Small Bore Load Board

[Baja_Traveler]

So the last match I was at, I saw a few guys with nifty load boards that they organized their ammo on. One of the guys had access to a laser engraver and engraved the silhouettes on the board. I decided to take it a step further and do actual inlays in mother of pearl, and also have a place for my timer. After around six hours of work I finished tonight, and I think it turned out pretty well - so I thought I'd share. Still needs 4-5 more coats of danish oil though. This will eventually be mounted on a fancy wood clip board I have yet to make. This is my first attempt at inlay, so I want to practice some more, then I'm thinking to inlay silhouettes up both sides of the front grip of my Marlin 39a.

[BCloninger]

And a new front in the bling wars opens...

[Bob259]

Nice work

[ppkny]

Does that say 'Gucci' on it somewhere...Mother of Pearl inlays, Wow.
ppkny

[Jerry G]

Just more stuff to drag to the range.

[Bob259]

Just more stuff to drag to the range.

LOL, ain't that the truth. Just getting the stuff together for the trip to Ridgeway and see I need a bigger vehicle Smallbore was bad enough but add HP and it's a whole new game on packing.

[Bob Mc Alice]

Nice work. How did you cut the inlays so accurately ? You better get another timer or two in case that one craps out. I think doing this to your Marlin would be sweet.

Similar stuff I have made over the years that I thought I needed or wanted. No wonder my range boxes are getting heavy.

[Bob Mc Alice]

Just more stuff to drag to the range.

Jerry, you are just jealous cause your little mud buggy wont hold much extra stuff !

[Baja_Traveler]

Those look like they are solid billet aluminum - great machining job! Man, I sure miss the machine shop I used to work in - the things I'd like to do with a nice mill...

A quick description of how it's done - The mother of pearl (MOP) is cut using a jewelers saw, then glued down to the wood with a drop of superglue. Once it is set down solid the wood is carefully scribed using the point of an exacto blade. Then using a razor blade the MOP is carefully popped off the wood. Then I use a piece of chalk and rub the wood, which makes the scribed lines stand out. The pockets are hogged out with a 1/8" router bit, and the rest taken out with a micro router bit (1/32") to the line. I use a Foredom tool for it with a router base made for inlay work. Then careful fitting and routing out the bumps to make a perfect pocket (that I haven't achieved yet). The bit wants to follow the grain, so it's tough to not have it cut a little too much. Once the inlay is glued in for good, I then wipe in fine sawdust in the screwups, and put a little superglue on it to harden up. The repair is nearly invisible once the wood is finish sanded, but with a close look you can see it. Definitely not something you want to see on a high dollar guitar. Thats why I need to practice more before I start messing with a nice gun stock.

[Jim Beckley]

Somewhere some Korean is crying his/her eyes out over the MOP on the ammo holder!

[Jerry G]

Bob, not all of us have to drag a 30 foot trailer to the range just for all the ammo blocks and a wife that won't come out unless it is 75 f and warming up. By the way, I heard that the 708 rings rams.

[Jim Beckley]

McAlice, I think it's a good thing that you don't have a dog, or Grenz would have kicked it around too!

[Bob Mc Alice]

Hey Jerry,

My momma didn't raise no fool. She taught me to come in out of the rain. I was warm and cozy while all of you were wet, cold and muddy. And the trailer is 25 feet, not 30.

Sara McAlice

[Innocent]

It would take a woman to notice a 5 foot difference in length.
Innocent

[BCloninger]

Fortunately, most are polite enough not to comment.