Order of Completion

[Bob Rearley]

Gentlemen,
I plan to engrave this patch box off the gun mounted in bondo.  Iron Nitrate will be the stain and Chambers Oil the final finish.  What would you recommend for a sequence of completion?
Thanks again, Bob

[smart dog]

Hi Bob,
I assume you already fitted the box to the stock and filed the surface flush with the wood or slightly proud of it. I would engrave the box, stain the stock, and put on one or 2 coats of finish.  Then reinstall the box and finish the gun.  The only caveat is if you intend to glue the box in as well as use screws, the glue won't adhere to finish so either glue the box in place before finish or keep finish out of the mortise.

dave

[Blacksmoke]

Bob,  A little different to what Smart Dog said. It is possible to engrave the patch box after the box is installed on the rifle.  The photo is of a patchbox that I engraved whilst on the rifle and before the finish was applied.  Usually there are several ways to "skin a cat".  Hugh Toenjes

[Pukka Bundook]

Very pretty work, Hugh!
Elegant,

[Blacksmoke]

 Thanks Richard:  Other views of this rifle are posted on " Contemporary Rifle Collecting" The thread is "locked" but the photos are still there.  Hugh Toenjes

[Gaeckle]

I engrave off the stock, use bondo. When I reinstall the box I make any adjustments, then I stain and finish. Once installed the box never is removed. I believe that by doing it this way any hair thin gaps are swelled and the look is seamless

[Bob Rearley]

Thank you gentlemen.  I have already filed the brass and wood down to the same level.  I just finished counter sinking the screws.  I still have to remove some inadvertent dings in the brass.  That is one beautiful patch box Hugh.  A level of workmanship to strive for. 
Bob

[Blacksmoke]

Thanks Bob.

[Mike Brooks]

Too much bounce for me if you engrave the box on the gun.

[Blacksmoke]

Do you have a vise and C clamps ?  Thats what I use to secure the gun to the bench. Then when I need to  turn the gun clockwise or counter clockwise I just move myself around the bench on foot. Works for me every time. I modified my bench to a T shape with the stem of the T pultruding out into the center of the shop.  Hugh Toenjes

[Bob Rearley]

I do Hugh, however I am not able to stand very well pretty much limiting me to sitting when I do most of my work.  I have Shippers book and have seen a variety of different ways guys manage that awkward stock.  Sometimes we have to find our own way.  Thanks for the guidance.
Bob

[Gaeckle]

Too much bounce for me if you engrave the box on the gun.

This is true, plus I think most benches don't allow easy manipulation of the work piece or the ability to cleanly cut any number of lines.
To remedy this problem I fabricated a stand alone engraving stand that allows me to walk around the work piece,  plus it is at chest height and for me that makes engraving much more easier and enjoyable.








To dampen any bounce or movement I placed some vises on the pedestal base and I can also place my foot on the other side of the base to further stiffen up the stand when engraving. Being at chest height makes a big difference

[Blacksmoke]

Wonderful setup!  Where there is a will there is a way!!  Actually my engraving days are over as I engrave standing up and over my work,  I was a lineman for 30 yrs. now I am paying the price! My legs are failing - I use a cane to walk. Hugh Toenjes

[Mike Brooks]

Wonderful setup!  Where there is a will there is a way!!  Actually my engraving days are over as I engrave standing up and over my work,  I was a lineman for 30 yrs. now I am paying the price! My legs are failing - I use a cane to walk. Hugh Toenjes

I thought you said a couple years ago you were a full time gunmaker. I always wondered how somebody could take 6,000 hours to make a gun and still eat.

[Mike Brooks]

I had a T extension off of my work bench from 88 through 96. It was great, very handy. Then I moved. In the following two shops I never took the time to make the same set up. Now it's a moot point.

[Gaeckle]

Wonderful setup!  Where there is a will there is a way!!  Actually my engraving days are over as I engrave standing up and over my work,  I was a lineman for 30 yrs. now I am paying the price! My legs are failing - I use a cane to walk. Hugh Toenjes

A lineman, how cool is that? What position, offense or defense. I played with a couple of guys that went pro, one was a lineman and the other a linebacker. They both played for the Browns

[Mike Brooks]

Wonderful setup!  Where there is a will there is a way!!  Actually my engraving days are over as I engrave standing up and over my work,  I was a lineman for 30 yrs. now I am paying the price! My legs are failing - I use a cane to walk. Hugh Toenjes

A lineman, how cool is that? What position, offense or defense. I played with a couple of guys that went pro, one was a lineman and the other a linebacker. They both played for the Browns

I'm guessing more of a Glen Campbell "Wichita" type lineman.

[Stoner creek]

Take it easy boys. That’s how I made a living too. Put 7200 volts in your hands sometime and we’ll see how much of your hayseed humor you still have.

[Mike Brooks]

Take it easy boys. That’s how I made a living too. Put 7200 volts in your hands sometime and we’ll see how much of your hayseed humor you still have.

Hey, I ain't knockin any Wichita types of linemen. I was never man enough to do that type of work.

[Gaeckle]

OH! THAT kind of  lineman. Sorry....got football on the mind for some reason.

[Stoner creek]

That job takes a toll on your body. I have two artificial knees, one shoulder, and headed towards needing a new hip.

[Bob Rearley]

Boy did you guys get off on a tangent.  Enjoyed the banter.  "Necessity is the mother of invention".
Bob

[Mike Brooks]

Boy did you guys get off on a tangent.  Enjoyed the banter.  "Necessity is the mother of invention".
Bob

It's winter in Iowa. Things can get awfully boring this time of year.

[Daryl]

That job takes a toll on your body. I have two artificial knees, one shoulder, and headed towards needing a new hip.

Lucky you, almost fixed. I'm waiting for the second knee (1 1/2 years so far) and something really wrong with my right hip, too.
On the plus side, they haven't offered me MAID yet, like others on waiting lists.

[Gaeckle]

Gettin old ain't for sissies