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Thread: Trying out checkering wood

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
    EMR's Avatar
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    Trying out checkering wood

    Picked up a wood checkering kit from a Brownells a while back and I’m finally getting around to trying it out.

    All I can say is “holy cow!”. My hats off to you guys who can do this well.

    I’m making a walnut set for a Ruger Mk 1 pistol. Cutting them out and shaping was the easy part. So far I’m about three hours into checkering over two days. I’m cross-eyed and my hands are cramped! Not sure I’ll ever do this again LOL


  2. #2
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    Don't get in a hurry, or do it too long at a sitting.
    Stop when your hands get tired or start to cramp.

    For three hours-- you're moving along pretty well.

    It'll come out great.
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
    This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
    EVERYONE!
    Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
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    I’m taking your advice and slowing it down. The second grip seems to have better lines and less stray marks as a result.

    Thanks for the overall advice!

  4. #4
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by EMR View Post
    The second grip seems to have better lines and less stray marks as a result.

    It's like flying a airplane, or riding a motorcycle--- The more ya do it, the better you get.
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
    This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
    EVERYONE!
    Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    Nice looking first attempt! I'll second the recommendation for stopping before eyestrain and hand cramps set in. How well I know!

  6. #6
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    That's a cool project. I have to come back and revisit it.

    Years ago I priced getting a aftermarket Rem. 700 stock checkered. It was going to cost about $400.
    That just wasn't going to happen. So I got the basic kit from Brownell's and did it myself.

    I'd do several lines, wipe it with Teak oil, brush it off with a tooth brush, and blot it dry with a old T shirt rag.
    The Teak oil didn't leave a residue build up, and showed what it would look like finished.

    It came out well. I went back over it a 2nd time and let the little double row files bottom out.
    Then went around the outside edge with the single file to give the patterns a distinct outline.
    The diamonds had sharp points and gripped like a cat's tongue.
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
    This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
    EVERYONE!
    Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.

  7. #7
    Boolit Man
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    I do some checkering sometimes along with the stocks I make. I need to limit a checkering session to about 1.5 hours max. If I go longer, I start to make mistakes. I mimic a lot of old Winchester patterns and between the points and contours, things can get a little wiggy. Good luck in your pursuit. Sometimes I wonder of it would be easier just to buy the electric checkering tools!

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    Looks good!!

  9. #9
    Boolit Master oldhenry's Avatar
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    Great job on cutting out & shaping & the checkering start looks professional. I found that an Opti-Visor was a necessity & experimenting different angles with a goose neck lamp helped.

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
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    Thanks all for the tips and compliments. I’ve cut it down to 30 minute sessions here and there. And I agree that good lighting is definitely a must!

    I’ll update later as I go along.

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Look forward to new photos

  12. #12
    Boolit Master

    lefty o's Avatar
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    looks good thus far. if you really want some cramps , give metal checkering a try.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master


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    I hated checkering and I had a Power cutter and Foredom tool. I could do it passable but not as an artist. A friend and builder borrowed it, he was an ARTIST! I gave it to him for him checkering my own projects for me and not my shop.

    Best deal EVA!

  14. #14
    Boolit Master Cap'n Morgan's Avatar
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    All I can say is “holy cow!”. My hats off to you guys who can do this well.
    Check out (pun intended) this gal:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSqSycPaw08
    Cap'n Morgan

  15. #15
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    I always thought when I would retire I would really conquer the checkering art but boy was I thrown a curve. My nerotransmitters have gone berserk from longterm pain and with it went the ability to checker. I did enough checkering when able to absolutely appreciate the ability and those that can do it.
    Look twice, shoot once.

  16. #16
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    I have done a few stocks and found out early that one of those magnifying visors is a life saver.
    At my age, a good light is important too.

  17. #17
    Boolit Man
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    Wow, that video is crazy! She did in 2 minutes what it takes me about an hour to do!

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy Old Coot's Avatar
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    The first 3000 are the hard ones.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Old Coot View Post
    The first 3000 are the hard ones.
    That’s what I am afraid of when i finish I’d probably have to put on a couple of layers of friction tape to make it look better.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cap'n Morgan View Post
    Check out (pun intended) this gal:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSqSycPaw08
    I do it the same way only way faster....

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check