Thread: gun stock cut scales??

You start a touch thicker, 1/8+ maybe 3/16" blank, you contour them to taste on the outside....

Then your final step is to thin them back up from the inside,,,

This is how you achieve the semi-round feel and look with out big chunky scales.... Scales need to be thin enough to still flex...

Gun-stock scales are just that, they are shaped like a rifle-stock it has nothing to do with outside contour...

I guess my question is answered in that you have to hand sand to get the rounded feel to the scales. I just don't understand how you can get both sides of the scales to be evenly rounded. My wood working experience is extremely limited though, so that may be the reason for my not understanding.

Glen, I saw a photo essay you did on where you made some scales from spalted apple. At one point you had the scales glued together...I assume to keep them cut the same shape. Would you sand to get the rounded feel while they are still glue together?

thanks to all,
robert

Originally Posted by straightrobert

I guess my question is answered in that you have to hand sand to get the rounded feel to the scales. I just don't understand how you can get both sides of the scales to be evenly rounded. My wood working experience is extremely limited though, so that may be the reason for my not understanding.

Glen, I saw a photo essay you did on where you made some scales from spalted apple. At one point you had the scales glued together...I assume to keep them cut the same shape. Would you sand to get the rounded feel while they are still glue together?

thanks to all,
robert

Yes exactly!!!! I would, then the next thing to do would be to thin them up after I popped them apart, sanding from the insides, and then lastly to fit a wedge...

I had just explained this whole thing last week too, on one of the other forums...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Yes exactly!!!! I would, then the next thing to do would be to thin them up after I popped them apart, sanding from the insides, and then lastly to fit a wedge...

I had just explained this whole thing last week too, on one of the other forums...

This will learn you not to double post won't it

Originally Posted by richmondesi

This will learn you not to double post won't it

Probably not

Think about a sculptor taking a block of wood and only removing the wood chips that he doesn't need. What he has left is the finished piece of art which he envisioned in his mind'e eye......

It really isn't hard at all to get them roughly uniform roundness. Once you get started it just kind of happens by feel, at least in my limited experience.

Rubber Cementing (please God not gluing) the scales together gets them the symmetrical and I have always unstuck them to do the rounding, but I don't see why you couldn't do it either way.