things that go bad

[ken]

Have you ever started out a gun that just did not want to be built. This is my presant project and how it goes

[Metalshaper]

Ken,

 Have parts for a gun down in my shop, that I started to work on many years ago. the idea was I was building it  as
a 'gift' of sorts to a friend who wanted a longrifle built by me.. I would start on it and he would reimburse parts.
nothing was going to be charged for  the labor!!    all good intent went to the wayside very quickly..

 First it was daily e-mails to figure out how far I had gotten that very same day??
then it was the follow up e-mail demanding an explanation as to why I hadn't
done more?? Not to mention the fact he changed his mind four different times on what kind of gun
he actually wanted.. keyed forearm, pinned forearm.. hooked breech/not hooked,  on and on
Lancaster/Dauphin/Verner...ugghhh    The topper for me was all of the 'experts' he had at his end, telling him
what to DEMAND from me as a builder..and what they would expect at the end and nothing more/less..

Needless to say it's been hanging in the rafters of my basement shop for 5+ years maybe?? and I can hardly bring myself
to touch it..  Lesson learned, I don't build anything for anybody..

Hows that???

Although, I've recently been thinking about pulling it down, cutting it to a halfstock/long gun and changing everything
about what it 'might' have been??  Taking it back, if you will and making something good,  out of something bad..

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[E.vonAschwege]

Definitely have had a couple projects that were determined not to go together smoothly... There was that pistol whose breech plug decided to sheer off as I tried to remove it to install the TH liner at the end, same pistol had the triggerguard break on me after being inlet. 

I've got a project right now that went together well, but is absolutely determined not to be finished - it's on its third round of finish.  First round I goofed and applied too much, it got gunky and wouldn't dry.  Second round started to fill up the carving and had to be stripped. 

I once watched a 50ft wooden sailing schooner get launched - at high tide they released the blocks holding her up, and despite all the prying, pounding, and buckets of grease, she wouldn't budge down the ramp.  All sorts of shenanigans ensued to coerce her to move, including using a small launch to try to pull her into the water - the cleats ripped clear off the back of the launch.  Only 2 hours past high tide did she decide it was time to get wet - I guess the vessel was camera shy, as most the crowd had left at that point.  I don't know why, but that seemed relevant when I started typing. 

Keep working at it Ken, please don't hesitate to share your goofs with us! 
Best,
-Eric

[Acer Saccharum]

I don't like to work on something I'm not in love with. It becomes a real chore.

If I were a pro builder, part of the job would be to just forge ahead, like it or not, git'r done. If I were famous pro builder, I might get to pick and choose projects more to my liking. I would collaborate with the client to make the job as interesting as possible for them and myself.

But that's all smoke, since I'm building for my own pleasure.

If a gun really does not to want to be build, so be it. Like a book you get 1/2 way thru, and you keep falling asleep, and decide not to finish it, a gun could be thought of in that way.

However, I try really hard to only build what really turns my crank. My time is precious, my money is dear, and I can't afford to spend either one of those assets casually. If I'm going to build something, it's got to be worth the effort.

But this is from the perspective of being 60. (wha? how did I get here?) When I was 20, I built just about anything, and had no qualms about frittering my time away.

Blah, blah, blah.

Back to your question about things that go bad, you may do several things.
1) put it in the corner, literally. But also keep it in the corner of your mind. You may hit on a thought that inspires you to re-invest yourself in the project.
2) recycle the parts into a different project.

[Keb]

Things usually go bad for me in everything I do. I'm not cursed, just impatient. I've been working on that part of my miserable life since I retired almost 8 years ago. It's slowly coming along. I wish it'd hurry up :/

[halfstock]

I have, for several years, had a stock answer when asked to build a custom rifle for an individual, (You can't afford it.) Usually end of conversation.

[Mark Elliott]

The chunk gun I just finished for myself was one of those.   It had been on the wall for years.   I went through three pieces of wood.   The third time was the charm, but the project seemed to be snake bit in the beginning.   

[Mark Elliott]

But this is from the perspective of being 60. (wha? how did I get here?)

Tom,  I had no idea you were that old.  I thought you were a young fellow like me.   

[P.W.Berkuta]

Since the late 60's I've had three rifles that I started and struggled with -- two ended up as fire wood after numerous attempts to coerce into rifles and one I finished after 2-1/2 years on the bench - I still did not like it but my buddy did so I gave it to him as a birthday present. I now only work on what I like or want  . I don't do this for the money (one or two rifles a year or longer) - I do it because I like the muzzleloading guns & their history.

