Traditional Muzzleloading Association
Craftsmanship => Gun Building and Repair => Topic started by: RobD on June 02, 2023, 05:51:12 AM
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I've had one on order for about a month, extra fancy maple and .54 bore, when last evening I get an email from the Kibler klan with a buncha "B" stock kits available. Basically, reduced price kits due only to stock wood blemishes, mineral lines, slight boo-boos that need fixin', etc. There was one that had huge mineral "snakey wiggles" around the stock fore end, so butt ugly it looked weirdly neat to my old eyes. So, I bought it. Old Snakey.
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Minor blemishes add character. :hairy :)
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I'da bought it, cause I got character and lots minor blemishes, too. :applaud :luff: :applaud :luff:
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Yep, I like it cuz it's different.
As always, keep us posted .
Kevin
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That should turn out unique, I like it!
~Kees~
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I have done some of the Kiblers that have flaws in the stocks, too. The mineral streaks or streaks from worm holes have taken my stains very dark and I like the look. Good luck on your Woodsrunner, I'm looking forward to seeing some posts of your build. I just received a .54 Woodsrunner today and will be starting on it in the next few days. Its my first Woodsrunner and compared to the SMRs and Colonials I've done it appars to have closer tolerances on the stock, buttplate, and nose cap. I don't particularly like the pre-drilled holes for the nose cap, but perhpas it will grow on me.
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Just arrived ... this should go together in an hour or two, tops. The stock finishing will take hours, however.
(https://i.imgur.com/LV8fqh1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0kugnmz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kEETyve.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/L3S6wZ2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/CF8ZTnQ.jpg)
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The grain in that wood is really gonna "POP" when you get some stain and finish on it! :hairy
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37 minutes to stick it all together, piece of cake - even including polishing the brass with a 3M fine abrasive pad. Now to take it all apart, sand the wood (150, 220, 320), aqua fortis stain, Tru-Oil finish.
(https://i.imgur.com/u6hBntn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ToDXdoq.jpg)
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:hairy
Can't wait to see the final result!
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Completely disassembled, stock sanded 150-220-320, iron nitrate up next.
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Iron nitrate washed on and drying ... ain't dat such a purty color or what??? LOL!!!
(https://i.imgur.com/vqd2HgQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/cfOUr2Y.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9HPGubU.jpg)
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Heat gunned ... stripes won't be visible until the oil goes on ...
(https://i.imgur.com/gsQTWZY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BBjilzu.jpg)
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You sure have to have a good imagination until the oil goes on. The vise grips on the bench with the rifle has me scratching my head a little. :)
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You sure have to have a good imagination until the oil goes on. The vise grips on the bench with the rifle has me scratching my head a little. :)
For pulling the pins.
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:bl th up
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All done save for rubbing in a beeswax protective finish.
Been raining the last four days, just waiting for some sunshine to take proper daylight images and baptize this little .54 popper under fire.
(https://i.imgur.com/KKjAO71.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IjrtOIF.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VKB9gbM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NjhdHzn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BxBNUUA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/iACLJe6.jpg)
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:hairy that's one pretty rifle gun! ought to name this girl SEXY!
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Looks great, I've been eyeballin' these kits since Rob posted .
Might have to sell my TC hawken for one.
Kevin
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The ticket for a plain maple or cherry Woodsrunner is $1200 + shipping (typically $50). I'll be ordering another, in .45 and cherry. :applaud
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Sun finally peeked out ...
(https://i.imgur.com/TAIjBJ2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7EHOfz1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NQEGohg.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/y7ivTVY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/k2xKakr.jpg)
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:hairy :hairy :hairy :hairy :applaud
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:hairy That came out nice, BUT, you didn't barber-pole the ramrod! :luff: (that's a joke, son.) Now we need a range report.
You keep posting these, I may have to sell all the guns I have in order to afford one of Mr. Kibler's kits! I could save on shipping by driving up to get it myself. Of course I had two emails from Kibler that he now has carving on the stock available for another $375! That could amount to some real serious money by the time all the options are checked off! :o
~Kees~
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None of the trad muzzleloaders of any century before the 20th had "spiraled" rods, that was a "modern concept". I know that Hacker Martin did them, and a few other gunsmiths of the 2nd quarter of that century (as read in Firefox 5). In any event, I don't like that look at all, so to each their own, as it should be. :*:
The Kibler Woodsrunner kit is a remarkable innovation in trad muzzleloader kit history. Nothing has ever come close to what Jim offers and all it takes to stick one of these kits together is knowing the difference 'tween a screwdriver and a hammer, they're that easy to build. Just amazing. I'm gonna order another, this time as a .45 and in cherry.
