Need some advice on a piece of Cherry lumber

[Ky-Flinter]

While perusing the want ads in the local newspaper this morning, I saw the following ad under building materials.....

1pc. Cherry 2 x 15.5 x 5ft  $25.

Is 2" enough thickness?  Is 60" enough length for a full stock?  Will these dimensions limit the type of gun that can be built? 

I haven't called on it yet.  What questions should I ask?  And what should I look for if I go see the piece?   Any advise is appreciated.

-Ron

 

[Acer Saccharum]

2" is marginal for a kentucky, maybe OK for a late thin one.
Or a real slim fowler.

I'd like 2 1/2 minimum.

Acer

[Don Getz]

Flinter.....as a rule of thumb, add about 15" to the length of the barrel for about a 13 1/2" pull, this will give you a rough
estimate of how long your blank must be.   Example.....42" barrel + 15" = 47" blank.     2" thick might work for a fowler
or a late period gun, or a southern mtn. rifle............Don

[Leprechaun]

   2" thick might work for a fowler
or a late period gun, or a southern mtn. rifle............Don

or pistol stocks, or tool handles, or a benchtop, or a tool rack. I don't know anything about cherry but if it's good for a gunstock, it's good for alot of stuff. That's alot of hardwood for $25 (if it's dense, hard and sound).

[T*O*F]

Is 2" enough thickness?

Another simple formula......barrel diameter at the breech plus 2 times the thickness of the lock bolster will give the approximate finished dimension across the lock panels.

[B Shipman]

If the wood is clear, look for the direction of grain.  A  perfect piece has grain that's parallel with the wrist and toe. It does'nt have to be perfect, but you don't want grain that's sweeping up through the wrist and toe. You'll only get one full length stock out of it but , for a solid piece of cherry $25 is cheap if it's a solid piece.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Don - this is just to show that I read your posts...42" + 15" = 57".  What a jerk, eh?

[California Kid]

Somebody has to keep Don on his toes!

[Dennis Glazener]

That thickness works fine for TN and southern mountain rifles. Plus that length is fine for 42" barrels and maybe even 44" if you are building by hand or your stock man is willing to glue a block on each end (to sit up in his duplicator). You probably can get two stocks out of that one piece depending on how the grain runs. Dunlap gets $120 each for cherry blanks.

Dennis

[Greg S Day]

I had a nice piece of 8/4 cherry.  Fred Miller showed me his Lehigh and his Verner pattern stocks.

I chose the Verner.  Got to watch him set it up in his duplicator.  When he was done there was one tiny spot of the old surface on the off side of the butt stock and one tiny spot on the cheek piece.

They both went away during shaping and sanding.

[Don Getz]

That's what happens when you get old.   I thought the "spell check" would pick that up, sorry...........Don

[David Rase]

That's what happens when you get old.   I thought the "spell check" would pick that up, sorry...........Don

There you have it "math check" Bill Gates makes an upgrade to Windows and a few more billion.
DMR

[Ky-Flinter]

Don - this is just to show that I read your posts...42" + 15" = 57".  What a jerk, eh?

That's funny!  I read Don's formula yesterday and didn't notice the typo.  I guess I instictively added 42 and 15 and understood 57.

I really appreciate all the input and suggestions....  especially the "formulas", Don and TOF.

I called the guy today and it turns out he has a whole pile of cherry lumber.  Will be going to see what he has this afternoon.  Wish me luck!  Thanks again.

-Ron

[Stophel]

Cherry varies widely in quality.  It ranges from nearly as hard as sugar maple, to soft as butter.  Unfortunately, the larger percentage of it seems to be nearer the lower end of that spectrum.  Study it well before buying.