doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Checkering for Beginners (pic intensive)

I use to make pens on a wood lathe. Think about a few thousands pens to get the picture. Used super glue by the bucket full. I bought by the case, in 16 ounces bottles, for about what 4 ounces cost at the local hobby shop. Super glue has a short life once open and will set up in the bottle. It comes in several thickness from thinner than water to thicker than honey on a cold day. Also comes in black, or did last time I checked. Several penturner groups have bulk buying for deep discounts.

When turning spalted wood I would soak the wood as I turned it to make it strong enough to turn down. Then used it in the finishing of the pen. Like I said, I used a lot of it over the years but it made it possible to use some of the fanciest woods that could find. Small punky areas and cracks were no problem. I can see how it would make soft wood strong for checkering. Also you can glue your fingers to geather for kicks if not careful. That is real fun also.

Jon, Sounds like a nice place for wood scraps from fancy gun stocks to end up. Pens. Hmm. Jake

KyJon --- your mentioning gluing fingers together reminded me of a story. Many years back when Krazy glue came out, a woman used it on her cheating husband in my town. After he arrived home drunk(again), she waited for him to pass out and glued his member to his thigh and his cheeks together as well as his inner thighs. Apon finishing her act of vengence, she packed her important belongings and left him for good. I'm aware of this story as a friend worked for the EMS and was called to assist this guy --- bummer. Ken

Mike: That was an excellent post. thank you! I am printing it out and will refer to it. I have tried checkering several times and each time have given up in frustration.
Ken: Thank you for your additions to the thread. Your willingness to share information, experience is legendary!

I can't tell what the gun is sir?
...but does the new wood match it's original station in life.
I'd be hanged, if one of my old American fowlers had the wood of a London gun. It is what is!

Thanks Mike, I think I will order 2x and 4x to wear on my Costco 2.0 glasses. That way I can get different focal lengths and power based on what I am doing.

Mike, Can't believe I missed this! Thanks very much for this, it's a huge help with the pictures, etc.
DF

Mike,
That's damned impressive checkering work, PLUS outstanding project photography and documentation. Another great tutorial for my Gunshop folder. Thanks for putting it together.

I gave the checkering a hairy eye and it's really good, *sigh* better than mine . I look at the skill areas which give me problems and the work is clean: The checkering lines up straight and parallel across the points, not just across the valleys. The work around the grip and inside radius at the back-bottom of the grip is dynamite.
Keeping it together in those complex surface areas is not easy, first decide from which viewing angle should the checkering look straight and parallel, then make curved cuts to achieve the illusion.
Super stuff Mike!