I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Improving and repairing firearms. Rifle bedding, barrel work, stock replacement and other ways to improve your firearms.

I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Homer » 15 Sep 2018, 3:34 pm

G'Day Fella's,

As some may be aware, I have been refurbishing an old rifle (BSA Hunter), and this includes fitting a new stock.
So with the stock as finished as I can, for the present, I figured I would have go at cutting the checkering on this new stock.
This isn't just a thing I know I can do, with a padded bench vice, so I figured I need myself a cradle, that holds the stock, whilst undetaking this work.
I've seen a couple of these over the years, and I had a look on Goggle recently, so I now have a better idea of whats required.
I decided to go with one made from wood, so I had a look around the backyard, and found a length of 3" x 1 1/2" Eucalyptus of some description. It used to be the bit of wood, that fence pailings are nailed onto.
I cut it into 3 lengths, and then sanded all the old and aged grey exterior wood off it, to reveal the real colour of the wood underneath.
You can see here, where my finger is resting on the old grey wood off cut (with Borer Holes and a Nail in it), and the three pieces of wood after, with a coat of timber oil on them.
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I then cut a few rectangular holes in the two short pieces, a slid them onto the long piece of wood.
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I then got onto the metal parts of this cradle.
I wanted to be able to both swing, and swivel the cradle, so I could change it's position.
I found a 40mm Diameter ball, in the Bits & Pieces bin and made up two "Halve Cups", to go on either side of the ball.
You could do a similar thing, with an automotive/car 51mm / 2" round tow ball.
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Once that was finished and a couple of extra holes were drilled, I then mixed up a batch of Epoxy resin with atomised Aluminium, and completed this part of the job.
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.

Stay Tuned...................

D'oh!
Homer
Last edited by Homer on 30 Sep 2018, 6:32 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Stix » 15 Sep 2018, 4:58 pm

Gees...at this point it looks like your making a nice timber framed bed for the person your making the replacement knee joint for...!! :wtf: :lol:
:sarcasm:

(im intrigued :thumbsup: )
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Sergeant Hartman » 15 Sep 2018, 5:11 pm

Mate looks good... hopefully the checkering concre out really good homer
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Stoney » 15 Sep 2018, 9:09 pm

Homer are you building a cradle from the Checkering book by Monty Kennedy? I am literally going to talk to an old skilled fella tomorrow and commission him to build me a cradle. Damn you for being so talented :D
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by marksman » 15 Sep 2018, 9:12 pm

from the title I thought you were asking if anyone had one because you needed one Homer
I should have known better :drinks:
“If you do not read the newspapers you are uninformed. If you do read the newspapers you are misinformed”. Mark Twain
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Homer » 16 Sep 2018, 8:21 am

G'Day Fella's,

LOL! Thanks for all of your replies, very much appreciated.

No Stoney, I had a basic idea of what I wanted, I then Goggled up "Checkering Cradle" and had a look at what others had made for themself.
Like I said above, I wanted something that would be able to rotate and pivot the base section........... but I haven't worked out How To mount this, and what too........... yet?

Here is a link to one option I found (look at 3.30 and 7.20 minute marks for details); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAx4pF3OSBM

Once I get a bit further down the track, I hope what I have made, will be able to adapt to a mount?
Not sure if this will be to a leg of my welding bench, or maybe a heavy but portable base...............................

Avagreatweekendeh!
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Homer » 20 Sep 2018, 6:05 pm

G'Day Fella's,

I made up some of the furniture for the cradle, including the pivoting parts and wooden "cup" (name?) that holds the butt of the stock.
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I made this, from the remaining off cut of this same piece of wood.

The pivoting furniture (2 x parts) for this, was machined out of some 20 x 50mm stainless bar.
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You can't believe how much time it takes, to make all these little Bits and Pieces...............

D'oh!
Homer
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Tiger650 » 20 Sep 2018, 7:50 pm

Excellent Homer

You do things which many of us wish we could, as always I admire your work.
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by ClaytonT88 » 20 Sep 2018, 8:14 pm

Wow, pretty jealous of your skills mate!
Easy come, easy go.

