How to Add Checkering to a Gunstock
Gunstocks are usually made out of heavy-duty composite material or traditional woods such as walnut and oak. Traditional wooden stocks can be carved and customized with designs or other attributes such as checkering; this is a technique used to make a gripping area for the gunstock. To customize your gunstock you'll need to have a few special tools used for checkering.
Things You'll Need
- Channel carvers
- Straight-line carvers
- Padded gun vise
- Pencil
- Stain
- Sealer
Instructions
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1
Remove your magazine if applicable. Visually inspect the weapon to ensure that it is completely unloaded.
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2
Secure the gun in a padded gun vise with the stock positioned horizontal.
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3
Stencil your checkering outline using a pencil. This outline is typically rectangular or square but you can pattern your checkering outline into any shape you prefer. Stencil the outline where the gun will need the texture for added grip. Popular locations are the rear hand-grip or the foregrip.
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4
Scribe the outline using a single-line channel carving tool. This tool has a triangular tip to produce a deep channel. Work the tool back and forth; push forward on the outline pattern until you complete the outline shape.
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5
Stencil the interior cross-lines to form the checkering. Space your lines out by 1 mm. Begin at the bottom corner of the outline and draw the line across to the upper corner. Repeat the process using the other corner until you've filled the outline and have a checkered pattern.
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Scribe directly onto the lines using a straight-line carving tool. Push the tool on the line while slightly moving the tool back and forth to deepen the groove. Repeat this for all lines.
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7
Carve over the lines with the single-line channel carving tool. This will produce the embossed look that is indicative to checkering.
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8
Apply a matching stain to the checkered region or choose a darker black finish to set apart the design from the rest of the stock.
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Tips & Warnings
You can also sand down your stock and add checkering and designs using carving tools or a wood burner. This is entirely up to personal preference.
Never attempt maintenance or checkering on a loaded weapon.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
