Odd crack in Carbine stock - how to fix?

Zedbra

Zedbra

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
45   0   0
Location
Squamish
I decided to finally pull out a Ruger Deerslayer (.44 MAG semi-auto carbine) stock that I have been slowly working on. I stripped the stock and epoxied a large crack in it months ago, at that time I also steamed several small dents out of it, and then today I decided to finally start sanding it down. After carefully going over the stock I noticed what initially I thought was just a dent or scratch, is indeed a hairline crack going across the grain. If I add a small amount of moisture, then the crack is not noticeable until it dries again.

I asked a cabinet maker up the road, he said walnut is odd and sometimes it can get cross-grain fissures like this, and he suggested if I am covering it with Tru Oil (which I told him I was going to use), then to simply leave the crack and the Tru Oil will fill in the void. I'm inclined to believe him, but wanted to ask people here with more gun stock experience.

I'll add the pics below. Any suggestions for either leaving it alone or repair suggestions is greatly appreciated. Please and thank you.





 
Last edited:
Zedbra; No worries in my experience and opinion with that crack. Wood cracks can at times be unpredictable but I would just proceed, if it decides to do other things down the road it can always be pinned with dowel at a later date. Finish sanding the stock with at least 220, don't forget to fill the pores of the wood flush with the surface as you apply the finish, use #0000 steel wool at this point.
 
That's actually a wind check. It occurred when the tree was flexed too much in a wind storm or during the impact from felling the tree. It also implies that the wood for your stock came from a piece of wood that was closer to the outside of the tree where such stress would have been higher.

Such cracks are not from drying. When the wood shrinks during drying the big majority of the shrinking occurs across the grain. Along the grain the wood hardly shrinks at all. So this sort of crack isn't the sort you get from shrinkage.

Likely you'll still see it through the Tru-Oil finish as a little line regardless of what you do. But clearly the crack is still stable since the old finish didn't crack and the piece is still there. So filling it with Tru-Oil sanded in so the wood dust self fills the crack will work as well as anything.
 
BCRider said:
That's actually a wind check. It occurred when the tree was flexed too much in a wind storm or during the impact from felling the tree. It also implies that the wood for your stock came from a piece of wood that was closer to the outside of the tree where such stress would have been higher.

Such cracks are not from drying. When the wood shrinks during drying the big majority of the shrinking occurs across the grain. Along the grain the wood hardly shrinks at all. So this sort of crack isn't the sort you get from shrinkage.

Likely you'll still see it through the Tru-Oil finish as a little line regardless of what you do. But clearly the crack is still stable since the old finish didn't crack and the piece is still there. So filling it with Tru-Oil sanded in so the wood dust self fills the crack will work as well as anything.
Click to expand...




BCRider has gotter right..
leroy
 
Tru Oil will fill not in the void. Neither will any other oil. Bit of epoxy with sanding dust will though. Won't make it disappear without staining.
 
BCRider said:
That's actually a wind check. It occurred when the tree was flexed too much in a wind storm or during the impact from felling the tree. It also implies that the wood for your stock came from a piece of wood that was closer to the outside of the tree where such stress would have been higher.
Click to expand...

This is my neighbour told me, as the stock is also a very nice red walnut colour except for 9" on the left side, which is almost pure blonde. He suggested that this was a near outside cut from that observation alone.

Thanks gents for your help, I am going to try to get this handled this week.
 
sunray said:
Tru Oil will fill not in the void. Neither will any other oil. Bit of epoxy with sanding dust will though. Won't make it disappear without staining.
Click to expand...

Larry Potterfield on you tube has a good video on stock re-finishing where he uses sanded in oil coats to fill the wood grain. No staining needed since it's the parent wood turned into a filler. This would fill in the crack seen on this gun just as well.

It'll be one of the videos you get when you run a You Tube search on the keywords "midway usa stock refinishing". I offer this since it turns up a half dozen good videos that will teach a lot of methods and suggest a lot of options.

In fact the whole Midway USA video list is well worth watching. VERY inspiring. Larry's videos on hand checkering are almost a full training course of their own. Even if we never venture down these paths the videos are wonderful watching for anyone even remotely interested in how this stuff is done.
 
Thanks again, BCRider. I have the first thin coat of Tru Oil on it, will let it dry overnight and then do the sand/oil technique on the crack.
 
This is why I love this site I learn so much!! Thanks BCRider!!

Im kinda curious, how did you come to this wisdom? Carpenter?

Thanks again

Nate

BCRider said:
That's actually a wind check. It occurred when the tree was flexed too much in a wind storm or during the impact from felling the tree. It also implies that the wood for your stock came from a piece of wood that was closer to the outside of the tree where such stress would have been higher.

Such cracks are not from drying. When the wood shrinks during drying the big majority of the shrinking occurs across the grain. Along the grain the wood hardly shrinks at all. So this sort of crack isn't the sort you get from shrinkage.

Likely you'll still see it through the Tru-Oil finish as a little line regardless of what you do. But clearly the crack is still stable since the old finish didn't crack and the piece is still there. So filling it with Tru-Oil sanded in so the wood dust self fills the crack will work as well as anything.
Click to expand...
 
I've been a keen wood working hobbyist for around 35 years now. And not only for the work aspects. I enjoyed learning about the wood and the problems I found by reading lots of books.

We never stop learning though. When I got into guns I knew that there would be more to learn about the specifics. But along with learning all the new stuff like sanding in the oil finish to fill the wood I've also been able to extend the cabinet and fine wood working towards doing a few stock modifications and repairs for some local friends.
 
Randy Boyd of Boyd's stocks has a video on how to finish his stocks using the same method
of applying Tru Oil and sanding it in to fill and seal the wood.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom