What Wood You Do?

[BigDeutscher]

I have been looking at Dunlaps site and need some suggestions on wood for my VERY long smoothy
20% is added to the cost of the wood becouse of its length
Flintlock Fowlers shows Cherry /Walnut/Maple
Mr Tip Curtis says he likes Beech
My stock maker likes walnut
and everyone likes a nice piece of Curly Maple
There is red oak and ash
I would like to keep it at around $200 or less
I am building a Common Mans gun and it does not have to be fancy
I need 66" total length at least 2 1/2 wide +
straight grain , strong and as light as possible
I have never done this before, and need to e-mail Dunlaps with my wants.
Again I come to the experts here on MLF for the answers.
please advise.
Deutsch

 

[Vaino]

I'd go w/ the stocker's choice of walnut.
Next would be cherry. Of course it's your fowler and you can use whatever wood you like.... however walnut and cherry would be more HC?.....Fred

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Look thru all the original PA made guns in your book(s) for the time period and choose the most common wood.

 

[wmaser]

Long, sleek, walnut: A thing of beauty. (Also correct).

 

[ADK Ephraim]

Hey BD! On another thread you said you're going to Dixon's at the end of the month - why not check out what both Tiger Stripe and Dunlap has to offer? If you've got special length or wood choice, call 'em and they'll probably bring some special offerings for you to choose from at Dixon's. Sure would save of shipping and sales tax! mjw

 

[BigDeutscher]

Thats the plan! to get one from Dunlap but who is Tiger Stripe
can I have a phone # or web site?
Deutsch

 

[NJ Longbeard]

Go with Dunlap you won't be sorry. I've been very happy with them. I'm working on an English Fowler right now and wanted a straight grained piece of Black Walnut. They sent me a beauuuty!!! Just my 2 cents God Luck! Ed

 

[sniper68]

:thumbsup:

 

[rabjr]

He maybe talking about "Tiger hunt" gunstocks.
http://www.gunstockwood.com/products.html

 

[mikemeteor]

Cherry (with zero sapwood).
Ages like no other.... the pride of Pennsylvania.

Keep us posted, BD !

 

[Robby]

If it were me, A good piece of cherry, even plain they are a thing of beauty!
Robby

 

[rafterob]

I too vote for Cherry. I am just not a big walnut fan.

 

[ehoff]

I like to see my wood before I buy it. I'd wait till Dixon's, Wayne Dunlap, Tiger Hunt, Tip Curtis, and several others all there. With wood in all prices ranges.

If your not going to inlet your own barrel and drill the ramrod hole You can also save your self some shipping by buying at Dixon's. Its just a short walk to Ron Rhodes of Hazelton, PA. or one of the others who do inletting. Ship your barrel to them and you only will have to pay shipping on the stock once instead of twice.

 

[rich pierce]

I wood have a plan based on one or more original guns that appeal to me, and base all decisions on wood, hardware, architecture, and decorative features on those originals. Otherwise, there's no need to ask or wonder what you should choose as most of the choices you could make will work, in the sense of turning out a functional smoothbore. With all respect to those who post here, myself included, I'd not plan a build based on what some folks say on a forum.

 

[hoochiepapa]

I wood have a plan based on one or more original guns that appeal to me, and base all decisions on wood, hardware, architecture, and decorative features on those originals. Otherwise, there's no need to ask or wonder what you should choose as most of the choices you could make will work, in the sense of turning out a functional smoothbore. With all respect to those who post here, myself included, I'd not plan a build based on what some folks say on a forum.

:thumbsup: Do what you want to do.

 

[Stophel]

I will not buy cherry sight unseen, and I'm leery of buying walnut without having it in my hands. Cherry varies WIDELY in quality, ranging from super hard and dense, nearly as hard as sugar maple (rare) to literally softer than yellow poplar (pretty common, unfortunately). Walnut varies too, but usually not so badly. I think you're fairly safe ordering SUGAR maple without seeing it. I avoid anything called "soft maple" like the plague. Ash seems fairly consistent, with only the width/frequency of the porous rings causing much variation. It's always hard and tough (the porous rings can be troublesome, but they can be dealt with carefully). You mentioned beech, which is hard, but difficult to work with, since it tends to splinter and chip VERY badly. The rays also can make it kinda gaudy, depending upon how the stock blank was cut and how strong the rays are.

The choice ends up just being what you like. Walnut or plain sugar maple would probably best fill the bill. Plain sugar maple, though strong and technically the best wood, I think is not all that attractive.... plain walnut looks better. :wink:

 

BD, I "wood" hold your decision on wood until you get to the gunbuilders fair. You've been to Dixon's already, so you know what a candy store it is. Now imagine Hersey's, M&M Mars, Brachs, Cadbury, and all the candy makers in one spot, with all there wares. That's the fair. All the major wood suppliers, lock, and barrel makers are there. Bring your plans, and wish list, but wait til the fair before buying anything. Wood especially.

Bill

 

[Vaino]

After contacting Birddog6 for his opinions on wood dealers, I had a nice conversation w/ Wayne Dunlap, ordered 3 red maple blanks in 3 different grades and rec'd them a few days ago. I've had red maple from other dealers but the blanks weren't anywhere near as dense as these from Dunlap. The blanks in different grades were as Wayne stated or better....found my blank source. Judging from my experience, I'd order either walnut or cherry after talking to Wayne and you'll be more than satisfied....Fred

 

[BigDeutscher]

All right Fellas
I have decided on Cherry
Dunlap/Tiger/and Tip will all have a stock or two for me to look at.
Thanks again for All your help and advice.
Don Long Bow and I will be at Dixons bright and early on Friday morning for shopping. And I will be back on Saturday for some instruction.
I will be wearing the Hat you see in my picture by my posts.I am 6/4 270Lbs, you cant miss me.
I hope to meet some of you
Please come up and say howdy.
Todd Beckmeyer
{Deutsch}

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Deutscher: there are alot of saw mills in the area. If you can carve your own stock, you may pick up an air dried plank of a nice more exotic wood like Osage, Black cherry, Paulonia, Beech, even Sassafrass etc. An acquaintaince made a beautiful pistol from a slab of Damson.