Pressed checkering dilemma - need advice from stock guys.

D

double gun

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
351   0   1
Location
Alberta
So I'm working on a Remington 600 Mohawk for my niece. Part of what I'm doing is reshaping and refinishing the stock. I cut the forend shorter, and rounded it but in the process all the checkering was removed from the forend.
Now the problem is the stamped checkering on the pistol grip is too deep to remove without really changing the stock dimensions. And I really dislike the look of a stock with checkering in the rear but not the forend.

The stock is birch and I don't want to drop the coin on having the stamped checkering converted to cut and add two more panels on the forend.

So what can I do? Does stippling always look bad?
 
I think stippling looks like someone was learning how to checker but gave up and covered up the mess by stabbing the stock repeatedly. The stabbing may relieve some of the frustration of learning to checker.
With your skills, I'd do a couple panels and touch up the other two so they match.
 
That's what I was afraid if. I'm not sure I have ever seen stippling that I said - "gee that looks nice"
But I don't have the time or desire to try and learn checkering.

The pros checker beautifully, the beginners make a mess. I would make a mess.
 
Here is another method that may appeal to you. I've done it on a couple of rifles and the end result looks good

Draw out the area and design you want to checker on the stock. Tape the outside edges with a heavy duct or double thickness of masking tape. Then, with a scriber or narrow chisel make a mark or channel around the edge. Now for the easy part. Take it to the nearest person or business you know with a sand blaster. Blast the exposed area carefully and you get a very nice pebbled finish that makes gripping much easier. If you want to make it a bit more grippy, use a rounded chisel to make shallow cuts in the exposed area before sand blasting. I usually stain the stippled area with a darker stain than the rest of the stock
 
I have a blasting cabinet, with glass beads, aluminum oxide and garnet - no sand. No matter what I do, I would like the forend to match the rear grip. I wonder what blasting the pressed checkering would look like.
Here is the stock and I did draw on a simple panel, just trying to weigh my options at this point.
IMG_0405_zpsqqw8oiao.jpg
 
Double Gun, here's a thought. One of our local gun shops has recently invested in a laser engraver machine and I gave him a bunch of old gun stocks to practice checkering on. The results were very good and the cost that he can put them out at is remarkably cheap compared to cut checkering. I suggest you give "Game On Outdoors" in Rimbey Ab a call 1 403 843 4999 ask for Justin. He can probably send you pictures of work done as well, his email is gameonoutdoorsinc@gmail.com Good Luck, D.H.
 
Last edited:
Hey dg,
I have a checkering set and tried to correct some checkering on a project or two. Best to do some practice on some scrap��. I don't have the patience for it personally however it really isn't that bad once you get the hang of it and learn what each of the tools do.
I'll even ship the tools to you to borrow for awhile to see if it's your thing or not. Just send me a pm.

Cheers
 
If I can checker (and there is, admittedly, some debate on the subject. My shop slogan was "stockwork by Leeper; it won't make ya puke), anybody can. Start by cutting over the pressed panels then have at the fore arm.
 
The wood under the 'impressed' checkering on a Mohawk is ... well 'impressed' and shows it even when it has been sanded flat. Not sure how it would look even after cutting it with checkering tools. Was certainly not Remington's 'finest hour' !
 
Would suggest combining ye olde dent iron and damp cloth with sanding on existing checkering, then seal the whole stock with thinned spar varnish and sand back lightly, repeat then sand back and finish as per usual, the idea being to moderate the finish absorption of the wood as it can bring out compression marks.
 
I don't know why you'd think stippling looks bad, high end 22's have.........stippling, high end target pistols have.....stippling, and I think they look great. A friend bought a 22 rifle last year, stippling..........looks great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom