Hand tools-Yes, Power tools-No

Up until yesterday, the only power tool I used was my Drill press. Drilled Tang and Lock bolts, and pin holes for barrel and ramrod thimbles. Then yesterday, against my own better judgement I decided (insert Bonehead idea) to use an electric hand plane, because I had about 3/16ths of an inch to remove along the length of the barrel on both sides. WELL, I managed to run right across the lock mortice riser. The only two redeeming things, is that I can patch it with some scrap, and when I'm done I don't think it will hardly show. :cry: O.K. I'm gonna shout now. DON'T, I REPEAT, DON'T USE POWER TOOLS, AND DO, I REPEAT, DO HAVE PATIENCE. Take your time. I'll keep ya posted with more pic's soon, and hopefilly not oops' Bill

 

[rootnuke]

Man, that's gotta hurt. :curse:
When I made a boo-boo I would get the urge to fix it right then and there. Much to my surprise I came up with a better idea or a more patient approach after "I slept on it" Meaning to say, give it some time and you will devise a solution. The wood patch is probably the only solution. Make the best of it, take time to find a proper matching grain from scrap. Don't patch it with the first thing you find. Consider how and what you will glue it with. Consider the importance of the glue line and it's resistence to stain.

Yep, it's kinda like getting pee out of the pool, once it's done it's done. Think on it a bit, you'll fix it.

BTW: I have one of those hand planers. I made one swipe down the side of the barrel and rr channel just like you did and unplugged it, pronto. It has no mercy. :redthumb:

 

Yep, Root, that's exactly what I did, got a double Scotch,a couple of P,B&J samwiches, it were 11:30 AM. Then I sat and thought about it till about 4:30. :hmm: Mixed up some epoxy, and glued in the piece ya see in the pic. Tonight I started shaping it, and it looks like it'll hardly show Think I'll have another scotch and ponder some more. For the rest of the build it's just gonna be rasps, files, chisels and gouges. Bill

 

[Packdog]

Thanks for posting that. Sorry for your misfortune but I spent the better part of a couple nights rasping off about a 1/4" on both sides of my TN. I wanted to get a power tool soooo bad and knock it out but I did not. The repair looks like it will work great.
Packdog

 

[THOM]

Yepper; been thar; done that; and the t-shirt don't cover me fat belly anymore.. :cry: :cry:
Only in my case, the router bit loosened up while I was doing the barrel channel and dropped down into the ramrod hole..
This was the first gun I ever made; from a board, a barrel; and a lock.. boy was I ever mad !!! :curse: :curse: :curse:
Fixed it up with a thin piece of matching wood and glue..
What I've learned since then is ALL flat wood sanding is done with a sanding block; as finger sanding without a flat surface leaves ripples that ya don't see until after the stain is on..
I don't use any power tools outside of a drill press..
I have a Dremel tool set, and I make sure it's off my little bench, and on the floor so I won't even be tempted..
The hardest thing for me still is to take my time..
My buddy rubs his guns down with a deer antler, and he says the burnishing helps him slow down and enjoy the gunmaker's journey..
Hope this helps,; as we're all in the same boat rowing in the same direction ( most of the time ! ).. :blah: :blah:
Winter well
limpin'frog

 

You still have a little wood to dress down around the lock plate. Can you take a little more off the lock bolster or will it screw up your hammer nipple lineup. I prefer Manhattans myself for these problems. Canadian whiskey on the rocks, just a dash of vermouth and a cherry. :shake:

 

[bob1961]

You still have a little wood to dress down around the lock plate. Can you take a little more off the lock bolster or will it screw up your hammer nipple lineup. I prefer Manhattans myself for these problems. Canadian whiskey on the rocks, just a dash of vermouth and a cherry. :shake:

i think i'll have a bottle of JACK standing by when i start mine...............bob

 

[Gary]

I can see an electric drill every now and then and even a bandsaw (when you start from a rough plank), but little else.

 

[scott k]

Bob, where do you use the bottle jack? :crackup:
Bill, The true craftsman is the only one that sees his mistakes.
I'm shore you will be the only one that will be able to see it when it is done.
Lehigh..

 

[Slowpoke]

I use them all the time to inlet things like the tang, toeplate, lock, and cut away the nose cap. But you have to have the right type of tool for the job.
I can;t tell from the picture but did you make a clean cut, then attach the repair?

SP

 

[Zonie]

Yup. Power tools have no mercy, and often have a mind of their own.

Although I have a hand Power Plane, I don't let it out of the drawer when I'm working on a gun.
I also have a drill press, electric hand drill, bench grinder, small belt sander and Dremel tool.

These latter tools I use some, but when getting down to the finished sizes I switch to hand tools only and sneek up on the finished product.

Figuratively speaking, when your sneeking, it's easy to stop, when your in an 18 wheeler, it's hard to see the ant, let alone stop before you crush him.