stock bending

[rusty]

this maybe the dumbest question of the day.I have a TC renagade and the comb ,is just too high for me,I was wondering if I could pour hot water on the wrist area of the stock then add weight on the butt could I possibly lower the comb in this way,or am I barking up the wrong tree.

 

[kaintuck]

anything is possible..........I would steam it for a good hour, then try...but you MIGHT get a pretzel with the rest of the stock!
could you just plane the comb down some?

marc n tomtom

 

[Black Hand]

The method you describe would be inadequate to bend the wrist. Steaming takes considerable effort and there is a chance that it won't take.

As I see it, the most straight-forward way would be to remove wood until it feels comfortable. Unfortunately, this would require re-finishing the entire stock...

 

[Vaino]

The TC Hawken shown below was a severe "cheekslapper" due to an excessively high comb and a bulbous cheekpiece. The comb was taken down along w/ the BPlate return and a lot of wood was removed from the cheekpiece. A 410 gr. Buffalo Bullet and 100 grs 2f are used for elk and it's now very comfortable to shoot.......Fred

 

[M. De Land]

I'd just plane it down with a spoke shave or Sure form to lower and thin it!

 

[Zonie]

There once was a forum member who had heard of a method of bending the wrist of a stock by applying hot oil to it along with some heavy sash weights to apply the force.

He tried it and it did nothing so he got several "heat lamps", coated the wrist with oil and wrapped the wrist with aluminum foil. I think he added some more weight too.

Focusing the lights on the foil he let it really heat up and kept it hot for hours.

When he removed the lamps and foil he found the whole area was charred beyond description.
Seems I recall the stock still hadn't bent but even if it had, it was basically useless in its burned condition.

One option that will cost at least $120 for the lowest grade of Curly Maple is to go to Pecatonica River and buy one of their TC Hawken replacement stocks.

The stock from them has over 1 3/4 more drop at the heel of the butt and the comb has a corresponding drop to it.
http://www.longrifles-pr.com/thompsoncenter.shtml

These are not exactly a "drop in" stock and they will need to be shaped a bit, sanded and finished but they are not nearly as difficult as trying to build your own stock.

IMO, the price is money well spent.

You will end up with a nice shooting rifle made with a classic wood.

Give it some thought.

 

[54ball]

Link stock bending

 

[jerrywh]

I had made a custom gun out of a Renegade stock a few years ago and bent the wrist down to give me 3 1/2" of drop and also 1/4" of cast off. I have bent three different gun stocks drastically. You cannot do it as you described but it can be done with heat. You need to know that bending it is not the end of the operation, The tang will no longer fit and will need to be lengthened. I forged mine to lengthen it. The trigger guard will no longer fit neither. The inlet will have to be redone. If you are still interested I can supply you with info. Refinishing will also need to be done. So think it over first. It is not simple if done correctly.
The guy who burned his stock did not follow the directions given him. When you heat a stock you must have a method to determine the temperature. DUH!

 

[Archer 756]

:v Go to any fine shotgun gunsmith and he should be able to bend stock in any direction. This must be a smith that deal in high quality shotguns. We have here in the Hudson Valley myself and about three other smiths

 

[hawkeye2]

Assuming that you can and do bend the wrist to lower the comb enough you will find that you have drastically increased the drop which may (will) introduce other problems. I have a double that I took 3/8" off the nose of the comb tapering back in a straight line to the top of the butt plate. The issue was that it consistently shot high as I couldn't get down to the sighting plane as it was. Can you imagine how far I would have has to take the butt down to bring the comb nose down that distance? In its unaltered condition it would hammer the underside of your cheek bone. If I had lowered the nose by bending and increased the drop it would have lifted the top of your head off. it is now quite comfortable to shoot. BTW, I also shortened the stock by 1/2" at the same time and added 5 oz. of lead to it.

 

[rusty]

Thanks, guy's,I think I will look into getting another stock.

 

[Pete G]

If you are going to get another stock anyway why not try modifying the one you have?

 

[chrisrayburn]

Building Violins and Mandolins in a former life steaming thin wood works great but will not work for the wrist of a stock to thick and no way to control you may get a bend you don't want like a wicked cast off.plus you would have to remove the finish to steam it anyways.

 

[nwtradegun]

to bend wood it has to be raw wood. no finish or stain. it wood fibers need to soak up the steam. you would not be able to remove the finish enough to get the results you want.

 

[nhmoose]

to bend wood it has to be raw wood. no finish or stain. it wood fibers need to soak up the steam. you would not be able to remove the finish enough to get the results you want.

Don't think so Mike Orlen a smith of suppository guns bends gun stocks with hot oil that have been finished for years.

Cause you do not have any idea how he does it does not mean impossible. Expensive you bet!

 

[jerrywh]

I bent one down about 1 1/2" at the heel.
WARNING!if you bend it the tang will no longer fit nor will the trigger guard. You will also need to sand off the finish on the wrist and heat up to about 250° for at leasts 30 minutes. This is best done with wet or oily rags and a heat gun or heat lamps.