Stock bending experiences ?
 

I'm experimenting with something new to bend a Fox, Parker etc stock without damaging the finish. I've got a junker parts Sterlingworth in process right now and have raised the drop at heel by 12/16". I can probably go another 16th or so. One consideration is the so-called "springback" = stocks that will partially revert to original drop in weeks or months after they've been bent. So ..... long story short, I ask if any of you have had a stock(s) bent and how they acted afterwards? What was the drop at heel when returned from the bender gent, and what do they measure now? Thanks for any inputs. frank

I can't speak for DAH but have had 2 Parkers, straight grips, bent for left hand cast. That was 10+ years ago and they have remained the same.

My VH has been bent for DAH & stayed the same years 5 now. My two Trojans, one O frame 20 other 1 Frame 16 ,were bent for DAH as a pair, work done same time. The 16 would not take the same bend, wanted to spring back just a bit. It's about 1/8 inch lower than the 20.

Fellow that does mine says it's very wood specific and you can't tell in advance for sure.

William

Thanks gents for your inputs. I decided to play it safe this first time, that the 12/16" reduction in drop at heel was plenty for black walnut. After I finished up it sprung back to 7/16" reduction. Drop at heel was 2-15/16" and now it's 2-1/2". This is a junker parts Sterlingworth and it's missing some of the firing parts so I'll just put it aside and see what happens over a few months.

I think you are fortunate to have it move that much at heel. That is pretty far for the wood to move. Better count your money and run.

I have has 4-5 Parker's bent up and over, mostly D grade guns. I agree it is very wood specific. I had a D grade hammer split at the wrist in attempting to move the heal 1/2 inch. I have had three well respected men do the work and found the wood moved back about 25% in most cases.
I have found the American walnut the most difficult to move .
David

I sent Mike Orlen a 20-ga. Sterlingworth with a 14" LOP and 2 3/4" D@H with instructions to bend it up as much as he felt comfortable doing. It was returned having a 2 3/8" D@H. It did not revert back.

I also have a 12-ga. Trojan with a 14" LOP and 2 3/4" D@H. I had that one bent up to about 2 1/4", but it didn't hold, within a couple of days it reverted back to its original 2 3/4" drop.

I wonder if a stock would hold its new position if it were held in the stressed position longer before releasing the bending apparatus....





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having bent wood for other uses- i found that there was a very very little spring back once the wood was cool and the clamps removed. since they were boat parts - once they were installed - moving wasn't an option

but i always wondered if wood would (there's a Gallagher bit there) lose some bend if it gets hot- say- left in a very hot vehicle for a long time

since heat allowed it to bend the first time

I doubt it Rick - once the wood has accepted its new position I suspect it would keep that position indefinitely. But, as previously stated, different woods do different things and I'll bet wood with more figure is even more unpredictable.





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You are probably right

But heat takes the set out of a bamboo rod. And leaving it in a car can put one back in.

I know the big difference would be mass

Right, bamboo is grass, not wood. :D






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True

Guess only it's the resin. Wood can vary depending on location on the tree, time of the year it's cut , or even location same board . Figure generaly has more resin than straight grain too.

It's not a precise science

William

I've bent a number of stocks. After cracking one I pay close attention to the flow of the grain threw the wrist area. I'm usually bending mine down and sometimes the grain goes out the top of the wrist so I would be outing a lot of stress on it. Those I don't bend any more. I made up a jig, think Mike posted it on a different web site years ago. I think a safer way is as my friend does. He puts the gun on a work table with a couple bags of shot holding it there with the stock hanging over the end. Heat lamps are close to the wrist and one bag of shot is put on the end of the stock. A measurement is taken and he sits there reloading watching the stock. When it moves enough he takes the lamps away. I had a 1894 Remington that would move like a rubber hose when hot - but the damn thing would go right back. Tried it three times, even left it under tension till the next day - still went back. Did a Browning O/U for a friend. He wanted a 1/4" of cast. It cracked. I couldn't believe it. Had to epoxy and pin it back together. Lucky you couldn't see it when it was done. That one isn't gonna be bent anymore. Over at the Michigan state trap shoot guys will bend them while you wait - with no guarantees they won't crack. I don't do it anymore for other people, just myself. Like most things, it's a learning process.

I have a very straight Fox A, that I would like bent, who is recommended?

if I have the name correct - Mike Oloen. Go over to http://www.doublegunshop.com and ask your question.

Yup, it's Mike Orlen in Amherst MA.
I was at his shop two weeks ago for some choke work on another member's gun.
Mike is a super nice guy! Very quiet and unassuming. He did a great job for me.





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Dean, might you have a number for him?

Mike Orlen, Amherst, MA, 413-256-1630






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I have not had Mike Orlen do any stock work for me. But he has done a number of barrels ( choke, chamber, polishing and dents) for me and some of my customers. I have always been happy with the quality, price and quick turnaround of Mikes work.

:):):)

I have had Mike bend one, Dan Lammers with D&L Precision bend 4 and Michael Murphy bend one. All did good work.

Dan Rossiter at Custom Stocks and Steel has bent two or three for me. Some bend easy, some don't bend worth a darn. English bends easier then American Walnut. Its all about grain flow.

Stock that only need a 1/4" to 3/8 at the heal.....does it effect the tang inletting or the trigger guard..?? What kind of wood did parker use on VH production guns? SXS OHIO

VH would be american walnut almost all the time. It should not affect the tang inletting. Trigger guard would depend on whether the gun is a straight stock or a pistol grip. The bend is in the wrist area generally behind the trigger guard on a pistol grip stock. Not sure you could bend a straight stock without impacting the trigger guard inletting, although you most likely could apply some heat and bend a straight grip trigger guard.

PS. I'll let others way in on those. I've seen Dan Rossiter bend both straight grips and pistol grips but didn't pay much attention as I had other things running through my head at the time.