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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Chronos » 21 Sep 2018, 6:23 pm

https://www.bunnings.com.au/stanley-mul ... e_p5860190

Bought one of these last week for the same purpose, strong and cheap at under $45

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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Homer » 23 Sep 2018, 7:18 pm

G'Day Fella's,

Thanks for your kind comment ClaytonT88 and your tip Chronos, very much appreciated.

Here are some links and images, that may be of some assistance to others, making their own cradles;
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/ind ... 3584.0#top

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/theswis ... t1816.html

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/n ... ale.37626/

Hope that helps

D'oh!
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Homer » 24 Sep 2018, 10:00 am

G'Day Fella's,

It's getting close to being finished.
Here are some additional images of this cradle.
You can see the hole drilling jig and 6"/150mm rule, sitting in front of the cradle.
I used this to drill the two offset holes, to hold the Forend upright in place.
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Here are the two cross pins, in place, to lock the moveable Forend upright in place.
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Here's the pivoting Butt end of the cradle.
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Here the original Bessa stock is in place, in the cradle.
I'll recut the recently Butchered./sanded flat factory checkering first, as a trial/practice/test, before I attempt to cut the checkering, on it's replacment stock.
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D'oh!
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Chronos » 24 Sep 2018, 1:06 pm

Looks great mate.

Interested to see how you go, had a steep learning curve trying to restore some bruised and sanded checkering on a stock on a donor rifle. I have a lot of respect for those who can do it from scratch.

Do you have the tools or plan on making them?

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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Homer » 25 Sep 2018, 7:31 pm

G'Day Fella's,

Thanks for the kind comments Chrono, and yes, me too mate.
I already have a series of Dem-Bart checkering tools and cutters (20 LPI).
I'm hoping these will be all I need, to get the BSA stock done?

Here are some additional images of the cradle parts.
I welded some 1/4" x 50mm long stainless rod, to the lock nuts on the uprights.
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So this part of the cradle, is completed..............?

I then started to make the mounting bracket and interface, between the cradle and it's outside mounting location (my Welding Bench.
This is made from some 75 x 75 x 8mm x 300mm long, angle iron.
Here I am, drilling the 6 x holes, in the leg of the welding bench, to bolt it onto.
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I then installed 6 x M10 Nutserts, into the leg of the bench, to give the M10 bolts, a better purchase.
Here is a Before (Left) and After installation (Right), of what Nutserts look like.
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Here is the bush (50mm O-Dia x 85mm Long and 31.76mm I-Dia, Mild Steel), and lock ring, that the main upright pivot, fits into (and some Tig welds, worth showing).
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And here is a couple of images of the mount and pivot interface, bolted in place.
The open ended spanner, is there to show/hold the pivoting part, in it's elevated position.
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Nearly finished, I just need to make another part/bracket, to go from the Pivoting Ball part, to the bottom of the wooden cradle.............. tomorrow maybe.

D'oh!
Homer
Last edited by Homer on 01 Oct 2018, 7:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Homer » 29 Sep 2018, 3:22 pm

G'Day Fella's,

Well apart from a coat of paint on the mild steel parts, I think this project is completed.
Heres a few images of the cradle, at various angles and positions.

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I hope all of the above, has been of some assistance or interest to you.

Avagreatlooongweekendeh!
Homer
Last edited by Homer on 29 Sep 2018, 8:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by ClaytonT88 » 29 Sep 2018, 4:40 pm

Nice work. Looks mint and I bet it works a treat too!
Easy come, easy go.

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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Wm.Traynor » 30 Sep 2018, 9:25 am

What a piece of work :clap:
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Homer » 30 Sep 2018, 5:11 pm

G'Day Fella's,

Thanks for the kind comments.

By the way, in the current edition of "Guns Australia" magazine (July/September, 2018), there is an article on Checkering by Peter Nielsen.
Lots of tips on How To, What To Do and also, where to get tools and equipment from.

Hope that helps

Regards
Homer
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Re: I need a Checkering Cradle ............

Post by Gwion » 06 Oct 2018, 8:20 pm

Looking thed goods, Homer. Yoy certainly have some serious fabrication skills from the things you post. :thumbsup:
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