doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com stock bending

jim, let us know how it went - any spring back ? I sent out quite a few instructions and photos at one time . Paul

I got it up from 2-7/8" at the heel to 2-1/4", left it to cool. Came back this afternoon and released the clamp. It sprung back to 2-5/8", for a net raise of 1/4". How much over the desired change do you go to, to allow for spring-back?
Thanks,
JL

Jim,
I went double what I wanted and it seemed to spring back about 1/2. Your experience isn't too far off of that.

After I moved it, I kept the heat on for another 20-30 minutes before I shut down and let it cool overnight (in the clamps).

Brent

Spring back will be anywhere from 0 to 50%.....it's a good idea to keep the heat on after the bend, as Brent said, and it's important to let the stock cool completely. Once you have a stock thoroughly heated and you've applied pressure to bend it, you can release the pressure and see how far it returns; then bend it back once again...enough "experience" observing the spring back when hot will help you learn what to expect once a stock has cooled...when doing an extreme bend (especially when altering drop), I sometimes like to just turn the heat back on after the stock has cooled overnight and heat it for another hour with the clamps in place....be careful when refiting trigger guards in straight stocks....the English had a habit of hardening long guards, probably to provide extra strength to the wrist....if hardened, they can be broken.....

I heated it for 35 minutes, with lamps set 10" from the wood. After bending, left the heat on for 20-25 more minutes. On the next session, I'll leave it clamped overnight as Brent suggested.
I can see some darkening where the mineral oil was used. Is this normal? It doesn't look burned, just sort of oil darkened. Does everyone use oil? I'm learning, I hope.
Thanks to all,

Jim, I used Canola oil and got no darkening at all. But my wood is pretty dark to start with.

Brent

If you're using red infra red lamps, stay 11" away....if white infra red, you can get closer....Canola oil works for me....it's got a relatively high smoke point, so it shouldn't discolor quickly (or discolour - if you're bending a French gun)....for a sizable drop reduction, I'd heat it much longer....at least an hour....

My lamps are red, 250W. I'll try Canola, 11" setting and 1 hr. heating time. Should I leave the heat on longer after bending, as well?
Thanks you,

I use the Canola oil also , leave the heat on for 30 minutes after bending - then cool overnight . One gun I had to bend 5 times , being inexperienced , and not wanting to bend too much at one time . It was springing back 50% , but on others had no springback . Michael , thanks for tip on being able to check springback while still hot , I thought any stock would spring back 100% if pressure was taken off right away . Paul

Mr. Moe is the Man!! :-)

JC(AL)