Building your Kibler what did you learn ?

[mikesto44]

Ok this is NOT a knock on Kibler kits. I'm curious what the kit builders have learned while making there kit ? Does it make you want to do a more complex kit ? What did you learn ? Curious?

 

[Phil Coffins]

I learned how far off I was in shaping a stock! These rifles feel entirely different than what I had made. Swamped barrels and all the details of construction where there but the shaping and balance was inferior.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

Hey Mike. Good question.
I have completed 3 kits so far. A Colonial, SMR, and a Woodsrunner. Ordered my Fowler end of February.
First thing I learned, is the high quality of Kibler Kits. I can't say that I want to do a more complex kit, it has got me thinking about a plank build after a few assembling a few more Kiblers.
Things I learned: Applying stains, oil/sealers.
Not to remove too much material. Little by little will get you there. Sanding/scraping wood for a good clean finish.
Go one step at a time. Don't jump to or think about next step/phase until you're done with the one your working on.
Leared a few tricks on how to fix minor Oops, and Oh %$#@ .
Filing metal for a finished product, not just removal after excess material.
Using chisels. Not that I had to use them very much.
Prepping barrel for finish. I used Jax Black. Learned alot right there. How not to have streaks and look blotchy.
Ask members for advice if needed, alot of good guys on this Fourm.

Take Care Stay Safe
GSM

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

It taught me how to drill and pin (mine was an older kit when you still needed to drill your own), metal finishing, how to use Tannic Acid and Iron Nitrate, how to drill and tap lock and tang bolts, center to center drilling, how to disassemble and finish a lock and reassemble. One of the biggest things it taught me was what a fine flintlock should really look like versus all the other kits I had built since I was a kid. It definitely led to building more complex kits which led to building from a plank.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

It taught me how to drill and pin (mine was an older kit when you still needed to drill your own), metal finishing, how to use Tannic Acid and Iron Nitrate, how to drill and tap lock and tang bolts, center to center drilling, how to disassemble and finish a lock and reassemble. One of the biggest things it taught me was what a fine flintlock should really look like versus all the other kits I had built since I was a kid. It definitely led to building more complex kits which led to building from a plank.

Nice Hatchet Jack.
I used stain, I will be using Iron Nitrate on my Fowler. So I'll learn more. Mine was newer so the only thing in need to drill was pin holes. Jim provided the drill guide kit with my Colonial and my SMR.
I'm looking forward to using the Iron Nitrate.

 

[Bnewberry]

I have done a Woodsrunner and a fowler. On the Woodsunner I learned that carving is scary but doable at a certain (not professional) level. On the Fowler (in walnut) I learned that mistakes can happen even on a well designed kit, especially if you get impatient. I also learned about fixing mistakes!

I am still working on a non-kit build and doing these two Kiblers has taught me things that help.

 

[Daveboone]

I have done a Colonial and SMR. Practice new skills on something else...it is easy to come by an old gun stock (or kibler sells practice stocks for just that). Look at other similar rifles. Make it what YOU want, not what the group wants. Remember, darn little on them can be screwed up that you cant fix, and if you are tired, impatient....stop.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

I have done a Woodsrunner and a fowler. On the Woodsunner I learned that carving is scary but doable at a certain (not professional) level. On the Fowler (in walnut) I learned that mistakes can happen even on a well designed kit, especially if you get impatient. I also learned about fixing mistakes!

I am still working on a non-kit build and doing these two Kiblers has taught me things that help.

Well said, I like your post.
Thanks for posting.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

I have done a Colonial and SMR. Practice new skills on something else...it is easy to come by an old gun stock (or kibler sells practice stocks for just that). Look at other similar rifles. Make it what YOU want, not what the group wants. Remember, darn little on them can be screwed up that you cant fix, and if you are tired, impatient....stop.

Good advice, and encouraging

 

[FlaminCrow]

I jumped on the SMR head first. Had a goal and went for it. I wanted a banana patch box, realized the design of that stock doesn’t lend itself to the long patch box, cut it down still didn’t like it so made my own to fit the stock the way I wanted, following the lines of the stock. Went slow and steady, once I was done I learned the lines don’t need to be so perfect, I couldn’t open it one day, too tight. Added a toe plate, bought one, inlet it and realized once it was there, it was too short to match the butt plate. Made my own re-inlet and filed to match my butt plate angle. The breach needed to be inlet a little more, drilling the lugs was made easy by the guide Kibler sent with the kit.
All in all I’d say I learned what needs to be done when I’m ready to make one from ground up. Learned the lines of the rifles, the features, etc
I did the same with the Woodsrunner. Decided to do a simple carving of the original. Sugar maple stock was a bit different than the red on the SMR, but learned what I can do better the next time.
It’s great for people that don’t have all the equipment.

 

[PEARL DRUMS]

I learned I wanted to build guns from plank. And, I did just that. Without trying a kibler kit I never would have jumped in like I did.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

As a former Supervisor of a CNC milling machining center for GE Aerospace (precision to 0.0001” on the Boss 5s), plus large CNC lathes for only a short stint … I was most impressed that he could hold tolerances to allow use of a 1/32” radius … in wood!

 

[deerstalkert]

I learned that i no longer want to plank build for my own use.
It was so smooth assembling the Colonial that the fowler I am building for a friend just may be the last plank build I have in me.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

I built mine years before Kibler.
When you picked out the style, then the wood, then the barrel, then the lock.
Next I had to figure out which hardware I wanted to buy. Be it, gold, brass, silver, or iron.
Then I had to figure out how much I wanted to spend to get the stock at 50% thru 90% done. It was closer to 75%.
Being that I chose a swamped barrel I went with a 90% because of the swamped barrel.
I picked each piece of hardware. All but the ramrod tubes were from the Skeetz page.
I liked the older style tubes, so I got a different set from a different rifle.

I had considered ordering a new kit. I found out its a one size fits all, so I decided not to.

 

[Buff1958]

I built 8 kibler’s last year.
I learned there is very few things you can do to mess up a kit, that you can’t figure out a way to fix it.

 

[painter]

I learned that a bigger hammer is not always better.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I’ve now built 2 Kibler Kits, and I’m about to start my 3rd…as I prepare my wife for the purchase of a 4th.

I have learned that my lack of skill does not preclude me from assembling a very beautiful and functional muzzleloader…these kits ARE that good.

 

[yellowhammer]

Hmmm... same with me as most of the above.

But, the biggest things I learned I didnt get from the kits themselves, but from phone/email support from him and Bree, and the videos. For instance, I wanted to crack the code on how to finish wood to levels I saw on nice guns, but never thought I could achieve. They both offered personal direction that has helped me improve my skills in that direction. Unbelievable customer support for these days and times. I just hope they don't burn out and we lose that.