Author Topic: handmade forearm? (Read 2096 times)

PartsMan · « **on:** February 09, 2007, 03:48:12 AM »

Has anybody tried to make there own forearm.
I was thinking of longer and thinner.
Kind of a sporter look.

Anyway I'm looking for tips and pics.
How can I "cut" the barrel channel.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2007, 04:24:53 AM »

I did one last fall just for shooting off a bag rest , here is a pic .

stimpy

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2007, 04:28:58 AM »

I used a table saw to cut a V in the top , then took a 3/4" deepwell socket wrapped in 60 grit sandpaper to work in the channel , it was for my 223 BB .

stimpy

PartsMan · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2007, 05:00:55 AM »

I new I had seen one some around here.
Looks nice.
What kind off wood should I use?
Did you full length bed it or just pillar bed at stud?

P.S. Is the wood or synthetic better to paint.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2007, 05:25:49 AM »

partsman

I made this one out of white pine just to keep the weight down , Beach , Burch , Walnut or Pine will work welll depending on the shape and finish that you want .

I have found that the wood stocks work best for painting , but the plastic can be done with the right prep also .

It is only bedded to about 1" past the barrel stud the rest has 1/16" of clearance to the end .

stimpy

PartsMan · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2007, 06:53:33 AM »

What about something like this.
Core Box Router bit.
It might take some of the work out of it.
I have found them up to 3/4" online but not at stores.

joshco84 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2007, 08:10:34 AM »

if it was me i would take two or three feet of the blank you are wanting to use (with squared up outer surfaces) and have a machine shop use a ball end mill and just run a channel down through it. Could be done on a manual mill really easy in less than ten minutes. Shouldnt cost more than 20 dollars or so i would think.

northjdr · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2007, 08:13:25 AM »

I'd simply drill into the stock material with a slightly undersized bit and then cut in half and sand to fit.

aulrich · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2007, 08:39:12 AM »

I like stimpylu32 solution, yes its the most manual but unless some piece of CNC, to me it's like your trading manual work time for tool setup time.

fastbike · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2007, 08:44:06 AM »

If you've already got a router and/or router table, the core box bit (go PartsMan) is a great idea. I may have to try a couple to see how it works. A mill near me has a lot of exotic "shorts" that might make some great forends.

Quote from: aulrich on February 09, 2007, 08:39:12 AM

I like stimpylu32 solution, yes its the most manual but unless some piece of CNC, to me it's like your trading manual work time for tool setup time.

PartsMan · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2007, 09:30:05 AM »

I have a good router but no bit and its not in a table(hand held).
I would have to buy the bit and make a jig, but I could make some extra blanks once set up.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2007, 09:48:00 AM »

Hi partsman. I am pretty sure I have the core box bit that you have mention and seeing as I have a full shop set up if you want to mail me the blank and tell me what the outer demintions you want.I can plane it run it through my jointer and plow the 3/4 cove down the center for you. free of charge because i have bin thinking of doing the same thing myself but these barrels have a taper and I do not know how it will turn out when installed.You can be the ginnie pig and let me know how it comes out.

Quote from: PartsMan on February 09, 2007, 05:00:55 AM

I new I had seen one some around here.
Looks nice.
What kind off wood should I use?
Did you full length bed it or just pillar bed at stud?

P.S. Is the wood or synthetic better to paint.

PartsMan · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2007, 09:58:53 AM »

I was going to try with a pine 2x4 first to see for myself.
Thanks for the offer.
I will see if I can find a bit in town this weekend.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2007, 10:05:23 AM »

I just checked I do have the bit.The offer is still on the table.

Quote from: PartsMan on February 09, 2007, 09:58:53 AM

I was going to try with a pine 2x4 first to see for myself.
Thanks for the offer.
I will see if I can find a bit in town this weekend.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2007, 10:24:31 AM »

I do have a 3/8 cove bit which is measured from the center to the outer edge. It would plow a 3/4 half round down a blank. If anyone wants to try this and inform me of the rusults once installed. I would be willing to do it for the first person that replies. Of course you would have to mail me your blank and pay shipping both ways but my labor would be free.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2007, 10:33:26 AM »

Hi Dale, Let me scare up an appropriate piece of wood and get back to you OK?....<><....

