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Author Topic: Burnish the mortice?  (Read 10819 times)

Offline Roger Fisher

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Burnish the mortice?
« on: February 16, 2010, 06:16:24 PM »
Might be nitpicking here; but I'll take that chance.

Are you satisfied with a simple scraped surface in the lock mortice or do you burnish it?  And if so what works best as a burnisher.  smoothed squared off deer antler tine or?

Seems to me that a simple scraped surface in there looks a little too hairy ::) Since that lock is pulled frequently on a rifle or gun that is used rather than a wall hanger it is a nicer appearance when burnished.  What say you ???

I refer here to all types of stock wood maple cherry walnut and whatever!
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Offline Dr. Tim-Boone

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2010, 06:22:47 PM »
Burnishing after sealing seems to smooth things up and keep the lock from fitting too tight.....

In the small areas I use the 2 inch short SS rod that came on a ring with a pan brush, vent pick and flint hammer that I bought from TOW back before I knew any better...... Its shortness keeps me from pressingh to hard and the fact that it has right angles and straight sides helps me not round off the wood....

I usually burnish the rest of the stock with a crumpled brown paper bag and the antler tip.
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2010, 06:37:22 PM »
This is a joke right?
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Offline Roger Fisher

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #3 on: February 16, 2010, 06:42:29 PM »
Quote from: Mike Brooks on February 16, 2010, 06:37:22 PM
This is a joke right?
See I said I may be nitpicking!! ;D   
Well Mike do you or don't you?  Does the fact that the rifle or gun is for a customer or for yourself make a difference?
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Offline Dr. Tim-Boone

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #4 on: February 16, 2010, 06:43:33 PM »
 ;D
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2010, 06:47:33 PM »
I never thought of burnishing a lock inlet. I doubt I will ever do it, after looking at a bunch of original inlets.

Jim Westberg posted "British Inletting" a while back that shows highly polished interior wood surfaces. This is done with tradition chisels combined with the use of heat. Heat the parts to 350 deg and clamp them in place. What wood is touching gets cooked and can be easily scraped off.

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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2010, 06:50:33 PM »
Do you or do you not?

Would you also engrave the INSIDE of the lock? Polish everything up bright? Then the inlet should also be burnished. All work should be of similar level of quality.(my own interpretation)

This is the first time I ever heard of such a thing, but it makes sense. Close up the pores, make it purty.

Tom
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Offline Ken G

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #7 on: February 16, 2010, 06:51:54 PM »
I burnish my lock and patchbox inlets.     Doesn't matter who it is for I just like the look.
Ken
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Offline Swampwalker

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #8 on: February 16, 2010, 07:20:07 PM »
OK, I confess - I don't burnish the lock inlet, but I do often engrage and heat-color the bridle - I like the way it looks when I take it off to clean.
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #9 on: February 16, 2010, 07:30:27 PM »
Quote from: Roger Fisher on February 16, 2010, 06:42:29 PM
Quote from: Mike Brooks on February 16, 2010, 06:37:22 PM
This is a joke right?
See I said I may be nitpicking!! ;D   
Well Mike do you or don't you?  Does the fact that the rifle or gun is for a customer or for yourself make a difference?
Honestly I have never considered it. If I were working for John Twigg and the gun was destined to end up in the Duke of Earl's gun cabinet I'm sure I'd be burnishing the inside of the lock inlet.
 Would any of my customers pay me to burnish the lock inlet? Even if they wanted me to I doubt I'd do it, just building the gun the way I already do is plenty enough work, I don't care to make any more work out of building a gun than I already do....I'd much rather spend the time bashing it up and carving 18th century graffiti in the stock. ;D
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Offline Darkhorse

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #10 on: February 16, 2010, 10:19:18 PM »
Guess this should go for the barrel inlet too?
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #11 on: February 16, 2010, 10:28:22 PM »
Quote from: Darkhorse on February 16, 2010, 10:19:18 PM
Guess this should go for the barrel inlet too?

No, no, no! It cannot be!

Where do you stop? Under the buttplate? Trigger guard inlets?

