This stock just finished the design stage tonight. I picked up the wood (walnut) and had it planed to size today. Tomorrow I'll print my plans and transfer them to the stock.
Before you ask, yes I will still be able to access the quick disconnect for bulk filling. It protrudes through a channel on the other side of the stock at 45 degrees from the centerline (you can't see it in the above pictures)
I guess the "8/4" was easy to find? Couple of things though.....are you a lefty? Just wondering why you have a raised cheeck-piece on the right hand side of the gun if your not. Also, that gun will be H-E-A-V-Y! There's got to be 8 lbs of wally-nut in that stock! Have you considered skeletonizing it? I'm not trying to be negative....the drawings look great. But speaking as a guy who has made a custom stock or 30 in his day, I would hate for you to put all the effort into the stock just to figure out later that you wish you had done something different.
No I'm not a lefty. The model of the stock is ambidexturous. It was easier to model it that way, and also shows the lines better for when I transfer it to the wood. I'm not sure if the actual stock will end up being ambidexturous or not.
The weight is definately one thing that concerned me when I was trying to decide which type of wood to use. I wanted a walnut stock for the looks, but my D54 has a walnut stock as is very heavy. Before I bought it I held up the wood blank in a shooting position and I was surprised that it's not nearly as heavy as I thought it would be. I have no idea why... maybe it's just my imagination, or maybe the action of the D54 is heavy? Anyway I figured as long as the end result is no heavier than my 54 then I'll be satisfied. When it's cut and inletted I'll put the action in it and check it for weight before going any further.
The 8/4 was easy to find after all. My brother-in-law is a cabinet maker so I asked him where he got his hardwood. It was $25 for 4'x2"x6". I was expecting it to be more like $40 to $50! I also had him plane it for me like you suggested.
What tools do you use for shaping your stocks? I was just planing on using rasp files, a dremel, and lots of sand paper.
You could save yourself a day's worth of rasping if you print your stock drawing on transparent paper,then use a projector to get the image on your blank full size then bandsaw the blank to rough shape, prviding you have access to projector and bandsaw.Even using a jigsaw to rough it out would save a hell of alot of time.
Couple of things though.....are you a lefty? Just wondering why you have a raised cheeck-piece on the right hand side of the gun if your not. Also, that gun will be H-E-A-V-Y! There's got to be 8 lbs of wally-nut in that stock! Have you considered skeletonizing it? I'm not trying to be negative....the drawings look great. But speaking as a guy who has made a custom stock or 30 in his day, I would hate for you to put all the effort into the stock just to figure out later that you wish you had done something different.
