Re: Help with laminating stock

Sun, Oct 7, 2007, 6:39pm (EDT-1) snipped-for-privacy@fig.com (Sam) Here's a couple of photos of a gunsmith's operation that makes custom laminated rifle stocks. This photo is of his laminating press: =A0=A0

From that picture, I can't figure out how that laminating press works - unless it's got hydraulic pistons, or something, in those end columns. Damn ugly color scheme too.

I didn't see any stocks that I could say were laminated. Seems to be decent work, but the stock colors suck.

JOAT "I'm an Igor, thur. We don't athk quethtionth." "Really? Why not?" "I don't know, thur. I didn't athk."

Sorry, I left off the url to the page with links to the stocks.

This wegpage with a walnut-cherry gunstock got me started making my own laminated stocks. If you look close at the walnut stock on the top of the page you can see the glue line and the grain change in this stock too.

The laminating press is a big steel i-beam box with a floating beam that's attached with big springs to counter the weight. It's clamping action is from 2 20-ton hydrolic presses that aren't installed in the picture. (I had to go back and take another look to see why it wasn't clear)

My next project is to build a press like this one. I'm scrounging for steel beams now. The stock I wanted was priced at $600 for an unfinished stock and $900+ for a finished one. I've invested about the same amount in tools and hardware to build 10 stocks for my varmint and target rifles as I would have paid to buy 10 finished stocks and now I have a shop full of equipment including a 5-axis routing duplicator from Dakota Arms (bought from a retireing gunsmith) . It took 3 months to learn to use the equipment and my 3rd stock was usable. I've made about 15 stocks now and everyone I sell is advertizing for the next customer.

Mon, Oct 8, 2007, 9:07am (EDT-1) snipped-for-privacy@fig.com (Sam) doth sayeth: 'Sorry, I left off the url to the page with links to the stocks. Laminated stocks for target rifles are much more stable than solid wood stocks The laminating press is a big steel i-beam box with a floating beam that's attached with big springs to counter the weight. It's clamping action is from 2 20-ton hydrolic presses that aren't installed in the picture. (I had to go back and take another look to see why it wasn't clear) =A0=A0My next project is to build a press like this one. I'm scrounging for steel beams now.

I looked at the stocks. Still not to my taste. And, I know about laminated stocks.

WTF, a beam so heavy it stretches the springs? That's what threw me. Normally the springs raise the beam, when the jacks, or whatever, release pressure. On that, looks like you'd have to lift it to even put the wood in. Looks way overbuilt too. Me, maybe 4"X4" tubing tops (probably open frame), one or two small bottle jacks. Here's a 6-ton press.

JOAT "I'm an Igor, thur. We don't athk quethtionth." "Really? Why not?" "I don't know, thur. I didn't athk."