Build Questions

Bucky182 said:

Thanks Guys.
Col Batguano I have three hunting Muzzleloaders. I just want to build one. As I like hunting with stuff I make myself. I am leaning towards a simpler Kit gun first. I doubt the wife would let me drop a grand on a kit since I never built one before. I have refinished several rifles and shotguns and rebuild a flintlock, adding a new aftermarket lock and white lightning touch hole.
I want to read some books and gather the correct tools before doing a high dollar kit. Also want to learn to do some carving or at least see how horrible I am at it. LOL

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Whoa wrong answer there pal. As long as you aren't robbing Peter to pay Paul then the wife shouldn't be the final say. I know a lot of people just use the wife as reason not to spend money but I hope that is not the case here. I always look at it like this, I worked a good part of my life and so has my wife. Spending a few bucks upon oneself once in a while only enhances a relationship. When one spouse controls the dollar flow that is where problems start.

I say if you want the kit buy it anyway. The wife won't hesitate to buy what makes her happy, and I doubt she'll ask permission first.

I would suggest several of the building books from Track or pecotonic but also the you tube videos by Bill Raby and dualist 1954. Some times you can read how to do x but watching someone do it as he talks you through it’s a life saver.

One other option Bucky182 could consider is doing the finish work on an in-the-white gun. These are assembled firearms with the final wood finish, metal polishing still to be done. Makers that offer in-the-white guns are people like Tip Curtis, Clay Smith, TVM and a few others. Needed tools would limited to scrapers for smoothing, a mill file for draw filing the barrel, 220 grit sand paper and gray scotch abrasive pads. No need for machinery such as drill press.

Sidney Smith, thanks for marriage advice but after 30 plus years I think we have a good relationship.

I have never found a good "V" chisel so I make my own from the ends of triangle files. Craftsman flat chisels are good and hold an edge. SHARP is first. The worst to fit are swamped barrels, give it two weeks to start. Curved chisels to inlay are best made by you. Maple is hard as you have to cut mostly cross grain or it will peel out, NEVER try a draw knife. A super scraper works too. Old gunsmiths did not have sandpaper so they scraped.
Take your time and shave a cut at .001" at a time. At times that is too much.
I go back to my first when I sawed out stocks from a plank by standing on it with a handsaw. Carved the entire stock with a Case hunting knife. Home made chisels to inlet. When you get to this you are there. I made the patch box with a jewelers saw and files. Other side. Never buy a patchbox already engraved. it must be in the wood first.