Hello,
im planning on making a custom stock & forestock for my shotgun. I have a lot of power tools in my shop that can be used for this project (band saw, hand power sander, drill
press) but no real hand tools aside from a couple of chisels and turning tools. I don’t have much experience with hand tools in general but I’m up for this challenge even if it takes me a very long time.
I have a pretty large and heavy vice as well.
what tools do you recommend that I gather for this undertaking? Any specific links to purchase or specific brand names would be helpful.
Also any general tips for this process would be helpful as well!
Replies
I would suggest one or two good rasps. They will greatly help with the shaping you will need. I really like my Auriou rasps. They are a bit pricey but worth it.
Scrapers. Depending on the shapes you are inletting, some gouges.
A router mounted in a table will help a ton making long concave cuts consistently. A small router plane will help perfect flat-bottom recesses. Cut as much inside work as you can before you start shaping & fairing curves. Once the reference surfaces are gone it gets harder.
Go to youtube. Several vids there, and you'll see all the tools and techniques.
I am surprised no one mentioned spokeshaves. This is the type of work that spokeshaves excel at. A spokeshave or two, a couple of rasps and a couple of scrapers are all you should need, and a method of rough cutting the blank of course.
PS. You could substitute a draw knife for the spokeshave but I have more control with a spokeshave.
The Dragon rasps are fine, hand stitched, a bit cheaper the the French ones. Which are very good BTW.