This was great, with enough detail to give some confidence in trying the technique. It is amazing to see it done step by step. Thanks, Gary!
CHECKERING 1.0
- Thread starter HomeBody
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- #22
I don't make .45 grips anymore. I only do shotgun and rifle stocks. You should be able to find someone on here to make you some. Gary
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- #23
Thanks Barb. I have an old friend in your neighborhood. Do you know Cole Hurst by chance? Gary
Very informative and great tutorial.
Ray
Ray
We'll that was fun. I have always been impressed by checkering, and wondered how it was done. Thank you Gary for sharing.
Wish I had this information a couple years ago when I sanded down the pressed in factory checkering on my Winchester and tried to free hand all the checkering myself.
fantastic tutorial, Ive always wondered how they went about that!
This may be something I could get into! Thanks for sharing!
I know this is old...but what a great thread.
It saddens me deeply to look around at our "get it done cheap and fast"... then "throw it away because its disposable" society and think about all of the art forms that are disappearing. Art forms that in some cases took hundreds of years (if not longer) to develop.
Artforms that were passed down from one master to the next and honed even finer by each generation, as they were passed down. Checkering being a shining example of one of those art forms. No telling how long it took to develop those tools and techniques.
Really neat stuff. Thank you for sharing!
It saddens me deeply to look around at our "get it done cheap and fast"... then "throw it away because its disposable" society and think about all of the art forms that are disappearing. Art forms that in some cases took hundreds of years (if not longer) to develop.
Artforms that were passed down from one master to the next and honed even finer by each generation, as they were passed down. Checkering being a shining example of one of those art forms. No telling how long it took to develop those tools and techniques.
Really neat stuff. Thank you for sharing!
Great timing on your post. Just this morning I thought of an idea for checkering that doesn’t involve a firearm. Thank you.
@HomeBody - Gary, haven't seen you around in a few months, hope you are well and still active here.
Checkering is something I've wanted to try for quite a while - I'd ultimately like to checker some of my calls. I finally broke down and ordered some basic tools last week - they arrived today and I sat down to get a feel for things with a thin scrap of cocobolo. This is going to take some patience!
I was just working on a table surface, can see I need to be working in a vice to hold things steadier - or at least using a heavier block while practicing and getting the hang of it. I'll post my learning and questions here, if that is ok - may help others who also find this thread and want to make a go of it.
First pass in initial directions. Outer "master" lines weren't perfect, but enough to get me started this time. I need to work on getting then straighter.
As I somewhat expected, things got tougher when I switched directions... maybe my initial lines were a little too deep. And the acuteness of the angle probably wasn't ideal for a first time. I lost my place a few times, but got a section I wasn't too unhappy with in the central area. Then took a couple passes with a 75° and one with 90° before brushing it off and a quick wipe with some oil to get a better look.
The closeup shows I need to go deeper with the 90 and also that I was getting some vibration/chatter due to not having it stable. I'll wipe my next practice piece and let it dry before starting on it so I'll have better visibility of the diamonds and maybe set up a less acute triangle. That said not too awful for a first run.
I don't know enough, yet, to have good questions - but welcome any observations or guidance from any of you with checkering experience. Thanks!
Checkering is something I've wanted to try for quite a while - I'd ultimately like to checker some of my calls. I finally broke down and ordered some basic tools last week - they arrived today and I sat down to get a feel for things with a thin scrap of cocobolo. This is going to take some patience!
I was just working on a table surface, can see I need to be working in a vice to hold things steadier - or at least using a heavier block while practicing and getting the hang of it. I'll post my learning and questions here, if that is ok - may help others who also find this thread and want to make a go of it.
First pass in initial directions. Outer "master" lines weren't perfect, but enough to get me started this time. I need to work on getting then straighter.
As I somewhat expected, things got tougher when I switched directions... maybe my initial lines were a little too deep. And the acuteness of the angle probably wasn't ideal for a first time. I lost my place a few times, but got a section I wasn't too unhappy with in the central area. Then took a couple passes with a 75° and one with 90° before brushing it off and a quick wipe with some oil to get a better look.
The closeup shows I need to go deeper with the 90 and also that I was getting some vibration/chatter due to not having it stable. I'll wipe my next practice piece and let it dry before starting on it so I'll have better visibility of the diamonds and maybe set up a less acute triangle. That said not too awful for a first run.
I don't know enough, yet, to have good questions - but welcome any observations or guidance from any of you with checkering experience. Thanks!
I wasn't patient enough to wait for the oil to initially cure on a test block, so grabbed an untreated piece of walnut out of my stock for a 2nd learning run. Still a lot to learn, but better. Critiques and advice welcomed!
Looks ever so professional! I’m confident that each time you make a new one the process will become more natural. Chuck
I'm not one to critique, I've never tried it. Looks really good to me. Things that aren't perfect are visible to you as well as me, and since I have no idea how to make corrections (if warranted) I'll just say nicely done!
Looks pretty good to me.
After a little more flat wood practice I moved to checkering on a round surface - definitely more of a challenge (as if it needed to be more challenging)! I had an old barrel I'd "rejected" for one reason or another - chakte viga or maybe kok, can't remember which - and got busy. This is the third panel on this block, the best yet. It's a slow learning curve, but I'm making progress.
Superb!
My dad could checker, and very well. I can't even draw with a pencil and ruler. I stand in awe of those who can checker.
Alan
Alan
Looking good
That is f'ng awesome!!!WOW!!