Checkering bench

[happymecanic]

My checkering bench is functionnal, AT LAST!!! There’s still a lot of finishing work to do though, many edges and welds need to be ground smooth, a little machining work is yet to be done, and of course I’ll paint the steel parts (black). Also I want to add some shelving underneath, add a work light and finish the wood decently.

The bench is almost entirely made from recycled materials. All the wood is recycled pallet wood (oak, maple and birch), and all the steel parts are made from scrap metal. The gears are from a scrapped angle grinder and the bearings come from a scrapped ceiling fan. I used a short piece of scrap 3’’ round bar of MDS polymer to make the cup that holds the fore end of the stock. The only stuff I had to buy are some bolts and nuts, some lag bolts and also felts pads fot the riflestock holders. Ah, and I already have the paint for it. I think I invested less than 30$ to build this bench, not too bad I think.

Now I also need to make a few more checkering tools, I need a 18 LPI cutter for a project, and also spacer cutters for french checkering. So I’m not done yet lol!

[dan_house]

That's AWESOME!

more pics and a vid of it in action when you can, please!

[bear air]

Super nice set up. Following along to see when the checkering begins.

[TooJung2Die]

That is impressive. Nice work. You could've posted the photos of it without a gunstock mounted and asked us, "What is it?" I'll bet it would've taken a long time before anyone correctly guessed it's purpose. Thank you for sharing this.

[happymecanic]

Thanks so much for the kind words guys!!! But, to be honest, I simply don't know how to make a video, I don't even have a recording device. I'll do my best to keep you updated with pictures. Speaking of which, I did some good progress.

The very first project with this bench is a rifle stock I started a few years ago, and never could finish up until now. It's a very modified (but still under 500 fps) Benjamin Classic .22, with a totally re-shaped Crosman Vantage stock. I always wanted to cut French (or Scottish) checkering, so here I go now.

I started by tracing the rifle's contour on a sheet of paper, then I drew the shape of the checkered panels like I wanted. I used arts & craft flexible plastic sheet to reproduce the shape of the panels, then taped the plastic stencils to the rifles and drew the contours. I then traced the diamond angle (ratio of 3 1/2 to 1), then after the ''master lines''. After that it was only a matter of cutting the lines @ 20 LPI. The panels will have a single line border.

[Tater]

Wow! Nice job and very cool.
How are you going to finish the checkered areas?

[Hoosier Daddy]

Very Cool!
 What is the "cutter" for the checkering?

[happymecanic]

Wow! Nice job and very cool.
How are you going to finish the checkered areas?

Thank you dear sir!

The stock itself isn't finished yet, so both the checkering and smooth surfaces will be finished with Minwax Antique Oil. First three layers are diluted 50/50, the last ones full strength. I usually use #0000 steel wool on the checkering between coats, and 400-600 grit sandpaper on the smooth surfaces.

[happymecanic]

Very Cool!
 What is the "cutter" for the checkering?

Thank you Scott!

All my checkering tools are home made by me. I have two kinds of tools: machined, and nickel/silver soldered strips of steel spring.

The machined tools are made of D2 tool steel. I used a 1/32'' thick cutting wheel on my Dremel to cut the separations between teeth. One side has teeth, the other side is smooth to follow a line without cutting.

The soldered tools are made from short strips of an old chainsaw recoil starter spring. I found it's made from 1095 steel, so I was able to anneal it, work it and re-harden it. I shaped the cutters with diamond files, checking the spacing with a thread pitch gauge. I currently have 16, 18 and 20 LPI tools. I also made some single line cutters, a 75°, a 90° and a 105° one.

I also made a ''skip a line'' cutter fot that french checkering from a single piece of 1//16'' thick tool steel, but I'll make another machined one if I do this kind of job again. The handles are made from some scrap wood and metal, the cutters are held with a 3 mm Allen head bolt.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Amazing!
I am in awe...

[bear air]

Awesome work. That's some real craftsmanship.

[happymecanic]

Thanks again guys, much appreciated!

First step is done on the right side of the stock, next step will be to deepen the cuts to form the diamond points:

[dan_house]

Great Work!

[happymecanic]

Great Work!

Thank you  .

I'm close to be done, will update with new pics soon.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I will be waiting on "pins and needles".