steaming out wood stocks

stuckinthe60s · July 24, 2020, 07:31 AM

what is the most a piece of wood can be steamed out?
I have a stock that has A 1/4" deep cut out and missing cavity, on a shotgun face (stock to receiver) its been chipped from being loose and the recoil flinged off the wood like a chipper! its gone.
the rest of the stock is rare enough to consider an attempt.
looking for someones experience in this matter.
thanks.

dahermit · July 24, 2020, 08:48 AM

It has been my experience with wood that "dents" may be steamed out to a good degree (because the wood has been compressed when dented), whereas missing wood has no compressed wood to expand with steam. It is likely that you will have to fill the missing wood with some kind of filler.

Pahoo · July 24, 2020, 10:10 AM

Quote:

It has been my experience with wood that "dents" may be steamed out to a good degree (because the wood has been compressed when dented), whereas missing wood has no compressed wood to expand with steam. It is likely that you will have to fill the missing wood with some kind of filler.

That is basically it, in a nutshell. The key is that fibers in the wood, have not been cut and that certainly would include a 1/4" gouge. I had one stock that was shipped to me and looked like it had been struck with a ball-peen hammer. The fiber on the surface were separated but bottom of the large dent, was compressed. I made three rounds with it and finally go it "fairly" even with the rest of the stock. I sanded the cut areas and all went well. I use a "small" iron as the heat source ......

Be Safe !!!

7.62 man · July 24, 2020, 11:18 AM

You most likely can't find any wood to match the missing wood on that stock.
One of the tricks I have seen done is to take a little shaving of wood from an unseen part of the stock & use it as a veneer over the patch of the missing wood to blend it as close to the normal grain as possible.

stuckinthe60s · July 24, 2020, 05:24 PM

unfortunately its right in the wrist of the grip in plain site right on top.
what a shame.
thanks gang.

Scorch · July 24, 2020, 06:26 PM

You can graft a piece of wood onto the stock to replace pieces that are missing. Steaming will not fill voids or replace missing wood.

FrankenMauser · July 24, 2020, 06:53 PM

You can't steam out wood that doesn't exist.

Dents get steamed.
Missing wood gets replaced.

Pahoo · July 24, 2020, 07:08 PM

Quote:

I have a stock that has A 1/4" deep cut out and missing cavity, on a shotgun face (stock to receiver) its been chipped from being loose and the recoil flinged off the wood like a chipper! its gone.

Did not catch this, on the first pass as I got caught up in streaming.

Don't give up yet as there is a YouTube video where a smith makes this exact repair. Actually, a fault like this is quite common and you can see it coming, if one pays attention. The name of the video escapes me for now but I will go in a find it. The smith is quite a character and I basically followed his direction to repair an older BPS stock. Wil get back with the link ....

His name is Anvil 004

Be Safe !!!

FrankenMauser · July 25, 2020, 01:27 PM

That would be Mark Novak, formerly known as 'Anvil Gunsmithing' on the C&Rsenal channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKeOQVsyRMU

stuckinthe60s · July 26, 2020, 03:01 PM

nuts....im on dial up.
wont load.
too bad I cant email him.

**Unclenick** · July 26, 2020, 05:06 PM

Can't see your damage from here, but if you've ever had the urge to inlet an engraved bit of metal or an intentionally different looking bit of carving, here's your opportunity.

tangolima · July 26, 2020, 06:25 PM

It is a shotgun stock. The wrist takes the full force of recoil. It is imperative the whole cross section of the wood in full contact with metal.

Apparently that hasn't been the case previously and hence the damage. The repair probably should focus on fixing that first. I would first try identifying any longitudinal cracks along the wood grain and fix them first. Wood glue, epoxy, or even thin super glue is my choice method. The next step is to glass bed the wood to the receiver.

The missing wood could be filled with glass compound if you don't mind that. If that is not acceptable, woodworking techniques would need to be used. It has little or nothing to do with the function of the gun, mind you. Most likely it will involve refinishing the stock in order for new wood to blend in with the old the best possible.

Posting a picture of the damage will help us give you more accurate suggestions.

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

July 24, 2020, 07:31 AM	#1
stuckinthe60s Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2017 Location: Va., Ct., Mo.. Posts: 878	steaming out wood stocks what is the most a piece of wood can be steamed out? I have a stock that has A 1/4" deep cut out and missing cavity, on a shotgun face (stock to receiver) its been chipped from being loose and the recoil flinged off the wood like a chipper! its gone. the rest of the stock is rare enough to consider an attempt. looking for someones experience in this matter. thanks. __________________ Retired Military Aviation Former Member Navy Shooting Team Distinguished Pistol Shot,NRA Shotgun/Pistol Instructor NSSA All American, Skeet/Trap Range Owner

July 24, 2020, 05:24 PM	#5
stuckinthe60s Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2017 Location: Va., Ct., Mo.. Posts: 878	unfortunately its right in the wrist of the grip in plain site right on top. what a shame. thanks gang. __________________ Retired Military Aviation Former Member Navy Shooting Team Distinguished Pistol Shot,NRA Shotgun/Pistol Instructor NSSA All American, Skeet/Trap Range Owner

July 24, 2020, 06:26 PM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	You can graft a piece of wood onto the stock to replace pieces that are missing. Steaming will not fill voids or replace missing wood. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

July 24, 2020, 06:53 PM	#7
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	You can't steam out wood that doesn't exist. Dents get steamed. Missing wood gets replaced. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

July 25, 2020, 01:27 PM	#9
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	That would be Mark Novak, formerly known as 'Anvil Gunsmithing' on the C&Rsenal channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKeOQVsyRMU __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

July 24, 2020, 08:48 AM	#2
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	It has been my experience with wood that "dents" may be steamed out to a good degree (because the wood has been compressed when dented), whereas missing wood has no compressed wood to expand with steam. It is likely that you will have to fill the missing wood with some kind of filler.

July 24, 2020, 11:18 AM	#4
7.62 man Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2009 Location: Cyber-world USA Posts: 258	You most likely can't find any wood to match the missing wood on that stock. One of the tricks I have seen done is to take a little shaving of wood from an unseen part of the stock & use it as a veneer over the patch of the missing wood to blend it as close to the normal grain as possible.

July 26, 2020, 03:01 PM	#10
stuckinthe60s Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2017 Location: Va., Ct., Mo.. Posts: 878	nuts....im on dial up. wont load. too bad I cant email him. __________________ Retired Military Aviation Former Member Navy Shooting Team Distinguished Pistol Shot,NRA Shotgun/Pistol Instructor NSSA All American, Skeet/Trap Range Owner

July 26, 2020, 05:06 PM	#11
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Can't see your damage from here, but if you've ever had the urge to inlet an engraved bit of metal or an intentionally different looking bit of carving, here's your opportunity. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

July 26, 2020, 06:25 PM	#12
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,827	It is a shotgun stock. The wrist takes the full force of recoil. It is imperative the whole cross section of the wood in full contact with metal. Apparently that hasn't been the case previously and hence the damage. The repair probably should focus on fixing that first. I would first try identifying any longitudinal cracks along the wood grain and fix them first. Wood glue, epoxy, or even thin super glue is my choice method. The next step is to glass bed the wood to the receiver. The missing wood could be filled with glass compound if you don't mind that. If that is not acceptable, woodworking techniques would need to be used. It has little or nothing to do with the function of the gun, mind you. Most likely it will involve refinishing the stock in order for new wood to blend in with the old the best possible. Posting a picture of the damage will help us give you more accurate suggestions. -TL Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk