The stock being copied is a pattern, that was copied and modified from a Brno602 stock on a 375 H&H: Cheeck piece added, length of pull added and a little more drop. And I put in 3/8" cast off. This pattern stock has been painted with a high strength black polyurethane paint for a slick, tough surface for the stylus to run over.
The stock being carved will be another pattern stock, with a change to the grip: Grip lengthened and moved back, a few changes in the cheek piece, and more wood all around. This stock will be inletted for the Mauser actions. Actually, I have completed it and will make a longer post later today showing the details and an explanation of what I am doing. This wood is Maple, makes a good pattern wood as it is harder than walnut.
The stylus doesn't damage the wood in any way on the pattern, but will put rub marks in a nice oil finish.
If I am tracing an existing stock, I use a teflon stylus and wax the stock, this prevents marking. The butt plate/pad must be removed, and I screw a dowel down into the front of the barrel channel to have something for the front spindle of the duplicator to grab.
I have several barreled actions to stock, so I am making a pattern in each style that I need, with my dimensions. After the patterns are completed I will carve the final stocks. Most of the rifles are big bores, with sights, so the stocks will have the correct drop and cast off, and I will extend the grips back for the high recoil guns, this keeps from bruising the fingers behind the guard. Most big bore stocks are made incorrectly, especially factory stocks.
The advantage to owning a duplicator is I can change stock dimensions by the setup in the machine, cutter selection vs stylus size, and cutter depth setting. Opens up a whole new world in stockmaking!
When I ordered your book, this is why I asked you about stock dimensions. In a couple of weeks I will start on a 500 Jeffery, and I will be styling the stock very similar to Schuler's original stocks. And I plan on copying some of the stock lines in your book. I have Whelen's full scale drawing, so I will be making a stock to his dimensions also.
Last edited by Altamaha; 01/07/10 12:18 PM.