Cutting a stock

[John Wick]

I'm going to cut the stock on my 20 bore and fit the pad of my choice. It currently is slightly too short, has incorrect pitch and a curved wooden stock cap. i know how to measure for what dimensions I want.

My question is, do I bite the bullet and run it through the powered Mitre Saw, or trust my eye to saw squarely by hand and finish with a rasp and sandpaper until dead square? I cannot just whip off the current pad as it is curved and the new pad is square and thicker than I require.

I've fitted dozens of grind to fit recoil pads, but all on pre-cut, square stocks, so that part is not a worry, it's just the sawing part that is causing concern as I don't want to cock it up.

I am fairly handy at such things but never done this on a stock before.

Thanks for any advice from those that have done this successfully.

 

[chippy]

A belt sander/linisher is the best thing for getting it square and flat.

 

[RobertBeard]

I cut down a Beretta Silver Pigeon stock which was too long with a fine toothed virtually new and very sharp handsaw.  I just marked both sides with pencil, mounted it in the vice and cut through the narrow section vertically downwards.  Once you are started and you keep straight at the start the sides of the cut help to keep the saw straight and online as its hardwood you are cutting through.  I think from memory I taped both sides to stop the saw tearing at the edges of the stock.

 

[Michael]

Make up a wooden jig that secures the stock and ensuring the cut will be at EXACTLY 90deg, having marked the cut on the masking tape you applied earlier, gently but confidently cut using the the compound mitre saw and a sharp blade. Simples. Measure many times cut once.

 

[John Wick]

Thanks Guys. the saw is coming out today.

I've decided to go down the Handsaw and Japanese Flat Carving Files route as I have used these the most for various jobs and know what finish I can achieve. I always find power tools somewhat crude and certainly too fast at what they do, so taking the old fasioned route for accuracy.