A Predicament

[Spotted Bull]

Well I have been sitting here looking at this kit I won in the raffle. And I came to a couple of conclusions.

1. A lot of wood needs to be removed from the stock. I have neither the tools, skills or appropriate work area to accomplish this. Probably could use a little removed from the forearm area as well.

2. There's also some metal work (barrel lugs, etc) that needs to be done. As above I have none of the required elements to accomplish this work.

 

[PetahW]

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pilot error 

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[PetahW]

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That sounds like a learning opportunity to me.....   

If you're a senior citizen, and there's a senior center nearby, there may be a woodworking shop that will have machines & advice available (there's one such here that I use when I need to use a machine I don't possess)

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[Spotted Bull]

I'm not quite senior enough I don't think.

[rollingb]

Well I have been sitting here looking at this kit I won in the raffle. And I came to a couple of conclusions.

1. A lot of wood needs to be removed from the stock. I have neither the tools, skills or appropriate work area to accomplish this. Probably could use a little removed from the forearm area as well.

2. There's also some metal work (barrel lugs, etc) that needs to be done. As above I have none of the required elements to accomplish this work.

 

Some pictures of the rifle's stock, barrel, and hardware, would help us recommend what you need to put your rifle together. 

Even if you are a novice,.... something like your rifle kit can be put together and finished with minimal tools and $$.

Everyone with experience of putting rifle kits together, or building rifles from "parts and pieces",.... learned how, by doing their very first one.   

If you have a linoleum/hardwood floor in your kitchen (and an understanding wife),.... a kitchen table makes a passable "work bench" for someone lacking an actual "shop". 

[BEAVERMAN]

GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!! not that hard Brother, ask many questions here, there is enough of us that have done kits, built from scratch and have made most ALL of the mistakes in the past to help you avoid them,a 4 foot Costco plastic lifetime table, a couple of Werner or Craftsman bar clamps, some files and sand paper, a few basic chisels and you should be on your way!

[rollingb]

I rarely find use for sandpaper, since I bought a set of card scrapers years ago,.... a good set of scrapers will save you $$ when compared to the cost of good sandpaper, and will last you 2-3 lifetimes. 

https://www.amazon.com/Crown-376-Cabinet-Scraper-Gooseneck/dp/B001C06BLE/ref=sr_1_12?dchild=1&keywords=card+scrapers&qid=1596042716&sr=8-12

Here is a video showing the proper way to sharpen a scraper, and the tools that make it easy. 

[BEAVERMAN]

Yes Sir, but, for smoothing the long run of a fore stock and getting it straight and flat, good paper on a 6 inch sanding block is easy for beginners, I use a plane, spoke shave and starret straight edge to do this, then finish with scrapers and a bone to burnish

[rollingb]

Yes Sir, but, for smoothing the long run of a fore stock and getting it straight and flat, good paper on a 6 inch sanding block is easy for beginners, I use a plane, spoke shave and starret straight edge to do this, then finish with scrapers and a bone to burnish

Quite true,.... sandpaper does "have its place", just like other "tools"!! 

[Winter Hawk]

Bull, now you know why it ended up as a drawing prize!     I had come to the same conclusions as you, figured someone else could do better than me on this kit.  I have put together several CVA and Deer Creek kits but this one was more than I was ready to take on!

Think of it this way, though.  You now have a prize to donate for next year's drawing! 

Of course you could take up the challenge and remove tons of wood and do the rest of what is needed, using Beaverman's suggestions and input....

~Kees~

[Spotted Bull]

Yeah Kees I think the prize for next time is the way I'm going to go. I just don't have it in me to do it. I'm about to start whittling down all the stuff I have now. Including rifles.

[JB67]

What brand kit? Maybe someone else would put it together for you, or you could trade or sell it.

[Spotted Bull]

It's a CVA Kentucky, .45 caliber.

[ridjrunr]

I rarely find use for sandpaper, since I bought a set of card scrapers years ago,.... a good set of scrapers will save you $$ when compared to the cost of good sandpaper, and will last you 2-3 lifetimes. 

https://www.amazon.com/Crown-376-Cabinet-Scraper-Gooseneck/dp/B001C06BLE/ref=sr_1_12?dchild=1&keywords=card+scrapers&qid=1596042716&sr=8-12

Here is a video showing the proper way to sharpen a scraper, and the tools that make it easy. 

Great video, I love scrapers. On wood and on horn. The only time I get out paper is if I get bad chatter with scraper. Luckily that happens less with each project

[Ohio Joe]

I had an old carpenter (Ralph La'Plant) he gave me lessons in shaving wood with single and double strength glass (You'll want to wear good leather gloves) and that's what I use, but you still have to work down the curves with file and sand paper... If it works for you - stick with it.