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Tools for shaping the stock

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Jackman

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First time Lyman Great Plains Flintlock kit gun builder here and also not a wood worker so that said I need to buy tools, any suggestions on what tools to buy?


So far I've bought theses chisels
s-l1600.jpg
 
An 8 inch Rasp and some sanding paper . I would think I need some small detail chisels too , any suggestions am I missing anything ? I'm also looking for a vise to clamp the stock while shaping it , seems so basic yet e bay and Amazon searches don't really turn up any suitable hits.
076174212952.jpg
 
Hi,
Do a Google search for "wood carving" or "pattern makers" vise. Shown below is the vise and a #49 pattern makers rasp by Nicholson. I do 75% of my stock shaping with that one rasp.
7cEEgTc.jpg

However, try to find an old one because manufacturing was shifted to Mexico some years ago and the new ones dull very quickly. There are good alternatives made by Auriel in France but they are more expensive. The key to these rasps is the random pattern of teeth, which cut quickly but leave a relatively smooth surface. Below is a photo showing a selection of small chisels, gouges, carving knives, riffler files, and scrapers made from hack saw blades that I routinely use for detailed carving. In your case a few larger versions of these tools would help.
spiWfFJ.jpg

With your chisels you will need a mallet, and flat and French curve shaped wood scrapers are very useful.

dave
 
We tend to buy sets to start with then find we do all our work with the 1/8" and 1/4" chisels and never touch the rest, I have some expensive sets.

I use a #49 Nicholson the most as well, mine are American made instead of the newer ones from Brazil. I send them to Boggs Tool to be sharpened and they come back better than new.

You will need a few small gouges and although it is blasphemy, the cheapest set from Harbor Freight will serve your purpose on your first build and let you determine what size quality gouges to buy for more involved builds.

My favorite part of accumulating tools is making my own specialty chisels, gouges and small scrapers from concrete nails. If you have propane torch, hammer and a small file or two you can make anything.

Here is a for instance; I could never cut a perfect inlet for the nose of my locks so I made what I call a "nose chisel" to match the curvature of a late Ketland lock, it cuts a perfect inlet every time.
nose chisel toooo.jpg
nose chisel.jpg
 
I'm also looking for a vise to clamp the stock while shaping it, seems so basic yet ebay and Amazon searches don't really turn up any suitable hits.

Zonie had posted this & I had too. We both bought one of these woodworking vices & put it on a base standing vertically, so one side is fixed and the other moves. You can pad the vice too.

And I made “shaped” jaws of thin wood to affix to the jaw faces, to hold round or ‘heart profiled’ forends, well padded with felt from DuroFelt. Works great!
6121423F-237C-4FEF-8FB8-37BAB3A46EBC.jpeg
 
Another thing; you can pick up random old chisels from flea markets for often less than $1 and grind and bend them to be anything you need. Heat them, bend them and quench in oil. Tempering them is an option but for the little speciality use I give them I don't bother other than heating them to straw color and letting them cool. Often the steel in these vintage tools is very good and they sharpen easily.

Here is a skew chisel I made out of a 50 cent flea market find, not a work of art by any means but it gets the job done. I enjoy making handles for my simple tools, the one in the picture is osage.
skew chisel.JPG
 
As for a vise all the big box stores have them, Harbor Freight etc. All you will see is Chinese stuff, OK by they will break if you really get rough with them. Again, a good vintage vise from a flea market will serve you better and take all you can dish out. Don't go too small, 5' or 6" works well.

Here is my setup, and american made 5 1/2" vise and a post on the end of my work bench to support stock and keep it from turning in the vise under pressure. I made the quick removable vise pads from some scrap wood and leather.
vise pads.jpg


kibler 32.JPG
 
Hi,
Do a Google search for "wood carving" or "pattern makers" vise. Shown below is the vise and a #49 pattern makers rasp by Nicholson. I do 75% of my stock shaping with that one rasp.
7cEEgTc.jpg

However, try to find an old one because manufacturing was shifted to Mexico some years ago and the new ones dull very quickly. There are good alternatives made by Auriel in France but they are more expensive.

dave


Thanks! great advice on the vise the pic really helped too, I just found and ordered the same vise from amazon 150 shipped :) . I'm still shopping the small carving tools . Thanks again!
 
Zonie had posted this & I had too. We both bought one of these woodworking vices & put it on a base standing vertically, so one side is fixed and the other moves. You can pad the vice too.

And I made “shaped” jaws of thin wood to affix to the jaw faces, to hold round or ‘heart profiled’ forends, well padded with felt from DuroFelt. Works great!
View attachment 1916


Thats a great idea using the wood workers clamps , I just ordered a Woodtek 801802 bench vise 150 dollars, funny the antique and used tool cost more than the new quite q bit more some times , I just have to accept the Asian manufacture
 
Another thing; you can pick up random old chisels from flea markets for often less than $1 and grind and bend them to be anything you need. Heat them, bend them and quench in oil. Tempering them is an option but for the little speciality use I give them I don't bother other than heating them to straw color and letting them cool. Often the steel in these vintage tools is very good and they sharpen easily.

Here is a skew chisel I made out of a 50 cent flea market find, not a work of art by any means but it gets the job done. I enjoy making handles for my simple tools, the one in the picture is osage.
View attachment 1917

Good tip, I am also searching craigslist ,vises are easy to find on CL but so far too small or too much money , the hand tools I got my eye out for. Thanks!
 
Maybe but I'm really not that talented
If you believe you can build a gun, you have more than enough skill to make a carving chisel. Concrete nails are easily found at your local hardware store. Heat to a bright red color and allow to cool slowly (softens the hardened concrete nail), shape with a hammer and/or files, heat to a bright cherry red and quench in oil or water, temper in your (toaster) oven at 375-400F for an hour and do a final sharpening.
 
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The 49 cabinet rasp and a cabinet file are tops of my list and these home made chisels do most of the work for me.
IMG_0250a.JPG
 
No skill required to make tools, heat to red, pound with a hammer, shape and use. Be forewarned though, once you make the first one and find some place in your build you need a special tool to reach you won't be able to stop making them. It's really addictive;

tool making.JPG
 
This adjustable base with a common vise has been a great help to me. It was spendy but has seen heavy use since 1979 and still the best money I've spent on a hand tool. You can't have to many vices, but my wife says I have plenty.
IMG_0380a.jpg
 
You will need a few small gouges and although it is blasphemy, the cheapest set from Harbor Freight will serve your purpose on your first build and let you determine what size quality gouges to buy for more involved builds.

I like saving money and have made my share of gouges and shapers. I like flea market old screwdrivers for the base of many of them.
But, I have to differ with Eric on his recommendation. I have tried wood carving and quickly learned that El Cheapo carving tools can actually be dangerous to use. Reason is, many of them have soft wood handles and very short tangs. A little pressure can cause the tang to break through the handle with potentially serious results to your hands. I suggest you check out wood carving supply sites and order a set, yes, a set of small (not real tiny) gouges. You will use for many years.
 
I have found this not to be the case with cheap carving or lathe tools, they don't hold an edge very well but I have never had a handle break including turning pieces of out of round logs in my little hobby lathe.

I bought the cheap tools to get working, planning to buy better later, some of which I did and some of my cheap stuff is still being used regularly. No broken handles so far.
 

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