checkering tools use of

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laurencen

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got a bunch of checkering tools and cutters, playing with them for a couple hours, there must be a trick using them, looked on line and sure looks easy, what I want is a few starting ideas how to begin using them, thinking it would be a neat part of gunsmithing to learn

thanks for any and all input
 
Practice on flat wood first... and see if you can cut a panel without over runs and with straight lines... then trying it on some rounded surfaces... then plan on more or less screwing up several stocks for a few years...
 
Diamonds should have a 3-1 aspect.........3X as long as they are wide. Do your panel layout and then establish your master lines and make absolutely sure they are dead straight...........after this it's all just practice.
 
There is a reason why people who can checker are rare. I.M.O. one way to learn some of the skills is to recut checkering on guns. Make sure to clean the checkering first with hot soapy water, or your cutters will dull quickly from all the dirt and grunge in the checkering.
 
I still have my cutters and rifflers but have not used them in a few years. Lots of stippling on target rifles though; which I prefer. I strongly support all the above. When I started to checker thirty years ago, I practiced on flat stock and many old stocks, both checkered and plain, pulled from a pile of scrap gun parts in my late father in laws basement.
 
Look up the videos on You Tube by MidwayUSA where Larry Potterfield checkers a couple of rifle stocks. It's not as good as a text book but he really pulls out the stops to cram in a lot of information into the couple of videos he does on it. It darn near IS a training video and very well worth watching. You'll likely end up watching it a half dozen times for the hints in it.
 
It's not brain surgery but requires lots of practise. Get a lay out tool from Brownell's is the only way to start. I've played off and on and it's still hit and miss. Thank god for CNC machining!
 
Long jointer checkering cutter helps in establishing straighter lines, flexible plastic 6 inch ruler confirms that the line stays straight around curves.
I have some home made long joint tools as well as the Dembart cutters. You also need a tiny "v" chisel to approach the edges of your pattern.
You can't expect to be really good at this without many, many hours of work.
And to be clear, I never got really good at it.
I have recut lots of checkering in the refinishing of stocks though.
If you ever get tempted to rush, put the work down. Patience and attention to detail is key.
 
Agree with all the above, they are all good points. I just want to add that getting the hang of going around a curve and keeping the cutter at right angles
was the most difficult aspect - at least for me. --- John
 
I'm just about finished my first stock and it's not pretty. I went straight to a .22 stock for my kid. He likes it and it's functional, but definitely not up to my standards. I wish I would have started on a flat board to get the hang of it, but who wants to put 30-40 hours of work into something your going to throw away. I found that I cut my master lines and border too deep, it should have been shallower until I cut everything else in. I did the fore grip first and by the second palm grip I had an idea of what tool to use at what time. Like everybody said above, this is a long road with a lot of mistakes to be made.
 
I have a stock that I plan on recutting the checkering after I'm finished refinishing it. Should I even bother? After reading this it seems like I will just #### it up.
 
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