Newbie says hello

[Tim Null]

Hello all.

Been reading all of your posts with great interest, trying to soak up all the knowledge I can.

I just started in woodworking. I came into it from an unusual place. I got into adult airguns about three years ago. About 18 months ago I started carving stocks for a certain model.

Here are a few examples:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsGuns514.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsGuns398.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsGuns426.jpg

I really enjoyed it, and wanted do more in woodworking.

Many dollars later......LOL, I am putting together my shop in my one car garage.

My wife gets the two car garage. We have space for three cars, but the one car garage is a separate building, so it is mine!

Rigid tools abound for now. TS, with Woodworker II blade, bandsaw with upgraded blade, blocks, Kreg fence, planer, Dewalt miter saw, router with Woodpecker table and lift.

Various hand tools, Veritas planes (tried a cheap one.....waste of money!)

I just finished building a full woodworkers bench. Lon Schleining's new classic in his book, "The Workbench". A few modifications, but basically his design.

Full maple, about $1,000.00 worth!

I am building the drawers for the space underneath right now. Almost finished. Baltic birch with maple trim and walnut fronts. Goes nicely with the maple bench.

I learned a lot making the bench. Never cut mortises before, so cutting 16 in 3" hard maple was quite a trial by fire!

Never used a plane before. I know why you guys get all misty eyed when producing gossamer thin shavings with a well tuned plane......almost a religious experience.

I am still getting my shop in order, trying to get all the storage set up. Critical in a one car garage.....LOL

I will post pictures of the bench once the drawers are in. It came out pretty nice, but I made my share of errors. I have heard it said that a good woodworker is not perfect, he just knows how to correct/hide his errors!

TimN

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Tim,

Welcome to the Creek!

What beautiful stocks! I can't wait to see some of your future projects!

[Eric Larsen]

That is beautiful work.

You should really post some start to finish pictures on your next project. I know a lot of people here would love to see it.

[gary Zimmel]

A warm welcome to the Creek Tim.

As others have said, beautiful stocks. thanks for the pics.
How about some shots of your bench.

We all love pics...

[Lon LeBlanc]

Tim,

Welcome to the Creek. Nice stocks. I'm with Eric....maybe post a series of pics from raw stock, to...er...finished stock.

...guess that's a "stock" reply, huh?


Lon

[Tim Null]

Can do. I am working on a stock right now for a customer. I just started carving it. It is poplar with a walnut tip, seems to be the most popular stock I carve.

I was going to wait until the drawers were done before posting pics of the bench, but I guess I can show what is done now and then pics of the finished project.

My shop is never quite as clean as I would like......LOL

TimN

[Don Bullock]

Tim, welcome to Sawmill Creek. You have a sure fire way of getting our attention. Nice work.

[Brent Smith]

My shop is never quite as clean as I would like......LOL

TimN


Welcome to the Creek Tim. Don't worry about a messy shop, posting pics of a clean one is what'll get you in trouble around here :eek:.

[John Eaton]

Sounds to me like you've got a great start. Welcome to the creek.

-- John

[richard poitras]

Welcome aboard and the carvings of the gun stocks look great!

[Bill White]

What type finish do you use on the stocks?
Bill

[Tim Null]

I have tried a few things, but I now use Tru Oil almost exclusively. Rubbed on with a small square of a cotton rag until it is almost dry to the touch.

About 5-7 coats, sometimes sanded with a 000 scotchbrite pad between coats if the surface is a bit rough.

Gunstock wax after the final coat has cured for 24-48 hours.

This gives a nice semi-gloss finish.

I know some guys do 20 or more coats to give a high gloss finish.

TimN

[Jim Becker]

Beautiful work, Tim.

[John Keeton]

Very nice work! Do you do custom work on modern guns? Checkering? The reason for asking is a recent post asked if any creekers would take on a custom stock for a shotgun.

[Gary Lange]

Welcome to the Creek! With the looks of those Stocks I think we will see some beautiful work come out of your shop.

[John Shuk]

Welcome Tim. Those stocks are fabulous. I imagine that once a person sees one of them not much else will do.

[Tim Null]

Haven't learned checkering yet. Been meaning to get to it......after all the other projects get done....LOL

I carve stocks that have been cut out and then inletted. I get them from a woodworker, Don Main back in Iowa. So far he cuts and inlets for adult airguns.

I could carve for any gun if the blank is cut and then inletted. Don can do this, but he needs the actual gun to cut and inlet from. After that, I can carve it.




My shop:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop003.jpg

Left side, table saw, miter saw, bandsaw, router table. All on wheels.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop004.jpg

Right side, carving bench, tool chest, sander and drill press

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop005.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop013.jpg

Back of shop, my bench!

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop009.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop011.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop012.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop010.jpg

Here is what I start with for the stocks:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop007.jpg

That is a walnut thumb hole. This next one is a partially carved poplar with walnut tip. Recoil pad is installed.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop006.jpg


I built all of the tool stands. Most are just simple 2x4 construction. The carving bench is my own design for what I do. Plywood top with trim. I recently built in drawers, as a trial for the drawers I am building for my bench.

What do you think, considering it is my first real woodworking project.

I did almost all of the work on my carving bench. You really do need a bench in order to build a bench. Catch 22....LOL!

TimN

[J. Z. Guest]

Seems like you've jumped in with both feet Tim!

I too work in a one car garage, shared with two motorcycles!

I have the Ridgid 2400 table saw and jointer, but no bandsaw. (I do OK with a Bosch jigsaw, but then again, I don't make gunstocks!) My bench is built of laminated 2x4s, plywood, and a replacable hardboard top.

Don't forget clamps!

Beautiful work on the airgun stocks. I'm a shooter myself too, (firearms though) so I can really appreciate those stocks. It looks like a lot of hours' worth of work.

I look forward to seeing more of your work.

[Jim Becker]

So...'how you gonna sneak into that shop late at night without opening the big door? LOL

[Tim Null]

Haven't learned checkering yet. Been meaning to get to it......after all the other projects get done....LOL

I carve stocks that have been cut out and then inletted. I get them from a woodworker, Don Main back in Iowa. So far he cuts and inlets for adult airguns.

I could carve for any gun if the blank is cut and then inletted. Don can do this, but he needs the actual gun to cut and inlet from. After that, I can carve it.




My shop:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop003.jpg

Left side, table saw, miter saw, bandsaw, router table. All on wheels.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop004.jpg

Right side, carving bench, tool chest, sander and drill press

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop005.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop013.jpg

Back of shop, my bench!

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop009.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop011.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop012.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop010.jpg

Here is what I start with for the stocks:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop007.jpg

That is a walnut thumb hole. This next one is a partially carved poplar with walnut tip. Recoil pad is installed.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/tnull5/TimsShop006.jpg


I built all of the tool stands. Most are just simple 2x4 construction. The carving bench is my own design for what I do. Plywood top with trim. I recently built in drawers, as a trial for the drawers I am building for my bench.

What do you think, considering it is my first real woodworking project.

I did almost all of the work on my carving bench. You really do need a bench in order to build a bench. Catch 22....LOL!

TimN

[Clara Koss]

for a newbie you sure got lots of responses.... seems there are a lot of gun afficionados out there ...so you are all voting for mccain right???? the guns look fab... do you carve real rifle stocks as well????;)