Small victory

[davebozell]

Please excuse the exuberance of a newbie, but I want to thank everyone who posts helpful hints here regularly.  I am working on my first rifle.  It's a non-inletted pre-carve, but it has left enough uncertainty to leave me scratching my head more than once so far.  With the information here and from the internet info provided by regular posters here, I was able to complete my lock inletting tonight and drill and tap both holes through the lock plate without an "oh no" moment.  (Even missed the ramrod hole!!!)

Some things I've learned so far:

1.  You can't always trust the barrel inlet position on a pre-carve.  (I had to move mine back another 5/8" to get the touch hole in the correct position.)
2.  There's an amazing amount of extra wood left on a pre-carve when you start installing components.  (My lock plate was 1/4" away from the barrel when I started to inlet.)
3.  Super glue is my best friend!

Thanks again, and keep posting those helpful hints!  It seems there is always someone else out there who is in about the same place as me, getting help on similar issues that helps me work things out in my head before I move to wood and metal. 

Dave

[Rick G.]

I'm in the same boat, Dave. I know exactly what you mean by "scratching your head" moments. I'm working on a Peter Berry rifle which is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Most of my questions had answers in the tutorial section but I am still puzzled by a few things. It's also frustrating that when I figure out what to do, it involves going out and buying a new tool! But it's all good. I get up in the morning and look forward to whatever new challenge the build throws at me. Good luck!               

[Cory Joe Stewart]

When I was building my first (on my second now) everything is a small victory.  Congrats.

Coryjoe

[davebozell]

Coryjoe, I guess you're right.  Some nights I spend more time running up and down the stairs consulting some reference (usually this site) than I do actually getting something done.  I ranked this one as my biggest "small" victories yet, since it worked out right the first time.  I'm too old for somersaults, but that's what I felt like doing.

Rick, It's always nice to know we're not alone in all this. The reassurances I get from this site and the experiences of others has been very valuable to me.  And as for the tools, that's half the fun!  I had a pretty good "collection" of tools before I started, but I found there were a few things that I needed too.  The right tools make the jobs a whole lot easier.   

[Pete G.]

As you become more experienced you will discover that you don't necessarily make fewer mistakes, but you do learn how to recover better. Do not EVER let your mind convince you that you know what you are doing. As soon as that happens you will do something like installing your barrel tenons in the side instead of the bottom of the barrel. The good news is that you will probably not make a mistake that has not been made before. When (not if) you do, just post it here and sit back and wait for answers. They won't all be the right answer for your particular situation, but they will get the wheels turning and you will find an answer.

[davebozell]

Thanks Pete.  So far, when I've needed info or support, I just read the current posts here for a couple days.  Usually a related topic comes up with the information that I needed and I'm off and crawling again. Hopefully you guys can keep me from making "fence post" mistakes.  (Although I've seen some pretty nice "fence posts" posted here before!)

[Chris Treichel]

I'm working on my fifth now... can't stand to look at the first four and think that if I build a fifty more in the next 50 years I'll learn something new each time. 

Thank you to all who post advice here.  Its being read and well maybe I'll comprehend half now and half after I make the mistake and re-read what I should have done.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Coryjoe, I guess you're right.  Some nights I spend more time running up and down the stairs consulting some reference (usually this site) than I do actually getting something done.  I ranked this one as my biggest "small" victories yet, since it worked out right the first time.  I'm too old for somersaults, but that's what I felt like doing.

Rick, It's always nice to know we're not alone in all this. The reassurances I get from this site and the experiences of others has been very valuable to me.  And as for the tools, that's half the fun!  I had a pretty good "collection" of tools before I started, but I found there were a few things that I needed too.  The right tools make the jobs a whole lot easier.   

If you want the exercise its a good thing. ....otherwise you might want to get a laptop and bring it into your shop with you??

[Jerry V Lape]

Might want to be careful with that super glue.  It definitely doesn't take a stain.   Might try a stainable wood glue. 

[Rick G.]

Man, I hope I never need glue. The stock is really nice curly maple,, and it would kill me to make inletting mistakes.