Nobody39
07-14-2005, 07:39 PM
Finally got my duplicate stock back from Claude Gatewood last month. It was definitely worth the wait :up: . A nice piece of claro walnut with at least three distinct colors & lots of grain. Claude's work is great, the inletting was close enough that within an hour of beginning, I was able to seat the barreled action very snugly with no lateral or longitudinal movement at all. After that I began removal of duplicator tool marks and the few thousandths of extra wood. Started with 60-80grit production paper and moved progressively through 120, 150, 220, 320, and 400grit papers. Shortened the forearm an inch and a half to end up with 60% of the barrel in front of the forearm (I'm kinda partial to a 60:40 metal/wood ratio on sporting rifles. I decided not to use any stain as the wood grain shows up pretty well naturally. Sealed & filled the wood with Birchwood Casey's sealer/filler (2 coats cut back to bare wood except for filled pores) followed by 3 applications of Tru-Oil. I applied the Tru-Oil very thinly using only my fingertips to spread and rub it in, then when first two coats dried, rubbing with 0000 steel wool and removing rubbing residue with compressed air & tack cloth. Finished of with a light rub down with Birchwood Casey Stock Sheen & Conditioner to remove the gloss & produce a soft "glow" that is more pleasing to my eye. With any luck it'll shoot as well as it did in the black spatter painted modified stock ;) . Here's a couple of pics as she looks now -
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/25453DSCF0022HR-med.JPG
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/25453DSCF0019HR-med.JPG
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/25453DSCF0022HR-med.JPG
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/25453DSCF0019HR-med.JPG