Thread: Checkering tools

This is it... As new





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Thought id better use these tools I got off @theclaw and give the Ruger a sharp new look. The stock has been sanded back restained and oiled. This is my first attempt at checkering so dont be to harsh. I am lucky you could just visibly see the old checkering so I used the same pattern for my master lines..

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I do a lot of checkering and can recommend lots of practise. You will find that the cutters wear quite quickly so dont be a tight bugger as there is nothing worse than blunt cutters.



Laminated stock



This is a handy thing to have as it keeps the stock well held in place and it enables the stock to be rolled over easily for when you are cutting on rounds

Thats pretty bloody brilliant mate @Chop3r . Something to aspire to! One of the singe liners was shagged but i just dont use that the other pieces were all new or practically new. I need lots more practice. But you gotta start somewhere!

I used the same kit as you have when I first started but then went and bought the pro kit which has 6 handles and they all get used. A few tips for you mate. If you just doing a recut of the pattern then you only need a single line cutter. Try it with a double line cutter and it will turn to shit 90% of the time.
The reason it does that is that you are meant to do 3 to 4 cuts one way and do the same amount of cuts in the opposite direction, try it all one way and the lines are going to head off in funny directions. You do tend to start swearing when that happens. The finest work I have done so far is 24 lines to the inch and that is hell on the eyes.
You will see in the one of the photos I put up that you can cut laminated stocks, its not easy as the cutters will try and slide on the surface of the stock plus you cannot cut any finer than 16 lines to the inch or the tops of the diamonds will tear off.

A handy tool is a thread gauge which you can flog out the tap and die set, great for measuring the lines per inch for new work. Recuts arent too bad but when you attack your first new stock then some serious work comes into play in laying the work out, setting out the angle of the diamonds and designing a pattern that suits the stock.
Been doing this for some 20 odd years and I still manage to fuck it up here and there, the big difference is that I can hide them better

Thanks mates. I did make a couple of wee cock ups using the double cutter. Im going to attach the single cutter with guide for the other side. As it hasnt been used and will be nice and sharp. Im going to draw a few more progress lines to the next side so I know the angles are staying as they should. Cheers for the advise.

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Pretty rapped with this side of the grip, so far. Few wee over runs but should clean up good.

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And thats a rap for my first attempt. Not perfect, but you gotta start somewhere.

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I can see them and thats the joys of the pistol grips, the cutters want to move with the curve

Looks mean, the oil or what ever you used really helped cover up the marks good