Author Topic: I’m trying.....first build. (Read 16530 times)

Terry Reynolds · « **on:** January 01, 2018, 08:06:46 PM »

My first build is coming along. Been following Mikes tutorial with much appreciation. Since Im not a skilled artist and with zero originality I kinda borrowed Mike’s beaver tail design and apologize up front for butchering it up but I tried. Any suggestion appreciated.

Buttstock is next but a nap first. 👍

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #1 on:** January 01, 2018, 08:11:36 PM »

I wouldn't go with that buttstock design. Look at some antique guns for ideas.

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #2 on:** January 01, 2018, 09:27:28 PM »

I'm with Mike. About all you could do with that is to incise cut it...if you cut it in relief, you won't like removing the background in all those little pockets. If you are going to carve a butt stock design, keep it open and flowing, rather than tight and busy. Your wrist carving will look fine on the finished stock...certainly as good as a lot of original work.

Terry Reynolds · « **Reply #3 on:** January 01, 2018, 10:20:32 PM »

Mike, Thanks for the advice, I was messing around with the buttstock and was looking for something easy but you are right, I need to study a little more. I'm not much good at looking at patterns and free handing what I see, is there printed patterns a newbie could use?

Taylor, "keep it open and flowing, rather than tight and busy" good advice, noted.

On the beaver tail I carved the lines could use a bid of cleaning up and straightening out, I was heavy and lite on the tool working the wood which left it not as uniform as I would like. Is there a tool (like a checkering tool) that would run in the vee grove to help straighten it out a bit or do you get it right the first time?

Thanks

David Rase · « **Reply #4 on:** January 01, 2018, 11:38:59 PM »

I know you did not ask but it looks like you rounded the top of your barrel tang. Tang should be flat.
David

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2018, 11:40:30 PM »

Maybe look at some simple Lancaster style C scroll stuff. What are you carving your lines with?

Terry Reynolds · « **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2018, 01:17:31 AM »

David, It must be the way I took the picture, tang is flat.

Mike, I'm using a V-parting tool chasing with a lite hammer but still heavy in some parts and lite in others. I've been practicing for a while now and thought I was ready, when I touched the tool to the stock to start I got all nervous. Surprised I didn't chop the stock into! LOL

Headed off to look and some Lancaster stuff. Thanks.

TommyG · « **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2018, 04:30:40 AM »

Digger, I was the same way with carving lay out. Was never really artistic where I could look at an object or subject matter and draw it, especially having it all proportionate. But when I decided to do my first carved gun I just sat down for a few afternoons and practiced drawing. I used a scale to check myself and keep things proportionate, I also found that what works for me is to outline my design using fine dots almost like stipling(and lots of eraser!). Once satisfied, I go back over with solid lines. I only mention this because not too long ago I was in the same place you are. Never having carved a gun and also reluctant to freehand draw a design. Yes I made a bunch of mistakes and of course had to simplify the carving design to my skill level, but now I can't wait to carve the next one. You can do it, give it a try.

Terry Reynolds · « **Reply #8 on:** January 04, 2018, 01:56:55 AM »

Thanks Tommyg, did this one this afternoon but I just don’t FEEL it! If there is such a thing. Perhaps I'll sleep on it tonight and take a gander at it in the morning.

Elnathan · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2018, 02:25:52 AM »

I'd flip it 180 and go from there.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2018, 02:35:03 AM »

I'd start drawing "C" scroll carving on paper till you get the hang of it. Don't take offense but the gun would look better with out that particular carving. I can some times work at drawing on carving for 1/2 a day and think it looks really good, then come out the next day and erase it all and start over again. You need to practice drawing this stuff before you carve it on a rifle. The actual carving is hard enough but if you don't have something passable to carve on it isn't going top work out well.
You might consider something a lot less complex to start out with. Try this instead.

ddoyle · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2018, 03:03:25 AM »

less sure can be more- beauty

JVavrek · « **Reply #12 on:** January 04, 2018, 03:26:18 AM »

Thanks for sharing Your build. I can't wait to start my first. I think it is great how these guys help everybody out as they go along.

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2018, 03:32:42 AM »

I think I would check out some of the carving patterns on old rifles that have the same architecture as the stock you’re working on and copy it. Your pattern is blatantly twentieth century, and will be hard to execute unless you are an exceptional woodworker. J M O.

