small imperfections between buttplate and the stock

[spersky]

Everything fits perfect for the buttplate to the stock except about a 1/32 or 1/16 gap at a certain area. How do I fill it. Is wood filler good, or will is stain poorly.


thanks

 

[Birddog6]

I usually heat it a tad with a fine tipped torch & peen it in a little there where it needs it. Some hammer them on the stocks but the few times I did that it made things worse than they were, so I take them off & work them. Do Not hammer on them at the toe, that will be a disaster.... :shake:

Keith Lisle

 

[Bill Hall]

I've peened them close while the buttplate is installed a couple of times, but success depends on where the gap is. If the gap is above the screw in the curve of the plate, you could gain a little by tapping it, as long as it's not a short, abrupt gap. The gap needs to be "flowing" in order to close it up well. Lots of short, light, fast taps with a small ball/peen hammer. If the gap is below that screw, do as Birddog suggested and bend it a little off the gun. If neither method fixes it to your satisfaction, some commercial putty, colored close to the predicted finish of the stock, will finish the job. Bill

 

[Zonie]

When I get to that point, I just spend another 8+ hours removing wood until the gaps disappear and I get the butt plate to fit like it should.

I can afford to take the time because I'm not building the gun for someone else who might get annoyed at the delay.

 

[spersky]

I took the time and in letted some more. It fits really well the peen hammer is a great idea.

 

[roundball]

I usually heat it a tad with a fine tipped torch & peen it in a little there where it needs it. Some hammer them on the stocks but the few times I did that it made things worse than they were, so I take them off & work them. Do Not hammer on them at the toe, that will be a disaster.... :shake:

Keith Lisle

Now if you can just come up with solutions for the imperfections "behind" the buttplate, a lot of us will be behold'in to ya

 

[spersky]

So the butt plate is not of perfectly. I did that part first with my new Chambers kit. The barrel was wrong so I had to send it back. The butt plate is the only thing I can do while waiting for the barrel.

Of the total build, how hard is the butt plate part of the total build. I am very impressed with the final results I got. Sure it took me about 10 hours which is kinda slow, but it a is perfect fit and polish.

 

[Zonie]

Follow this link for some information on butt plates http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/15625/post/15625/fromsearch/1/

It might give you some ideas for future builds.

As for time, to get good results everything takes more time than it looks like it should.

I try to keep the idea of "sneeking up on it" in my mind and I always check my measurements at least 3 times before actually filing/sanding/cutting or drilling.

 

[Old Salt]

I've spent 8-10 hours inleting butt plates. I use a small sharp carving gouge. The tiny wood chips look like they are cut off with a finger nail cutter. :grin:

The ramrod entry thimble is another part that takes me a lot of time.

Leo

 

[Birddog6]

Now if you can just come up with solutions for the imperfections "behind" the buttplate, a lot of us will be behold'in to ya

:idunno: So would my wife............ :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

 

[Birddog6]

It takes what it takes. I can usually do a Tenn or a Lancaster to a good fit in under 2 hrs. But I have to screw with it another 2 hours to satisfy me. :redface: :idunno: Seen the time it has taken me maybe 10 hrs. I don't actually time them as that would really piss me off ! :rotf: Some styles are just harder than others to fit, wood is dif, sometimes things just don't go right too. Inletting a buttplate is one job on building a rifle that I don't really like.

Hardest one for me to inlet is a Acanthus Leaf buttplate on a Jaeger. Not a straight place on the dang thing. You have to go in & down & in all at one time & you have to guess at one point........... I just did one & I could have done 3 Lancaster BP's in the time I did this one Jaeger. Yes, it fits pretty good, but it was one aggravating SOB. And I still have to cut out for the patchbox & fit a piece there, it is not over til it is over..... :idunno:

Keith Lisle

 

[Vaino]

When fitting a BP, I don't tolerate 1/32"-1/16" or any noticeable gaps whether they be under the heel or shoe. Just inlet deeper. I use a sandpaper wheel in a Dremel to do the fitting behind the shoe and chisels and files below the heel. Have never pounded or peened a BP to conform....just went deeper. Establish a high personal standard and don't violate it....Fred

 

[ebiggs1]

I have an oscillating drum sander that takes drums form 4” dia. down to ½” dia. and it seems to speed up the work. But I have only done three so there may be many other ways.

 

[JOHN ZUREKI]

All of the suggestions as far as closing the gaps on your butt plate are spot on. In my opinion, most butt plates that are purchased are too thick. I have noticed that the plates are not as thick on the few old rifles that I have had the pleasure to look at. What I have done is dress the edges making them thinner. Not a knife edge but remove the metal to about 1/16 inch. I find that I can more easily peen the plate till it is perfect. Be careful around the toe as been said. I hope this all makes sence. Fit it as close as you can, anneal the brass, thin it out and gently peen. Not that hard.

 

[rich pierce]

+1

 

[sepiatone]

Zonie,

Can you post the links to your other "building the b gun" installments? I've tried to use the search engine but could not find them. Your information on installing the butplate has really helped me getting mine to fit correctly. :thumbsup:

Thanks

 

[Zonie]

Here are a few other posts I made when I built the "B Gun".
General post: http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/...p?tid/14990/post/14990/hl/bgun1/fromsearch/1/

Polishing: http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/...tid/15689/post/15689/hl/polish1/fromsearch/1/

Installing a lock in a stock without a mortice http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/.../post/22920/hl/lockscrew001text/fromsearch/1/

There are others but, like you I'm having problems with the Search feature.

 

[sepiatone]

Thank you Zonie. The pictures you've added have been extremely helpful :thumbsup: :hatsoff: