Gunstock WIP

[Timberwolf]

Looks fantastic Engraver!

Especially love the consistency of the pine cone carving.

I have a Remington 30-06 that the FIL gave me as a wedding present some 16 years ago. You've given me an idea...

[lorax]

Engraver,
I am impressed and inspired. I got my powercrafter setup a couple months ago, and haven't done anything with it. I bout it used and don't have any of the instructions on using the pattern sticky-plastic stuff. Did you just wing it, Like I was planning? The training videos being $50 seems a little pricey. For a first project you did a phenomenal job!

[engraver99]

Hey Patrick,

Yes, I used the plastic sticky stuff...lol. I got a fishscale pattern and some leaves from a template, changed it to the way I liked it (Made fishscales smaller), made leaves to inlclude 3d detail (raised veins & stuff). Printed on the sticky stuff and applied to gun.

Then lightly traced pattern with pointed tip - and removed. Once pattern was lightly traced, I began to do the actual cutting and forming using a multidude of bits to achieve the 3d effect you see. You can leave the pattern on and carve, but its alot easier to have to NOT cut through it if you can help it. I prefer to take it off...In the videos they leave it on.

I did the outlines first, then defined raised areas, then formed from there. The video you are referring to may be worth it. The ones I received from SCM have been for me.

To do fishscales you will want to follow a fishscale pattern. Use a football shaped type bit to carve the fishscale. Once all this is done, I undercut (cut under the fishscales) with a pointed bit. Then its sanding, more shaping and clean up with a smaller diamond football bit to remove all the tool marks. Once that is completed, I hand sand it with a diamond football bit that I placed in an exacto knife handle to remove sharp edges so it scales won't catch clothing.

I actually found it quite easy to do but takes a long time (At least 3-4 passes per scale). I used 2 size football diamond bits, pointed greenstone bit, and a few others depending on what I was looking to do or fix.

If you need help, just ask. ....This really was the first piece of wood I ever carved also! I couldn't believe it went so well...so far. The one thing I learned tho....Wood is forgiving and its pretty easy to fix mistakes....Up to a point I guess. I did practice some fishscaling (5 rows) before I did the gun to get the hang of it.

PS... the video's were worth it for me...A picture says a thousand words...A video says more! I tried to do a youtube video to show process, but I didn't have 6 pairs of hands and gave up.

To use the sticky stuff..just put it in the printer and print your pattern on it. I use a laser or inkjet. Peel off back and apply pattern to substrate.

Kevin

[lorax]

Thanks Kevin.
That's good to know about taking off the film, I wouldnt have thought of that. Do you just use an embossing pen and push the pattern in? I'm eager to go try it out!

[engraver99]

No I scribe it in with a pointed burr/bit, but you could just leave the pattern on and go. I'd leave it on and try a practice piece, then try it after scribing it in...see which you like better.

Kevin