Hungry Horse

Marcruger · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2018, 04:12:32 AM »

I think a simple scroll would look nice, and would have better potential for sharp execution. God Bless, Marc

TommyG · « **Reply #15 on:** January 04, 2018, 04:16:56 AM »

Digger, everything posted above is spot on advice. I especially follow Mike & Hungry Horse's advice. Get some pics or drawings to follow of the period or school of rifle you are building and practice drawing those patterns. When I was laying out my first carving and actually drawing it on the gun, I had the drawing right in front of me to reference. I also simplified the design a bit to match my skill or lack thereof. The pic below(not the best) is the first I carved. I took what was the E. Marshall rifle, sort of simplified the design, and still made a bunch of mistakes. Some of the best advice is what Mike says, draw it and walk away. I wouldn't ever draw a design and carve it the same day. Matter of fact, that pretty much applies to many aspects of gun building for me - when in doubt, walk away and come back later.

Terry Reynolds · « **Reply #16 on:** January 04, 2018, 05:15:05 PM »

Thanks everyone! I'll get there, practicing now because last night I did a C-scroll and my wife said it looked like a "utero". $:-\$

I'll let you know what I come up with.

54ball · « **Reply #17 on:** January 04, 2018, 06:08:30 PM »

Digger,
I can only see bits and pieces of your rifle. Since this is your first I believe this needs to be said.

Decoration should never trump architecture. There may be some shaping and fine tuning you need tod before you carve the decoration.

It's hard to tell. How about more views of the rifle.

Terry Reynolds · « **Reply #18 on:** January 04, 2018, 06:57:07 PM »

54ball,

I'll post some tonight.

Thanks

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #19 on:** January 04, 2018, 08:51:44 PM »

I'm going to back up Mike on this issue. A simple carving done well is going to look better and give you more satisfaction than attempting and failing on a design that would be a challenge for someone with decades of experience. This is an example similar to Mike's.

Also, your carving should be 'en suite' meaning of a similar complexity and design. Your wrist shell carving is quite nice, but it is of a simpler and much less complicated design to your drawing on the buttstock. Make your cheek design to match in complexity.

Terry Reynolds · « **Reply #20 on:** January 04, 2018, 09:11:38 PM »

Amazing how the simpler design look so good. Thank you.

James Rogers · « **Reply #21 on:** January 04, 2018, 10:22:11 PM »

Quote from: D. Taylor Sapergia on January 04, 2018, 08:51:44 PM

I'm going to back up Mike on this issue. A simple carving done well is going to look better and give you more satisfaction than attempting and failing on a design that would be a challenge for someone with decades of experience. This is an example similar to Mike's.

Also, your carving should be 'en suite' meaning of a similar complexity and design. Your wrist shell carving is quite nice, but it is of a simpler and much less complicated design to your drawing on the buttstock. Make your cheek design to match in complexity.

Spot on! Another good instructor!

James Rogers · « **Reply #22 on:** January 04, 2018, 10:25:25 PM »

Quote from: Mike Brooks on January 04, 2018, 02:35:03 AM

I'd start drawing "C" scroll carving on paper till you get the hang of it. Don't take offense but the gun would look better with out that particular carving. I can some times work at drawing on carving for 1/2 a day and think it looks really good, then come out the next day and erase it all and start over again. You need to practice drawing this stuff before you carve it on a rifle. The actual carving is hard enough but if you don't have something passable to carve on it isn't going top work out well.
You might consider something a lot less complex to start out with. Try this instead.

Right on the tracks here!

Mikecooper · « **Reply #23 on:** January 04, 2018, 10:44:05 PM »

Just a quick doodle, The curves flowing out from the line of the cheek piece may be a good approach.

B.Habermehl · « **Reply #24 on:** January 04, 2018, 11:01:36 PM »

Hey Digger, just a suuestion, keep your butplate in place. Once you have a part fitted and inletted, try to avoid removing it to protect the edges of your fits. Once I fit a butt plate I usually only have it off the stock maybe 2-3 times if I'm building a gun with a sliding wood patch box. I file and polish it on the stock. If the gun has no patchbox then the plate only comes off for the first saturation coat of finish. Then I'll put it back on while the finish is still wet, I'm that fussy about protecting my edges. BJH

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Author Topic: I’m trying.....first build. (Read 16530 times)

ddoyle

JVavrek

54ball

Mikecooper