doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Opinions on wood

A hidden steel rod will shore up the worst wrist grain possible in an otherwise lovely blank...Geo

A Ferlach stockmaker told me that they put tought hardwood sticks into delicate fancy stocks routinly.

With kind regards,
Jani

Old school was a hickory or hard maple dowel. I've seen a metal rod used. But with a millon blanks out there why try to make a weak blank do? Keep looking and find a better one.

I appreciate the discussion. I'm curious as to estimates of value of the two blanks.

I think without knowing what the size of the blanks are in comparison to the finished product its a bit hard to judge that knot may be a pin knot and flat go away once final shaping is done. Ditto with the sapwood on that blank. I like number 1 if all the bad stuff turns out during final shaping. If it can't turn out, I'd go for number 2 because while it has a bit lesser figure the strength is better. I also think a bit depends on what gauge this gun is. Just my 2 cents worth.

Also for what its worth, the second bland appears to start out quartersawn and then the top of the rear of the blank on one side looks slaw sawn to me. To me that makes the figure inconsistent from side to side, although once again during final shaping it my be 100 percent quartersawn throughout the blank.

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