Bench rest

Suzanne · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:41 pm Post subject: Bench rest

I just want to share my 2 projects I finished while I had some time to myself. One is a shooting rest that I can either shoot against my shoulder or against the rest (only if it doesn't break). I've been using it, but just added the clamp so I can level it better while sighting in a scope. This same rest I was using as my bench work horse, it was getting grungy, so I decided to make a new rest for in-the-house when I'm working on a gun. Also I'd forget and leave the darn shooting rest at home sometimes, so now I can keep it in the truck. Really I wanted to make some wooden screws too. I love making them and figuring out what the heck to do with them. I used epoxy all over the place and didn't bother with a finish or even sanding any wood (my slop sometimes goes overboard but it's not for looks anyway right?)

First is the shooting rest
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This is the clamp on the shooting rest, it's in two steps, so I can either shoot against my shoulder or not

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This is the work horse bench clamp, made it up high for standing, notice the loads of epoxy....yeah that's my finish

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I should take some pix of my portable shooting table....if it ever warms up today I may just do that...

Suz

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 2:14 pm Post subject: Re: Bench rest

Nice rest looks like it will do a fine job Also thats a great looking stock on that rifle it has a nice grain pattern to it Very Happy

Gil Martin · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: Bench rest

Very nice pictures. Thanks for sharing. All the best...
Gil

slimjim · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 5:32 pm Post subject: Re: Bench rest

That's some nice looking woodwork! Great dual purpose.

Elvis · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: Bench rest

ok you got me. what is the bang stick?the bolt handle looks different somehow. but I agree with Joe thats a nice piece of woodwork its wearing. the bench looks fine n dandy as me ol mate Forest Gump would say.

BigBlue · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: Bench rest

Suz,
Looks real good to me. Especially the screw! It should also come in handy for holding a rifle while working on it. A friend of mine is real handy with wood. He even made a clock out of wood with wooden gears.
Don

Vince · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:28 pm Post subject: Re: Bench rest

I like ya work Suz...both the rest and the work stand look pretty darn good to me. Do you have any planns to make it a little heavier to make it more stable, or is it good as is?

I'm intrigued by the wooden screws...do you have a machine or tool to make them...they look really cool.

When I first looked at the stock on your rifle I thought, laminated...but going back and looking properly at it I can see that it is a decent piece of timber with a good grain.

Cheers, Vince

Suzanne · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 12:14 am Post subject: Re: Bench rest

Vince the bench rest attaches to a portable table that has adjustable front legs I can weight down but it still jumps a bit when I shoot. The rest also has a screw leveler towards the back that adjusts up and down. I'll have to get some photos of it all together. I make the screws with a store bought screw box and tap. It's a wooden ole fashioned screw maker that they still make today. This one is 3/4 inch. Ya just put a 3/4 inch wooden dowel in it and turn around and around and it cuts the threads. I wish I had more things to make with screws, I love them.

Elvis the wood is laminated, I know it doesn't look like it but it's actually from a Remington 798 which is their version of a 98 Mauser. You can buy them all ready to drop a Mauser action into for about $100. couldn't beat the price and that includes a very nice recoil pad and sling mounts screwed in. It needed very little inletting. I thought it was ugly from the photos of it on Stockysstocks.com I'm warmin up to it, once you realize it's laminated you can appreciate that it doesn't look like those LSD tripped dyed laminated things. It looks like a natural grain but it's laminations cleverly done to look nice. The rifle is an old military Mauser 98, cut the bolt handle off and put on an after-market handle that slips over the stub of the old handle and is then tapped and bolted on. I had a .270 barrel put on it and I haven't gotten to shoot it much--maybe 20rnds--but it shoots very politelly and I'm so so so sosososososo very pleased with it. Can you tell I was glad you asked?!?!? I've been able to shoot rounds within an inch grouping at 100yds and I want to better that just by improving my shooting technique and some decent reloads I think I can do that.

Suz

Bushmaster · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:49 am Post subject: Re: Bench rest

Nice...What did you use to cut the threads on the hand screw?

TankGunner · Rookie Member Joined: Dec 16, 2009 Posts: 14 Location: UK

Looks good Suzanne,very impressed with your work.

TG

Suzanne · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:15 pm Post subject: Re: Bench rest

Here's a screwbox and tap, it's not mine, this photo is from a place that sells em.

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one tap is for a through hole the other is for a stopped hole.

silly boys
Suz

Bushmaster · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:25 pm Post subject: Re: Bench rest

Silly girl. One is a finishing tap and the other is a "blind hole" tap...

Neat. I knew about wood taps and dies, but never seen one.

Suzanne · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:20 pm Post subject: Re: Bench rest

Bushy!!! I guess you've never had a stopped hole. I was thinkin of a stopped dado, thought it might translate well for a blind hole. My hole's never blind tho. I've never used the blind hole tap and don't really understand how it works, seems like you could go too far and strip the freshly made threads. I'll have to try it sometime.
The screw box works so neatly, cuts very cleanly and you put some candle wax on the threads, they'll turn without a squeak and are very strong.

wooden screw (eeooww)
Suz

Bushmaster · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:25 pm Post subject: Re: Bench rest

I think we have gone as far with this as I am willing to let my "Navy" mind go on this. Shocked

RePete · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 10:48 am Post subject: Re: Bench rest

Quote:
Bushy!!! I guess you've never had a stopped hole. I was thinkin of a stopped dado, thought it might translate well for a blind hole. My hole's never blind tho. I've never used the blind hole tap and don't really understand how it works, seems like you could go too far and strip the freshly made threads. I'll have to try it sometime.
The screw box works so neatly, cuts very cleanly and you put some candle wax on the threads, they'll turn without a squeak and are very strong.

wooden screw (eeooww)
Suz

End Quote.

Bushmaster wrote:

I think we have gone as far with this as I am willing to let my "Navy" mind go on this. Shocked