking of leaving the nosecap off and possibly adding it later.

And Mr. Anderson is really laid back with is "influence". He got a little "non-plussed" when I mentioned the rubbed back french-gray-blue I've come to like so much. (non-chlorinated!). I still probably going to do that with the bbl and screws, with the lock white... and let the whole mess rust brown itself for a few years to before i start protecting it. Any comments to blue on (late) TN originals? Methinks my lock makes mine a "late".

WadePatton · « **Reply #36 on:** September 17, 2012, 05:59:22 AM »

I'm back.

The gun was set aside last year as other things were more pressing.

NOW i've been carving out the crevice for the lock for a few evenings, and DO EXPECT to get to load 'er sometime this year. 'bout 6 weeks yet 'til season and my focus has narrowed.

Just got the lock sitting in/clearing full cycle. next to extend the tang and make a try-stock of sorts for "final" fitting decisions.

then to inlet tang and talk to John again.

Don Getz · « **Reply #37 on:** September 17, 2012, 02:53:04 PM »

Son of a gun, gee whiz, what can I say. Just can't wait to see the finished product........Don

WadePatton · « **Reply #38 on:** September 17, 2012, 09:49:10 PM »

thanks for the support Don, i'm as steady as the breeze i reckon.

WadePatton · « **Reply #39 on:** October 06, 2012, 10:04:38 AM »

_*&^&, **&%%ing

entry

pipe.

third day on that one little detail, maybe the last one, starts tomorrow!

yet to inlet: guard, middle pipe, butt, toe, tang. tang is extended, but not shaped yet. undecided on nose yet. can't set butt plate until i decide to cast or not.

made a try stock of pine boards...still playing with that.

WadePatton · « **Reply #40 on:** October 06, 2012, 09:02:38 PM »

correction on specs: the bbl is only 42". man i'm gointer lose ("loose" in modern innernet parlance) 2 inches of powder burning time! Tippy has some things cut a little different than the "widely publicized" specs. The lock is of his "design" as well. I think we discussed that sommers 'round here.

I have a bit of tuning to do on the lock. I had John make that determination.

on entry pipe: i had read far enough (book maybe) to inlet a front pipe before starting on entry-easy enough. then i started down with it all...found it out of kilter after 1/8 of inch. still plenty far to go--got it squared up and am working on that laast bit. Found Tom's short-dowel recommendation on here last night--- and am now kicking my own butt over not thinking that out myself.

I'm so tore-up now to get this thing shootin' that i might not eat for a while...which is good cuz i'm down to my last two packages of venison.

The trick for me is to stop workin on wood and fiddle with the metal when i come to a finicky spot and need some (mental) relief. Shaping up the tang is going to be like cherry pie compared to the entry.

Poured nosecap methinks--possibly after this hunting season. where can i find a pile of examples? I like the one in the tutorial, but isn't that a bit busy for a Southern gun? or am i sniffing the wrong bark?

WadePatton · « **Reply #41 on:** October 09, 2012, 06:22:04 AM »

all (shop) day reworking c/l of butt. first tried re-squaring the wood but that was going too slow. I then tried making a marking tool (for the bbl) from angle iron--didn't work out. angle rides the flats of the bbl, hole, bit, yadda yadda, not satisfied. then used surface plate to mark a satisfactory c/l on the bbl (still no easy with swamped bbl). I then took another week-and-a-half keeping/marking this line true down the wrist and over the comb and to the heel. Probably over doing it, but that's newbie enthusiasm and over-precision run amok.

See, the back end of the stock either got planed out of plane or warped in the aging process and i just picked that up. the new c/l is 1/4 left of the old c/l -which was established from surface of the lock side--making the assumption that it was more parallel than that.

Problem now is that if i cut it straight, like i had decided to do-then i have 1/4" less material for the cheekpiece (than the blueprints i'm looking at show). SO i get to incorporate at least 3/16 cast off to make the cheek fit the program.

BUT THAT i know the toe is kicked out too (more), but will work that out tomorrow. from the unnerside.

Lessons learned. as frustrating as it can be, also thrilling to be "this much closer" to a shooter. 'Cause i'm the silly sort who digs making the "extra" tools and honing the chisels and feeling the edge slice through the wood and of course the feeling of the a fresh file taking a nice bite and chasing that line across the piece to make it even. blending two bevels, etc.

i've got to finish that entry pipe too...

WadePatton · « **Reply #42 on:** September 17, 2013, 06:11:34 PM »

It has happened again. I'm all over that first rifle with a fury.

