Well, very nearly done. I had attended the build class at WKU in June with Wallace Gusler as our instructor. Had a great time! Jim Kibler was also in the building teaching another class. And there was simply a lot of talented people around to offer advice. Forgive me for not naming all the people offering encouragement. I sure needed it. Thanks!!
I was suffering with a bit of muscle spasms in my back from yanking too hard on a tractor just before I attended the class. So I was lazier than normal. I went in with the idea that I was not going to use any sandpaper on the wood stock. Files, chisels, and scrapers only. Learning to burnish a scraper is something I am going to have to work on. But it finished up well within my expectations. I also knew that in six days I was not going to be able to rub in multiple coats of finish. Which is why that had to wait until I returned home for completion. I wanted this rifle to be something an average man might purchase in the time. Not having the money for extra carvings, engravings, or highly polished finishes on the metalwork. Something perhaps an apprentice might be expected to produce. I did allow myself the use of a piece of green Scotchpad on the brass work. In all the files I took with me. Most old, some new, I only had a very few that produced good work. Too many cut and then balled up the filings which gouged into the metal. But I managed.
The stain I started with was Laurel Mountain Forge Honey Maple with just a bit of cherry added. Some turpentine to thin. Several coats got me a stock that others called "That orange stock". Some deep red, orange, spots of honey amber. This was a standard stock. Upon returning home, I did a coat of Art's French Red Stock Filler, and then a coat of French Red stain. Every day, or other day the stock got a light rubbed in coat of Laurel Mountain Permalyn Sealer. When I started seeing that iridescent look in the light, I stopped. It's quite shiny. Almost like it had been coated with shellac.
The brass work was shined to a point. I wanted it to appear as if it was nearly finished. But not a lot of expensive time had been spent. It got a coat of brass black and then washed and rubbed off a bit. I had hoped the brass would like like it had been cast, and partially finished. Then tossed in a pile for a time to await when it was needed. The barrel was drawfiled. But not sanded. Then also wiped with brass black to give it a bit of grey color. Not freshly white from drawfiling. I did nothing at all with the as cast finish of the lock. I wonder about that.
I have a few pics. Not really good ones and no old rails or anything to use as a backdrop. Getting the sun angle right so you can see the grain was interesting. Have not decided how long to leave the ramrod.
I was suffering with a bit of muscle spasms in my back from yanking too hard on a tractor just before I attended the class. So I was lazier than normal. I went in with the idea that I was not going to use any sandpaper on the wood stock. Files, chisels, and scrapers only. Learning to burnish a scraper is something I am going to have to work on. But it finished up well within my expectations. I also knew that in six days I was not going to be able to rub in multiple coats of finish. Which is why that had to wait until I returned home for completion. I wanted this rifle to be something an average man might purchase in the time. Not having the money for extra carvings, engravings, or highly polished finishes on the metalwork. Something perhaps an apprentice might be expected to produce. I did allow myself the use of a piece of green Scotchpad on the brass work. In all the files I took with me. Most old, some new, I only had a very few that produced good work. Too many cut and then balled up the filings which gouged into the metal. But I managed.
The stain I started with was Laurel Mountain Forge Honey Maple with just a bit of cherry added. Some turpentine to thin. Several coats got me a stock that others called "That orange stock". Some deep red, orange, spots of honey amber. This was a standard stock. Upon returning home, I did a coat of Art's French Red Stock Filler, and then a coat of French Red stain. Every day, or other day the stock got a light rubbed in coat of Laurel Mountain Permalyn Sealer. When I started seeing that iridescent look in the light, I stopped. It's quite shiny. Almost like it had been coated with shellac.
The brass work was shined to a point. I wanted it to appear as if it was nearly finished. But not a lot of expensive time had been spent. It got a coat of brass black and then washed and rubbed off a bit. I had hoped the brass would like like it had been cast, and partially finished. Then tossed in a pile for a time to await when it was needed. The barrel was drawfiled. But not sanded. Then also wiped with brass black to give it a bit of grey color. Not freshly white from drawfiling. I did nothing at all with the as cast finish of the lock. I wonder about that.
I have a few pics. Not really good ones and no old rails or anything to use as a backdrop. Getting the sun angle right so you can see the grain was interesting. Have not decided how long to leave the ramrod.