Yep, got the Kibler email about the $375 optional CNC stock "carving" - that is something I'd NEVER want, no way, no how. Yucky!
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Shot the Woodsrunner this past Friday, worked flawlessly. I fired a total of 27 balls, the first five were at the TMA Postal Match target face that I submitted that evening (6/30). Also shot it at 50 yards (paper face) and 100 yards (16" gong), all with good offhand hits. Load was a .530" ball patched with JoAnn .012" pillow ticking that had heat gunned in home made Gato Feo lube and a miserly 52 grains of Swiss 3F for the tube and the same 3F in the pan. Shot with the same 25 yard sight hold out at 50 yards, but with about 1/8" front sight rise for the 100 yards steel plate (which got regularly rung, though there were some misses for sure). Never had a misfire or hang fire, ignition was swift and smooth. Just ordered another Woodsrunner kit, this time in cherry and went for another .54 bore - love them big balls. 8)
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hey rob,
how ya gonna finish that cherry stock.
I ordered a cherry . 54 tonight and have been looking at cherry stocks and I see a lot of lye ( easy off) being used with mixed results.
just wondering what will be the best approach, more than likely I'll just end up oiling it.
kevin
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hey rob,
how ya gonna finish that cherry stock.
I ordered a cherry . 54 tonight and have been looking at cherry stocks and I see a lot of lye ( easy off) being used with mixed results.
just wondering what will be the best approach, more than likely I'll just end up oiling it.
kevin
After stock sanding to 320 (w/grain raising) the final finish I'll use is nothing more than good ol' Tru-Oil on a maroon 3M abrasive pad.
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Very Nice!!! :hairy
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hey rob,
how ya gonna finish that cherry stock.
I ordered a cherry . 54 tonight and have been looking at cherry stocks and I see a lot of lye ( easy off) being used with mixed results.
just wondering what will be the best approach, more than likely I'll just end up oiling it.
kevin
After stock sanding to 320 (w/grain raising) the final finish I'll use is nothing more than good ol' Tru-Oil on a maroon 3M abrasive pad.
Can you explain the 3m pad technique. I've never heard of that. I Usually just sand and hand rub oil in.
Thanks Kevin
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hey rob,
how ya gonna finish that cherry stock.
I ordered a cherry . 54 tonight and have been looking at cherry stocks and I see a lot of lye ( easy off) being used with mixed results.
just wondering what will be the best approach, more than likely I'll just end up oiling it.
kevin
After stock sanding to 320 (w/grain raising) the final finish I'll use is nothing more than good ol' Tru-Oil on a maroon 3M abrasive pad.
Can you explain the 3m pad technique. I've never heard of that. I Usually just sand and hand rub oil in.
Thanks Kevin
The maroon 3M abrasive is very fine and as you rub in the TO it smooths out any raised grain in the process. That's my preferred finish method and what I did with the maple Woodsrunner.
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Well I guess I'll be getting some truoil and an abrasive pad.
I certainly like that maple woodsrunner.
I see that the reason for the lye was apparently to get a matte muddy finish ?? anyway I like a satin(ish) finish
Thanks Rob
Kevin
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Since Jim is only using the hard red heartwood, I see no need for stain. Besides, that heartwood will darken over time all on its own.
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Since Jim is only using the hard red heartwood, I see no need for stain. Besides, that heartwood will darken over time all on its own.
I have not ordered mine yet, still on the fence as to what wood for this one, still leaning towards Cherry but....Kibler does have some nice walnut too, Maple is out as I have a couple maple guns, just trying to spread the diversity in the safe! :lol sign
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Well I guess I'll be getting some truoil and an abrasive pad.
I certainly like that maple woodsrunner.
I see that the reason for the lye was apparently to get a matte muddy finish ?? anyway I like a satin(ish) finish
Thanks Rob
Kevin
Kevin, have you looked at Kibler vids on you tube? if not... check out his finish vids, well done with exceptional looking stocks in Maple!
