Mounting a new Butt!

[Truman]

OK Airgun Tinkerers,

  I've bought a new rubber butt for the disco but the profile is bigger so any advice on how to shape it to fit the stock without damaging the stock would be greatly received!! I can get it close by cutting it with a hot knife or saw (not done it yet so if this is a no-no let me know!) but to get it flush??

Cheers Andy

[leadbottom]

I don't know of an easy way to do a close shaping job without touching the stock.  But in case you don't already know, a common way to install a new pad to a finished stock is cut the pad close as you can first, like you said, then mount the pad and tape the stock to protect the finish, then sand the pad to final size.  Tough part is getting that small fraction of pad left by the thickness of the tape, and making sure the tape doesn't damage the stock and be able to protect it at the same time.  Please show us a picture when done if you can and let us know how you end up doing it and good luck with it.

[threex4]

I cut a block of wood the shape of the butt attatch the pad to it  than sand it down  to fit the shape of the block. it gets ya close , trial and error gets ya the rest. just be sure to get the angle of the toes right. be careful with the pad some have a metal of sorts for strength, found that out the hard way once. but I dont know if alll pads are the same or not

[Truman]

Thanks for the input guys! I'm going to have a bash at it this week so I'll post some photos next weekend if all goes well!  

[johnp]

I LOVE MOUNTING A NEW BUTT !!!!!!!! OH! sorry wrong kind of butt.

[Uncle J]

I wondered when somebody was going to say something about mounting a butt. I know my wife would object to me mounting a new butt.

Jeff

[Mark 611]

The easiest way to do this is like one has said make a block same size as the stock put the pad on and use a grinder to shape it it takes no time at all!

[Truman]

Won't that chew up the rubber? My new butt has a hard face plate then about an inch and a half of  rubber!! It's a nice big butt and I can't wait to mount it either!!!  

[Mark 611]

No it wont use a bench grinder! this is rubber not steel, if your good enough you can tape around the wood on the stock and grind the pad down right on the stock! you can clean it up with a file or sandpaper, use the side of the wheel. Now if the pad you bought is way over sized you may have a problem before you start! some pads have plastic incerts in them and if you remove to much rubber you'll get into the plastic and I'm not talking about the plastic spacer between the wood and rubber,  so its best to have a pad that is close to the orig size to start with and if you have that size to start with  hey what are you waiting for! But go at it slow till you see what your doing!

[michael90t]

alot of gunsmiths that have to fit a pad to a finishedstock will use two layers of tape...

using a bench sander(the wheel ones not the belt ones though I guess you could....) they will take it down to the first layer of tape with a rough grit then go to a fine grit and take it to the second layer.... THEN I know some that will use a thin scotch type plastic tape (just make sure it will not hurt the finish...) and use a polishing grit to litteraly get it so close they leave nothing but the glue from the tape behind...

Dunno if using a block of wood is a great idea because your not going to be able to follow the lines of the rifle.... and keeping the correct lines is really what set off a good pad job from a so so one...

Other then that when buying pads you want to match it as close as you can to size because its already been said alot of them have reinforcments of one kind or another and if you have to trim to much it will peak through..

[Mark 611]

Very well put Michael90t

[snookman]

Here is a good video on the basics Truman.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak4YeXEN5FI    Good luck, snookman

[snookman]

Here's another video for finishing the pad up. I hope they help. Your friend, snookman  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2AqHdEqg4I&feature=related

[Truman]

Cheers Snook, couple of good links there! I'm getting an idea as how to approach the thing now!!

[snookman]

Here's a link to the fixture used in the video, on sale for $34.99 U.S.  http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=658338  It looks like the thing to use if you want a professional looking job. snookman