Shortening a stock

Jayhawker · Post by **Jayhawker** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:21 pm

I'd like to add a larger recoil pad and need to shorten the stock. What is a good way to get a smooth cut if I only have hand tools? I have a cheap miter box, but I'm not able to get a clean cut with it. My belt sander is also on the small side so any large scale sanding to length is also out of the question. Any ideas other than taking it to a wood working shop that will probably charge me extravagantly for 1 swipe with a power saw?

deerwhacker444 · Post by **deerwhacker444** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:36 pm

Without access to a sander the only other option I can think of is wrap the stock really good with tape to prevent splitting and go after it slowly with a fine tooth handsaw, then handfile any high spots.

neil mitchell · Post by **neil mitchell** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:53 pm

I would mark a cut line in pencil ,then score the line with a marking knife/box cutter/single edge razor blade etc. This will keep the wood from splintering. Then cut with fine tooth handsaw (preferably crosscut saw) on the waste side of the line .Then use a file/rasp/sander to smooth out the cut up to the cut line.

Neil

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:08 pm

Jayhawker wrote:I'd like to add a larger recoil pad and need to shorten the stock. What is a good way to get a smooth cut if I only have hand tools? I have a cheap miter box, but I'm not able to get a clean cut with it. My belt sander is also on the small side so any large scale sanding to length is also out of the question. Any ideas other than taking it to a wood working shop that will probably charge me extravagantly for 1 swipe with a power saw?

just how small is that belt sander? In the past I used a porterable belt sander clamped belt-up in the vise. to do this.

Jayhawker · Post by **Jayhawker** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:59 pm

It's a 6" belt sander. Bought it for model railroad projects, for which it excels.

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:28 pm

Belt sander in a vise works great. Tape the stock, mark it where you want it cut and take it to work. I bet there is someone at work with a power miter box saw that would be glad to cut it.

gundownunder · Post by **gundownunder** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:33 pm

Why do you people always want to do things the hard way?

Get two chainsaws,
the BIG forestry types.
Carry them around for a few days
Your arms will then be long enough
so you wont need to cut the stock.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:14 am

neil mitchell wrote:I would mark a cut line in pencil ,then score the line with a marking knife/box cutter/single edge razor blade etc. This will keep the wood from splintering. Then cut with fine tooth handsaw (preferably crosscut saw) on the waste side of the line .Then use a file/rasp/sander to smooth out the cut up to the cut line.

Neil

Use a block the thickness you want to remove and lay your box cutter blade on it. Remove the buttpad and spin the stock on it's butt against the blade to mark. Then use the blade to cut a pretty deep score.

I cut the stock a little too long using a metal cutting blade in a Sawzall and finish with a belt sander to the line I cut with the blade.

rusty shackelford · Post by **rusty shackelford** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:12 am

send it to me and i'll cut it down and send it back[ 72 teeth power miter] no sanding nessary ,you should have 10.00 in shipping it both way.

larry

Shortening a stock

Shortening a stock

Re: Shortening a stock