Sources for curly maple scraps or boards for carving practice

[Doug45]

Hello all,

New to the forum. After 25 years of not shooting my muzzleloader I've caught the bug and am shooting at least monthly. I want to make a new rifle, and I am evaluating the options and I am reading the forum. I know I can build a rifle, Ive done it before but not a rifle that should have at least some carving and engraving.  Before I jump in, I want to practice some carving on curly maple.  Is there a source for scraps or boards that i can purchase to practice on.  After I practice, the results may change which rifle I purchase.  Thanks!

[rich pierce]

If you go to shows there are usually some scraps available from the stock blank vendors. You could call Dunlap and ask for plain and curly scraps.

[smylee grouch]

or you might reach out to other builders through the classified section of this forum.

[rich pierce]

or you might reach out to other builders through the classified section of this forum.

Bingo. I bet Allen Martin has some.

[HSmithTX]

Kibler sells practice stocks, I think they call them Quaker stocks. When you get a decent result on flat wood grab one and practice on a real stock. They are silly cheap for what you get. 

[A.Merrill]

Go to Lowe's or Menards lumber yard, they have board's. Mostly straight grain but I have seen curly there.   Al

[Habu]

Any place that does custom kitchen cabinets will probably have lots of scrap hard maple, including some with curl or other figure.  Cost is usually pretty low, as it is often thrown away ("scrap", after all). 

[Dale Halterman]

If you are going to build your new rifle stock from a blank instead of a precarve, you should have plenty of scraps to practice on by the time you are ready to carve the rifle.

Dale H