Odd spots on curly maple stock

[Mweaver41]

I’m building a percussion rifle from a curly maple stock and there are a few spots of soft wood right around the lock that looks like it’s gauged. We last worked on it 3 days ago and it didn’t look great in that one spot, but it definitely didn’t look this bad and the gauges weren’t defined like this. My dad has built several rifles and never seen anything like this. Has anyone encountered this before and if so, how did you fix it?

Our default reaction is to mix wood shavings with stain and epoxy, fill it in, and work it down.

 

[BackDraft]

Insect Borings?

 

[64Springer]

+1 for bugs.

I've seen an army of ants do that in some Black Locust I was trying to save for projects.

If it were me, I'd reduce the thickness of the bolster/fence, inlet the lock a tad deeper and sand those marks out of the lock panel.

You may need to eliminate the carving.

Good luck with her.

 

[QuinnTheEskimo]

It looks like the work of insects.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Yup. Bugs.

 

[BruceHH]

Hey Yvonnne, the is Bruce. Those look like worm/beetle holes (tracks), usually they show up in some of the softer maple(s). You can fill them with your mixture, but they will probably still show. I am assuming that the lock plate is inletted to it's full depth and going deeper is out of the question. Based on the pictures it looks like you have quite a bit completed on this stock and I would go ahead and fill them and proceed on. Instead of epoxy, I recommend you should try Titebond wood glue, shavings/dust and your stain. Another option is to use a rounded chisel, dish out the affected area and glue a replacement piece of wood in it. A third option is to overlay it with a thin brass plate, but you would need to consider the aesthetics and design to make it look intentional and not an afterthought.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Wood-boring beetles it is.

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Why fill them? First glance? Carvings. Looking "different" the way they are. As long as there's no strength issues in that area.
Does every project need to be the same?? Be creative. My bet, you may go a long time before you see another one like that.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Looks a bit like vines if you felt like dressing it up and working it around the lock a bit.
Crazy idea I know….

 

[Mweaver41]

Hey Yvonnne, the is Bruce. Those look like worm/beetle holes (tracks), usually they show up in some of the softer maple(s). You can fill them with your mixture, but they will probably still show. I am assuming that the lock plate is inletted to it's full depth and going deeper is out of the question. Based on the pictures it looks like you have quite a bit completed on this stock and I would go ahead and fill them and proceed on. Instead of epoxy, I recommend you should try Titebond wood glue, shavings/dust and your stain. Another option is to use a rounded chisel, dish out the affected area and glue a replacement piece of wood in it. A third option is to overlay it with a thin brass plate, but you would need to consider the aesthetics and design to make it look intentional and not an afterthought.

Thank you so much! This is incredibly helpful!

 

[tenngun]

Mine had them on a Lancaster build

 

[1950DAVE]

You probably need to verify that there are no active bugs (powderpost beetles) in the wood. Finishing over active beetles will not kill them. There are specific chemicals for these insects ( Tim-bor comes to mind). All I know of are borates. Heat in the 169*F range is also very effective. To determine if there is activity, place the stock on a dark surface at room temp., and leave it undisturbed for a few days. If bugs are active you will likely see little piles of dust known as frass under the stock. Good luck.

 

[Phil Coffins]

As the others have pointed out, if it was my project I cut out the entire lock panel then use Tite-Bond to glue in a closely fit piece of matching wood. It’s unfortunate that this showed up but the finished product will be around a long time.

 

[64Springer]

As the others have pointed out, if it was my project I cut out the entire lock panel then use Tite-Bond to glue in a closely fit piece of matching wood. It’s unfortunate that this showed up but the finished product will be around a long time.

Great idea.

I would only add to use Tite-Bond III because it's waterproof.

 

[brushblind]

Wood putty close to the finish stain your using then sand and stain/finish.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Yep, the only way to fix it that will look good is to plane off the lock panel and glue on a piece of wood that is as good a match as you can find. Filling in the holes no matter how you do it will look terrible for ever to anyone who looks at it, especially you.

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

"Yep, the only way to fix it that will look good"??

Don't fix it if it ain't broke!!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Like I said, you won't see another one like it.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Kind of like neck tattoos and fishing lures hanging off an otherwise good looking woman???

 

[SDSmlf]

I’m building a percussion rifle from a curly maple stock and there are a few spots of soft wood right around the lock that looks like it’s gauged. We last worked on it 3 days ago and it didn’t look great in that one spot, but it definitely didn’t look this bad and the gauges weren’t defined like this. My dad has built several rifles and never seen anything like this. Has anyone encountered this before and if so, how did you fix it?

Our default reaction is to mix wood shavings with stain and epoxy, fill it in, and work it down.

I would work the worm ‘carving’ results into the design of the finish carving/finishing. Not the first nor last time this type of opportunity has presented itself. ‘Patch’ with epoxy, wood glue and sawdust or whatever, it will still be a patch that will look like a patch if you look close. Every piece of wood is unique, work with it. Every time I have used ‘patch material’ in a visual area I have later regretted it. The old line ‘nothing to see here’ just doesn’t cut it in my opinion.

 

[necchi]

Our default reaction is to mix wood shavings with stain and epoxy, fill it in, and work it down.

That's gonna be about it,,
That's a local source blank isn't it?
Shavings? Maybe if you can get some from the rasp work,, mixed with a little sanding dust.
Look's like a lot of that area is pretty soft, so "when" the fix is added in the process will be the key. I wouldn't use epoxy, I'd stick to a water base wood glue.
No matter what you do it's not going to be an exact match, but easy enough to pass as "character" of the build.
Tough call, your far enough into the build time wise so it's hard. Put a "band-aid" on it, or scrap it and start over.
You do know what a pro would do right? We don't know your budget,,,
Good luck,