doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Help inletting an ebony tip on a forearm

I am working on a restock of a fox sterlingworth 20ga.I want to add an ebony insert to the tip.The type that protrudes downward.Not sure what that is called.Does anyone have any tips on this or closeup pictures they would like to share.Anything would help.thanks

No, pics but just before glueing/epoxying it in wash it with solvent to get the oil off. The oil in the wood will prevent a good bond.
bill

I have used acetone to clean the ebony before gluing.

I use Accraglass with the black dye added to hide any of the glue joint. Looks very good to me when done this way. That is if your ebony is really black. If not, just play a little with the dyes to get a good color match. It takes so very little dye to change the color of the raw Accraglass. Just dipping the end of a tooth pick in the dye is usually more than enough, for the little amount you are mixing up to glue this in.

I also inlet a couple of small studs into the forearm and tip to add support.

Are you inletting from a blank or will you have a pattern duplicated? I actually made the ebony insert on this one first, carefully taped it in masking tape, then bedded it in 5-minute epoxy on the pattern stock...came back to me with only 5 or 10 minutes of very easy work with an exacto blade and small chisel to set it in for a decent fit.

Contrary to others, if I did it again I think I would use clear epoxy to put it in--there is one imperfection in my inletting that the black epoxy I used shows up, while I think clear would be invisible.

What a lovely forend.
I second the clear epoxy.

Here are pics of 2 originals on the Fox Collector's site. You might consider joining to be privy to a wealth of info and advice...

http://www.foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1332

I just did one last week but I used bark ivory. Draw the shape you want on cardboard, then transfer the pattern to the wood and the inlay piece. I used a small chisel to mark and remove the wood from the patterned area. I then used 5 minute epoxy as it is clear to set the piece. If you are refinishing the whole forend, you can sand the tip material in place but do not over heat it as it will make the epoxy soft again. Heat also causes stress cracks in ivory if you are using it. If you are just setting the tip in a finished forend you have to get the right thickness as the recess dictates, sand and fit sand and fit, then glue with epoxy. It took me about two hours.

anybody know where i can get some good ebony.


P.S. Thanks for all the reply's.That is what makes the board so valuable.

I have bought good ebony on E Bay
Sydney