First order of bidness today is re-welding my tang extension. I managed to break the first weld (welder error (not me this time)). I'll be O/A welding as that is the equipment in have at present and i have O/A welded steel before.

But will be slower going because i rammed the very tip of my index finger into the sharp corner of the tang when the file slipped as i was prepping the metal for joining yesterday. It's a bit sore.

The butt plate in on! all pipes in place. Only 5 mistakes so far! but who is counting?

This tang inlet "recover" may be the ugliest mistake fix of all as it is partially inlet already so there's not much metal or wood "extra" to play with.

Other mistakes included holes not properly proper-one was filled with toothpick. the other two were drilled out/plugged/redrilled (one of them twice) and will be out of sight.

Today i weld that tang and while it's cooling i'll start hacking on the bbl for the lugs.

Also yet to do: Lock bolts (yes yes i'll be doing things in a better sequence next time), tang bolt/screws, shaping.

After initial shaping i'll post up some pics for amusement. There are a few pics up at my FB page. and a ton on my phone.

Also, Different but kinda the same (DKS) I ground the moving jaw of a crescent wrench last night to better fit the tapered plug that comes in Colerain bbls. REASON: I had slipped and marred the top surface of my first one. Was inspecting my little litter of bbls yesterday and decided i didn't want to continue to mark up the metal. I thought of various mods/tools to accomplish such and then thought FIX the WRENCH!.

Slipped the wrench in place with fixed jaw properly parallel to one side, scribed parallel line to other side of plug on moving jaw, then ground moving jaw to that line and "softened" the edges of the fixed jaw some too. Fixed.

then i put some tape on the handle to indicate a special purpose modified tool (SPMT).

++++
Also, for those who just read or re-read this entire thing (bless you), I've acquired several books and done a lot of studying in the last year or so. I do have a much better grip on the structure and characteristics of the TN and other Southern Guns. This build will be a bit chunky because of the C-weight bbl, I might should have built a Hawken or English Sporter to match my bore selection. The next 2 are 40 and 30 cals. Will make skinny minnies for sure, just gotta compress the time frame!

rsells · « **Reply #43 on:** September 17, 2013, 08:24:25 PM »

Wade,
I have built a couple C weight .54 TN rifles over the years and they came out with a good profile. I was a bit concerned as well, but worked the rifle down as normal and was satisfied with the finished look.
Roger Sells

WadePatton · « **Reply #44 on:** September 18, 2013, 12:14:11 AM »

okay so i broke the second weld job... my fault fully. that or the phase of the mooon. I'll lap joint the next one. this one is partially done, so we are trying to retain original profile.

Thanks Roger, good to know. I'll whittle 'er down as tight as i can stand it.

PPatch · « **Reply #45 on:** September 18, 2013, 06:11:29 AM »

It was the moon Wade - you just keep on keeping on my man. Sounds like you are having fun and doing well. Stuff happens, keep plowing straight and true.

dp

mikeyfirelock · « **Reply #46 on:** September 18, 2013, 02:19:32 PM »

Wade: I am presently working on finishing a rifle that I started in the l970's. Compared to that, you are making fine progress !
Mike

Acer Saccharum · « **Reply #47 on:** September 18, 2013, 02:32:38 PM »

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.......

Wade, you really need to post some pix if/when you get in a bind. Verbal description not the best medium for troubleshooting.

I give you a lot of credit for pushing forward through the thick and thin of it. Keep up the good work!

WadePatton · « **Reply #48 on:** September 19, 2013, 03:50:38 AM »

I nailed that tang down today.

then i tapped the trigger plate wrong thread. mistake nummer 7 (but who is counting?)

I got a pal in the screw machine bidness. I think i'll has to get a few runs of slotted head screws done for all of us to enjoy, didn't know they were so rare these days.

Going back out there to make some dovetails in the bbl and maybe some lugs too. I'll try to get some pics on tonight.

edit: one more thing, the front guard pin is too low. Nope, can't raise it, I barely hit the (reduced, who did that?!) lug the first time. NO room to move up into the lock panel and it's dead on the line. I would be in an area of extreme taper and be over-exposed. So, after some consideration, the guard gets a screw now and the pin is not used. Another wormhole yo!

WadePatton · « **Reply #49 on:** September 19, 2013, 04:37:29 PM »

Well my right hand took a hunk of hide off my left thumb with the hacksaw last evening as i was paring down the buttstock, so I quit "early". But it is rather exciting to start shaping the maple. Pin that bbl today and really start shaping it up i reckon i shall.

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Author Topic: Wade's first one_ pics/completed (Read 46542 times)

wmaser