If I remember correctly a friend of mine has a bunch of rosewood cutoff ends he offered me a while ago...

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2007, 10:38:19 AM »

Ok just let me know.It should not take me more than 30 minutes in my shop.

Quote from: MSP Ret on February 09, 2007, 10:33:26 AM

Hi Dale, Let me scare up an appropriate piece of wood and get back to you OK?....<><....

If I remember correctly a friend of mine has a bunch of rosewood cutoff ends he offered me a while ago...

PartsMan · « **Reply #17 on:** February 11, 2007, 04:55:38 PM »

Well I found a 3/4" core box bit today.
Did some playing around in the garage.
Not to pretty but I have seen worse on new guns. ( I have a 22 with this very type of forearm factory.)
It does seem to be fitting well though.
I will try to get a range report before I build another.
Here are some pics.

backstrap · « **Reply #18 on:** February 12, 2007, 03:40:21 AM »

Nice looking forearm u made there partsman are u going to paint it or stain it?

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2007, 05:27:54 AM »

Partsman

You did good buddy , see once you get the basic idea there is no limit to what you can do with these fun little rifles . add a c-clamp or 2 and you can even make your own lams in any colors you want .

stimpy

Roudy · « **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2007, 05:34:55 AM »

Dalescarpentry,

Just a thought on the tapered barrel channel.....Assuming you are using a router table, if you mounted the forearm blank to a tapered piece of wood, with carpet tape for instance, then routed the channel you should get a tapered cut in the forearm. The unknown here is the amount of taper, probably trial and error, but once you get the tapered carrier right you could re-use it.

Roudy

PartsMan · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2007, 05:40:05 AM »

If It shoots good I will paint it and use with synthetics.
I think I will make another for my 7-08 to stain.
this one has two lug holes.
The first one was way off so I cut 2" off and started over.

bigjeepman · « **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2007, 05:45:47 AM »

Very nice PartsMan ... I imagine the second one will be easier than the first. Keep up the great work and keep posting please. This is interesting.

PartsMan · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2007, 07:39:42 AM »

This may be a new hobby(habit) for me.
I just called nef to order an extra forearm spacer.
Ended up getting three.
That should keep me busy.
Also I have som oak left from another project.
Will that work or is it too hard and heavy.

joshco84 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2007, 07:52:29 AM »

should work great and would look awesome if you stained it when done. Will be a bit heavier though, but not too bad since there is really not that much wood to a forearm

bigshooz · « **Reply #25 on:** February 12, 2007, 08:25:44 AM »

I've bought forearms from h&r as factory 2nds that are as good as the ones that came with my guns,at the price of $7 last year .You could cut these and splice them togetherjust keep the bolt hole where it should be, you can go as long as you like with a few dowels and gorilla glue. Mike

quickdtoo · « **Reply #26 on:** February 12, 2007, 09:09:49 AM »

The factory second stocks aren't regularly available, they haven't had any when folks have asked for em, so don't count on them being available.

Tim

bigjeepman · « **Reply #27 on:** February 12, 2007, 10:31:17 AM »

I'm not sure if you have any wood mills around your area but places like that sell many different species of wood that you might try. Just a thought ...

MSP Ret · « **Reply #28 on:** February 12, 2007, 10:37:18 AM »

I have spoken to the person at H&R that has all the info on that incident of the sale of stock "seconds". It will not be happening again, it is a little more involved than that but suffice to say, not again....<><....

PartsMan · « **Reply #29 on:** February 13, 2007, 03:47:37 AM »

No I don't think we have any mills here.
Trees don't grow here native so most of our lumber is trucked in.
Premium wood is pretty high if you can find it.

I hate to think what a "second" forearm would look like.
The good ones are not so hot.