starman wrote:Great start on it!! I don't know if you have access to a bench type belt and disk sander. You can make short work of some of the basic shaping on parts like this.
Afraid not. The only power tools I've got access to are a Dremel (bloody useful, but slow for bulk work) and a power drill that I used for drilling things like the thumbhole (using those spade-esque wood bits at an angle is a nightmare) and parts of the groove that the action sits in.
The rest has been done by hand with a saw, chisels, a plane and some rasps.
...Oh wait, there is a mini rotary tool that I've got handy - like the Dremel, but less powerful, slimmer and more subtle - good for engraving or precision work.
Maybe enough to consider just holding on to the pine one you're working on now...
I don't think I'll get rid of this one - it's been too much work to just throw it - but even then, doing it in a proper hardwood does have some appeal. We'll see, it all depends on how well this one works out. The 4 by 2 I bought was 8 feet long, and I only need about 2.5 feet for a trial stock, so if this design doesn't turn out quite right, there's nothing to stop me having another go.
potatoflinger wrote:That looks beautiful, are you planning on staining/varnishing it when you are finished?
That was the plan. I know it's not a particularly fancy wood, but I'd like it to resist finger prints anyway.
daberno123 wrote:Looks good, what sort of tools have you used and how much time have you put in so far?
Well, the first part of that's answered above - as for time... maybe 5 to 7 hours - cutting the groove for the action was rather time consuming, and I'm out of practise with my woodwork.
The nice thing with building your own stock is that you can shape it to fit precisely in your hand, something you'll never get with a commercial stock.
Well, that's part of the reason I set out on the project. The basic Air Arms stock wasn't a great shape for my large hands - the top was at too great and angle, and then it curved round, which added up to being less than perfect - so I decided to experiment.
Albeit it makes it less comfortable for others like your brother.
Well he can get stuffed. It's my air rifle!
The thumbhole stock is really interesting. It looks comfortable and I really like it.
Well that's me being generous to myself. Usually thumbhole stocks are a fairly exclusive and costly thing (more complicated machining work), and as I was making the stock anyway, I decided to treat myself a bit.
Surprisingly, it's probably actually going to be less work than a standard design, simply because it's mostly done with the drill and Dremel, whereas cutting parts away would take the saw and chisels.
Is this stock for the upcoming 3vo project or something else entirely?
This stock is just for my TX air rifle, but it'll be linked into the 3vo project eventually.
Good grief you're talk about some seriously difficult wood shaping. Granted seasoned pecan is one of the hardest woods known to man. With even a softer hardwood, it will be a much different experience. Maybe enough to consider just holding on to the pine one you're working on now... 