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I plan on watching everything I can about the woodsrunner.
I agree No Stain.
Kevin
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Literally and strictly in terms of the build process, it's as easy to stick together as an offshore trad ml kit. Maybe even easier, but WAY more precise. This is Jim's new process that will migrate to both the Colonial and SMR, and to all future Kibler offerings.
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How 'bout that barrel ?
Leave it clean n shiny , blue, brown ?
I'd like to strive for a fairly HC gun which seems to lean towards " in the white" .
Thinking I may brown it for hunting purposes but that's not a given .
Kevin
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How 'bout that barrel ?
Leave it clean n shiny , blue, brown ?
I'd like to strive for a fairly HC gun which seems to lean towards " in the white" .
Thinking I may brown it for hunting purposes but that's not a given .
Kevin
Subjective stuff, purely cosmetic. Personally, I leave 'em all in-the-white and let Mama Nature do her thing. If I was a gun hunter, I'd probably hasten that a tad with vinegar, to kill the gleam and start the patina.
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I usually just draw file the barrel and leave it. Every time after I shoot, I'll wipe the lock and flash area with a damp patch and put it aside until I'm done cleaning. I then wipe the4 barrel and anything else I want browned with the dirty pad. As it starts to rust, I keep an eye on things so as to not let it pit. This method takes a while and looks bad but when done, looks great and natural. Most commercial formulas look like an applied finish to me. Just my opinion.
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Alright, more stuff to think about.
Thanks everyone
Kevin
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OK Kibler has a sale going on till July 31, every purchase over 150 bux is 10% off, that's over 100 bux per kit, time to order my Woodsrunner in 54 and cherry stock, this is going to put a dent in the fun money purse, placing my order then off to rondy!
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OK ordered mine in 54 & cherry stock, how is the trigger on yours Rob?
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OK ordered mine in 54 & cherry stock, how is the trigger on yours Rob?
Super sweet trigger - Jim sets up both locks and triggers - mine's about a 2lb or less pull.
Awaiting the cherry stocked .45 Woodsrunner ...........
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OK ordered mine in 54 & cherry stock, how is the trigger on yours Rob?
Super sweet trigger - Jim sets up both locks and triggers - mine's about a 2lb or less pull.
Awaiting the cherry stocked .45 Woodsrunner ...........
:hairy thanks, now the wait, hope I can survive the anticipation! :lol sign
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Cherry stocked .45 ships out today, at last. :bl th up
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Cherry stocked .45 ships out today, at last. :bl th up
How long did it take to ship?
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Cherry stocked .45 ships out today, at last. :bl th up
How long did it take to ship?
Pretty swift, ordered on July 22nd, shipped out today August 1st.
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Thanks, ordered mine on the 25th so hopefully next week maybe?
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Thanks, ordered mine on the 25th so hopefully next week maybe?
:hairy :hairy
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OK ordered mine in 54 & cherry stock, how is the trigger on yours Rob?
Super sweet trigger - Jim sets up both locks and triggers - mine's about a 2lb or less pull.
Awaiting the cherry stocked .45 Woodsrunner ...........
He must have been off when my trigger was made.
Could not get it to slip in like Jim does on his videos.
A little work with a jewelers file and some polishing and it's awesome now.
Micro burrs from machining I'm sure. No big deal.
Looking forward to what you guys build.
Kevin
Kevin
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Any progress on the cherry woods runners?
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Haven't started a thing on mine other than unbox. Way too busy with the Summer stuff family to do list. I suspect this will become a Fall project for me.
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Haven't started a thing on mine other than unbox. Way too busy with the Summer stuff family to do list. I suspect this will become a Fall project for me.
Me too! have a couple small concrete slabs to pour and a door to build a jam from scratch and mount along with a generator shed to build all for the new shop before the weather turns to crap, and then there is 3 weeks or ML Deer season along with ML Elk the first 2 weeks with Deer so... getting a combo tag this year Deer, Elk, Bear and Cougar which includes Bobcat, may get lucky again, hit the grand slam a decade ago, now where did I put that horseshoe ;D
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That rifle is, as we say in Georgia, a flat out old fashion country beauty. I love eye candy!