[ken]

The strangest thing is that the giun that fights to be built or is one problem after another. Always seems to be great shooters. Must be like a horse, once tamed the really difficult ones are usally pretty good horses.

[KLMoors]

Ken, I know exactly what you are talking about. This phenomenon exists!  It even happens while building houses. On a couple of occasions I was certain that we must be building on some sort of indian burial ground.

I don't know what causes it, but sometimes things go smooth as can be, and other times, it is uphill both ways.

[Old Bob]

After I built my first rifle, a .40 flintlock, I decided I needed a .40 percussion mate for it. My wife bought me another .40 barrel for my birthday and I made the trip up to Mountain State and bought a blank and some hardware and I got to work. Eighteen years later I finished it. In fact, I built a chunk gun before I got this one finished. It was just one of those projects that got pushed aside and for a long time I lost interest in it. I'd get it out about once a year and do a little something and put it up. It turned out to be a good shooter, but I was never really happy with it. Last year I altered it to flint and I'm happier with it, but it's still not my favorite. So don't feel too bad. I didn't have a persnickety client to deal with and it still took me 18 years to get around to finishing that rascal!

[shortbarrel]

My brother and I shut down a good gunsmithing business years ago. To many poor mouths wanting guns repaired or built for a small price. I do my own gunsmithing know,as I love american long rifles. We still get calls, but I tell them the cost and most don' reply. If they want to pay the price, I might consider the job.

[Bob Roller]

Shortbarrel,
Anything for a gun,especially a muzzleloader has to cheap and labor is still
supposed to be 12 cents an hour.I tell anyone who complains about price
that "cheep"comes with a carton of baby chickens.The worst of all,at least to
me are these bozos that start out by saying'When I was a boy"and then start
talking about somebody that NObody has ever met that still works for almost
nothing.Trying to operate in this distressed market is something I won't do
and I have no need for these people who think skilled labor as applied to a
gun has no value.Coming up on 78,I don't care what I say to these people
or who hears it.

Bob Roller

[halfstock]

Geeze Bob I'm only 72 and already have that attitude what am I gonna be like when I get as old as you?          lol lmao

[Old Bob]

Heck, I'm that way at 55. I'll be unbearable when I'm your age.

[heelerau]

At 53 I to am well on the way!!

[mountainman70]

I'm in here with y'all,at 61,I have felt this way for a loooooooooooooooooooooooong time.Mr Roller,you ol hivernans are my Heroes,someone I try to emmma late!!!Happy New Year boys!!!Dave

[Bob Roller]

Halfstock,
You will be like me,a cranky old @$#% that won't listen to the moaning and
groaning of those who want us to work for nothing because it's a gun related item.
I got a call no long ago from some knucklehead that wanted to know,"Do you fool
with guns"? My answer was,"Only an idiot would,they can be dangerous".Then I
hung up.

Bob Roller

[ottawa]

When somone I dont know wants a knife made I tell them that I need half the price down nonrefundable.
this keeps the one who realy want it and thins out the ones who just talk I have had too many order a knife I get it made then they back out on delivery.

[bob in the woods]

The very few times that I have consented to do work that I wasn't enthused about, I regretted it long before the job was done,  into the work, and even after the work  was finished.  Whether repair of musical instruments, or gun work, if the customer does not value your time and skill, I would show them the door.  Or better yet; don't let them in.

[Acer Saccharum]

I smelled the roses a long time ago. I don't do gun work for ANYONE, unless it really trips my trigger. When people say "have this old shotgun, it's probably not too hard for you to fix.. cracked stock, etc"   I don't let them get to deep into it. I just very politely tell them that all I know about is flintlocks, I don't work on anything but my own work.

Life is too short to be doing something you hate doing. (extenuating circumstances excepted)

[whitebear]

Shortbarrel,
.Coming up on 78,I don't care what I say to these people
or who hears it.

Bob Roller

Bob I couldn't agree more although I'm only 63.

[Long John]

Happy New Year.

I'm building a Lancaster for a good friend right now.  He bought the parts and I am putting it together.  Lancasters really don't really excite me that much, especiall post AWI Lancasters, but that is what he picked.  It is going slowly.  But the deal was - its done when its done.  So far he has kept up his end of the deal - no hassling.

I would not have undertaken this were it not that he is a GOOD friend.  Otherwise, I'm with Tom - there ain't that much trail ahead compared to that which lies behind.  The next project will be something that I WANT to build.  Sometimes I kid myself with the notion that I'll build rifles to supplement retirement when the time comes.  I guess that means my hiers will have a boat-load of guns to get rid-of.

Best Regards,

John Cholin

[shortbarrel]

Bob and Acer said it all. I probably could comment further, but I won't.