inletting with smoke

[Cory Joe Stewart]

I use a candle.  I get the free standing big ones.  The one I am using right now has a pleasant vanilla scent to it.  It is difficult to soot a barrel with just a candle.  I too do not like unattended flames in my shop so I light it, soot up, then blow it out. 

Coryjoe

[Joe S.]

quess I can understand the worries about open flame.Was at Dixon's the other week and a fellow was in there buying some inletting black.He is taking a course in building long rifles and they have some type of rotating workstations?Apparently his stock was in a vice on one side and a lamp on the other side was lit and not sure how but the station was rotated.They smelled something burning, his stock was on fire,guess he's building a half stock now.Still not sure what went down but we all scratched our heads.

[Mark Elliott]

As to sooting a barrel with a candle.   The original builders were not likely to soot the whole barrel more than once, if then.   They only inlet the first and last few inches, as do I these days.   The rest is planed clear so that only the corners hit here and there. 

[Mike Brooks]

Many original octagon barrel channels I have seen are round!

[b bogart]

Many original octagon barrel channels I have seen are round!

I'm working on an O/R channel right now and thourghly understand a rounded channel all the way along. What a PITA!

[crankshaft]

  I didn't mention I am inletting a shotgun style buttplate  on a 1/2 stock target rifle with a DeHass barrel.  (Bad shoulder requires all the help it can get).

[David R. Pennington]

I use a candle for small parts like butt plate etc.,. but blacking a 48 inch barrel over a candle is too hard. I buy lipstick at the dollar store. It is cheap and I apply with a little brush. A tube will do a couple barrels easy. Not PC but it is fun to mess with the cashiers when I buy it. It cleans up easy too. I only use the Prussian blue to spot metal like fitting breech plug or finding binding spots when tuning locks etc. I would end up with a blue stained stock if I used it on a barrel inlet. I'm too messy.

[P.W.Berkuta]

  I didn't mention I am inletting a shotgun style buttplate  on a 1/2 stock target rifle with a DeHass barrel.  (Bad shoulder requires all the help it can get).

I have installed a shotgun style butt plate on two .45 cal. half stock rifles for two women shooters and they LOVE it--

[axelp]

what do you use when you need to adjust an inlet that is already dark with oils and stain?

K

[WadePatton]

what do you use when you need to adjust an inlet that is already dark with oils and stain?

K

clown makeup, or talcum powder, or flour?  Ideas not practices I have developed.

No, I don't know where to get clown makeup. 

[Thawk]

what do you use when you need to adjust an inlet that is already dark with oils and stain?

K

Bright red lipstick

[crankshaft]

FYI...Rechecking the video, the guy was getting the shotgun "back on face" and had a bunsen type burner going.  When smoking was needed, he  lit a stick from the burner and used the stick to smoke, then blew out the burning stick.  I usually go away form the work for a minute or so would feel more comfortable with a burner than leaving a candle burning.  .

[Waksupi]

I use a brush and motor oil. If I use black of any sort, by the end of the day it is not completely clear which race I am. I can get that black stuff EVERYWHERE!