I have to agree with Mike on this(landmark occasion). Sorry, I just couldn't bring myself to burnish the mortice, or even think about it.
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Offline Joey R

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #12 on: February 16, 2010, 10:35:25 PM »
Just as well burnish the entry pipe inlet......makes returning the ramrod easier. ;D ;D We're getting on a roll now!!
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Offline wvmtnman

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #13 on: February 17, 2010, 02:47:04 AM »
For me it dependes on the rifle.  I have left them extremely rough but I prefer to clean up the lock mortice as best as possible.  My reasoning is that the lock will be removed and will be visable to the owner.  I know that original rifles had rough mortices but I like to do it.  I don't make it as smooth as the stock, I only take off the rough gouge and chisel marks.  I use a small scraper then burnish with a piece of shaped old ram rod.  I don't stain but do put on finish.
                                                                                Brian
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Offline Mark Elliott

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #14 on: February 17, 2010, 02:54:28 AM »
You guys are nuts! ;D My work is already way better than most originals.   
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Offline KentSmith

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #15 on: February 17, 2010, 04:16:32 AM »
This is better than late night TV.  There are at least 10 other things I should be doing so no, I never burnish a lock mortise.  I try to keep my tools sharp.
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Offline flehto

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #16 on: February 17, 2010, 04:26:34 AM »
I agree w/ Mark Elliott and Mike Brooks....I don't even scrape the lock mortice let alone burnish. A chisel or knife finish doesn't seem to "show" and w/ the lock in place, who can discern any difference w/ that of a burnished finish?....Fred
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Offline Nate McKenzie

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #17 on: February 17, 2010, 07:48:27 AM »
Good grief! Grab a scotch and chill out.
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Offline Dr. Tim-Boone

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #18 on: February 17, 2010, 03:43:45 PM »
Wild Turkey it is!!
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g.pennell

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #19 on: February 17, 2010, 05:22:58 PM »
Dr. Tim, if I may be so bold...if you like Bourbon, try some Woodford Reserve...

1SG P.
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Offline Roger Fisher

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #20 on: February 17, 2010, 06:02:51 PM »
Okay Okay!!  Jeez, well I'll post the secret that you guys will not - $#*! I can take it ;D 

Y'all  let the lock mortice rough and hairy then later on after some use and you pull the lock to clean or lock seems slow or she won't stay in full draw or or  ::)  You can then eyeball the areas that the main spring and sear and--- have been rubbing - shining - polishing and you have the immediate answer and fix to the problem.  Then we don't have to use inletting gunk or smoke to find the hangup. ;) ;D

Yrs ago I acquired a heavy rifle that upon pulling the lock (and the triggers) I was amazed at what looked like the grand canyon of lock mortices.  It was scary to the point that I carefully set in and glued pieces of hard maple to strengthen that area.
And other rifles show a real pride in workmanship in the mortice, so whatever works for you ;) ;D     Time is money!

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caliber45

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #21 on: February 18, 2010, 02:16:27 AM »
Heck, no! You make it look too tidy and neat in there behind the innards, and folks are gonna think you had some sort of nifty little machine that accomplished that odious task. I make it a point to leave some a few Forstner bitl and chisel marks and a few drops of blood, sweat and tears. Don't want future examiners to think these things were factory produced. They're HAND-MADE, for goshsakes. Let the insides reflect that, no matter how polished the exterior. Just my tuppence worth. -- paulallen, tucson az
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Offline wvmtnman

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #22 on: February 18, 2010, 03:45:03 AM »
The rifle I just finished up is extrememly rough.  However, I personally think that a clean lock mortice gives the rifle a neater look.  As I said before, I only scrape it and clean it up, no stain.  Since my rifles are not in demand, I have the extra 20 or 30 minutes to spend accomplishing this task. 
If you think that's bad, I know of one builder who even lines up the lock screws on his fancier rifles, even the internal screws!       
                                                                             Brian
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rdillon

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #23 on: February 19, 2010, 01:41:20 AM »
WVMTNMAN,  Am I being a little OCD(obsessive compulsive disorder) by lining up my lock screws?  ??? ??? ???
Looks like pride was taken in my work that way and doesn't take long it all to do it. 

I clean up the lock mortise and scrape lightly to get the "fuzzys" off and stain then seal it.  I looks fine to me.

Rich
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Offline Dr. Tim-Boone

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Re: Burnish the mortice?
« Reply #24 on: February 19, 2010, 03:17:17 AM »
Quote from: g.pennell on February 17, 2010, 05:22:58 PM
Dr. Tim, if I may be so bold...if you like Bourbon, try some Woodford Reserve...

1SG P.

Very nice Top!!! it is smoooooth! ...................like a burnished mortice!!   ;D ;D ;D ;D

Thanks.
« Last Edit: February 19, 2010, 03:18:02 AM by DrTimBoone »
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