Previous pics - working on the 46 Nitro Express Stock.













I'll have more pics later today. Coming along nicely.

Walnut dust ... yummmmm. hahah.

Gary















I add these pics Monday Evening ...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/2010 12:30AM by barnespneumatic.

Hello Gary:

This one is looking good. I've always liked this model. It's impressive how much work you have to do within the stock to fit the air gun in it. Those are the things that are there but no one appreciates because they are in the shadows.

What is that at the bottom of the pistol grip?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/2010 02:34AM by Julio.

Hello Julio,

That will be the hard cap for the pistol grip. It's shaped now, and will be shown in the next batch of pics.

You are correct. The guns are made up of mostly "shadows". It's only the few highlights, on the surface, that attract all of the attention. ;?)
Most of the work is never seen.

Gary

Gary:

This stock is looking gorgeous. The magic is in the details...

I would like to learn that technique. Yes, the one that you draw something in the stock and later you find a carving exactly following the lines of the drawing ... Just kidding.

Hello Julio,

Ah .... which one do you think is the more important one .... drawing, or carving?

Carving looks great Gary.

Hey, who's that skinny guy in your shop holding the stock?

-- Jim

There are a lot of things I can do. But finding the hidden carving in a piece of wood, I'll never be able to do.
Gary, your skills are awesome!

Scott

Thank you Scott,

I appreciate it. Boy - wish I could do more of it. You laid your finger on it .... finding it in the wood. Recognizing what would fill a panel. Seeing how it should flow. That's the spark you're born with. And, you also nailed it ... you can do other things. And I'm sure you do them to a very high degree of proficency.

Gary

Nice work Gary! It's true that we only get a snapshot of what is involved in one of your creations. It is easy to forget about the hard yards that go in behind the scenes.
Regards
Neil

Hello Neil,

Thank you. That's true. That's a hard one for me to deal with too. I believe people assume that I'm off golfing or fishing, if I don't post visible progress each day. The reader to reader interaction never developed here. Nearly no spontaneous posts. Between my posts, you can hear a big echo in here. So; I feel compelled to post something. I really don't care to share all of the details of my designs, so there's only certain processes I can show. And ... there are a lot of yards between them, as you point out.

So; I sometimes think it might interesting for folks to read what I think about the processes ... or about what it's like. That's usually a huge bust. The echo doubles.

We're pretty much "long completed passes" oriented. And, the "touchdowns" are best. (Gosh, I love anologies ... ). What we really want is more touchdowns, more touchdowns, more ....

Well, anyway ... I'm off to run two yards straight up the middle. ;?)

Gary

thats sweet , can i ask , does the wood move much once its machined , i see the fit of the working parts to the wood , and its spectacular , fits like machined steel , but , what happens as you oil the stock , or as it relaxes from being worked , or is it just an on going battle till one of you gives in .
thanks t

Hi Tom,

This is my expereince, and opinion ... which is what you asked about. So; it's not my intention to step on anyone's held beliefs. (Good Heavens ... I sound like a politican ....

Wood is always moving. I fight it often, because I plan things too close. I machine them too close ... then I have to set them up again to take juuuuuust a ssssmidge more off. That's a pain.

Thge simplier way is to make everything way over sized, and then "bed" it in epoxy and put in hard points in the form of "aluminum rod pillars". I read about that the other day, in a magazine, and thought there for a while that they'd cracked the science of cold fusion. WOW ... NOT A GLUED IN ALUMINUM ROD!!!!! Who'd have thought of THAT?? hahahaha..

Anyway ... I'm my own worst enemy when it comes to making work for myself.

Gary

thats just so so true , but you love it , well love it or loathe it , its your way and thats it , you woodnt ,,,, pun intended , , be happy any other way .
thanks
t