I recently bought a few new gunstock ‘checkering’ tools. I want to try to use them to give that texture to parts or panels of furniture pieces, or perhaps to the backgrounds of relief carvings, but I have no idea how to use them properly. I can see how the principles presumably apply (putting some teeth in each existing row to guide the next cuts, etc.), but there’s nothing like experience, even other people’s experience!
Can anyone give me some tips on how to use these checkering tools, or guide me to a site / forum where I might read up a bit? I bought a couple of different sizes, not knowing what might end up working well or looking right in different woods. Any help will be appreciated (as to what woods to try first, physical techniques, finishing the checkered surfaces, anything at all), since I’m starting from perfect ignorance.
Thanks in advance,
Clay
Replies
The fundamentals of hand-cutting checkering may be found @ http://www.gunline.com, but most backgrounds and textures I've examined on furniture surfaces are simply die-stamped. When checkering, the grain should follow the long axis of the diamonds, or you will have trouble with crumbling.
John
I speak from a little experience-but there are two essential things to do from the outset: 1) have a reliable comfortable means of holding the work and 2) practise first on some scrap timber.
I assume you have the two tools usually used- the vee tool and the line spacer which looks like a double vee tool.
It is an art.
I have seen some nice work done with carving tools that simulates checkering but is usually a little coarser grained. It can look very nice and is somewhat more applicable to the coarser grained woods often used for furniture. The main tool is usually a vee gouge. I have also seen some nice basketweave textures carved... trying this myself I found that it goes pretty smoothly in mahogany (a wondrous wood for so many applications). Some gun manufacturers make a cheap heat- pressed version of this look, but it has little resemblance to the attractive surfaces created by hand carving work.
There is a gunsmith supply company called Brownells and they have a huge catolog for that field as well as a website. I have their interchangable bit screwdrivers I am sure they have some books on the subject.
Troy
midwayusa.com has both supplies and videos of gun checkering. They have also covered checkering on their TV show GunTecTV thats on the outdoor channel.
http://www.cambiumbooks.com has two books listed for sale:
- "Gunstock Carving: A Step-by-step Guide to Engraving Rifles & Shotguns" by Bill Janney
- "Checkering & Carving of Gunstocks" by Monty Kennedy
Don
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