Checkering transplant??

[foxhound]

I've got a nice rifle stock that someone butchered the grip checkering beyond repair. I know that grip caps and forend tips and even stocks can be transplanted; is it possible to grind out the checkering, and to fit a piece of checkered wood from another stock in (kind of like a big, funky inlay)? I think it might even look interesting if it was a contrasting color wood.....is this feasable, possible, downright stupid, or am I just clinically insane?
Any insights would be appreciated.
thanks
Rick

[gunnut69]

I suppose one could do such a thing but I reccomend something called 'recessed checkering'. Its a technique where the pattern is applied to the stock and before checkering commences the entire pattern is recessed 1/10 or so inches. This allows the checkerer to overlay the damaged pattern with it's replacement and recess the new pattern. Of course the existing pattern is carved away and the new pattern when finished replaces it. Looks quit nice but is a bit of work and I would much prefer it to a contrasting ood inlay. I bought a 2500 Pederson SxS. The butts head had shattered and the checkering was off centered on the forearm and crooked on the pistol grip. I glued the pieces back together and overlayed the existing pattern with a slightly larger one that was centered and recessed it. The replacement pattern looks great with the recessed look and the poor job is gone..

[Cornbelt]

There is a way to transplant original wood, but its tedious and might not work in this case, but it involves drilling a small enough hole to be able to thread in a blade from a jewelers' saw to cut a dovetail from the damaged area, and the whole damaged area can be slid out as a dovetail. As you dress the ends of the dovetail, it will be looser in the notch, but with shims behind it, it will also be raised up from the surface. When it is high enough to dress down and re-checker, the only foreign wood will be the shims and not the whole patch. If you're lucky, you might even be able to cut a couple slivers from the bottom of the dovetail notch for fillers to hide the shims.

[Nessmuk#1]

I am sure it can be done, and I have contemplated it myself.  A darker wood for the grip panel...  However it is a serious bit of fitment and beyond anyone but the best wood guys out there.  If you could find a cabinet maker who does inlays you are satisfied with, he might be able to do it.  It being a blind inlet, and not a through hole adds to the difficulty.

[foxhound]

I think I am going to go a different route. I think I am going to follow advice and forget this idea. It is well beyond my skill level. I'm going to try to use epoxy/sawdust and try to tint/stain it to match. Tricky, but doable. Thanks to all for the input.
Rick

[trotterlg]

Take a picture of what you get..................I predict a mess.  Larry

[no guns here]

find someone who is good with a laser engraver

take your stock in and have the engraver vector cut an outline around the old checkering

sand down the old checkering making sure to stay inside the lines

have engraver vector cut a thin .25 - .35 inch piece of the replacement wood using the same diagram he used before

the new piece should fit nearly perfectly on all sides

very judicious hand fitting should achieve a really nice fit

bed the replacement piece

sand down the stock to match heights of wood

refinish and rechecker



Or you could just by a new stock....


I've done a couple of practice in-lays on my laser engraver at work, the pieces fit well but haven't done any stocks


NGH

[Keith L]

What a great idea!  With the right choice of wood the contrast could be striking.

[no guns here]

yep... one of these days I'll get my own laser engraver and will try that... for now it's just a tool to make plaques, mugs, glasses and such for troops that are leaving.  If I get creative one of these days, I'll do another inset piece for fun.


NGH