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Thread: Matai for a stock?

  1. #1
    Almost literate. veitnamcam's Avatar
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    Matai for a stock?

    Thought I might have a crack at making a stock. Have some Matai well aged.Is this going to be suitable stock material?
    Its hard, straight grained ,splits nice and straight and burns good and hot and thats the extent of my knowledge on this timber.
    "Hunting and fishing" fucking over licenced firearms owners since ages ago.

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  2. #2
    Dazed and Confused Cyclist's Avatar
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    Its nice hard wood + easy to work so could be ok. I would tend to mill a rough inlet into some and see how solid the sides are + maybe try and chequer a panel before investing a lot of time into it.

    You could call Stock Doctor Kevin Gaskill or Bryn (?) from Targex and ask their opinions

  3. #3
    P38
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    Quote Originally Posted by veitnamcam View Post
    Thought I might have a crack at making a stock. Have some Matai well aged.Is this going to be suitable stock material?
    Its hard, straight grained ,splits nice and straight and burns good and hot and thats the extent of my knowledge on this timber.

    Matai is a nice wood that will look great but I'd be a bit worried about this characteristic.

    I'd stick with Walnut it's tried and true.
    Last edited by P38; 08-05-2012 at 07:49 PM.

  4. #4
    Almost literate. veitnamcam's Avatar
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    Splitting was my main concern along with warping tho cant see why it would be any worse than walnut regarding warping.
    Didnt they use it as floor boards and table tops in the good old days? I know they used Rimu and that is quite soft in comparison.

    Surely with a well aged un split bit it would take some serious abuse to split it?
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  5. #5
    Village Idjit Barefoot's Avatar
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    Matai should be fine

  6. #6
    Almost literate. veitnamcam's Avatar
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    Thats what I wanted to hear, are you some kind of wood geek?. IE Know more about wood than how it goes in the fire
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  7. #7
    GSP Mad Munsey's Avatar
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    I know nothing about stocks but have used matai flooring by the hundreds of meters. Was impressed with it's strength and finish . The finish looked a bit like oak .

  8. #8
    Almost literate. veitnamcam's Avatar
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    Good enough for me, Its only a bit of wood and a shit load of time
    One last question.
    Am I better to use heart or out a bit? gonna get it flitched its in thirds at the mo and was about 1.6m dia
    "Hunting and fishing" fucking over licenced firearms owners since ages ago.

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  9. #9
    Village Idjit Barefoot's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by veitnamcam View Post
    Thats what I wanted to hear, are you some kind of wood geek?. IE Know more about wood than how it goes in the fire
    I've repaired a few matai floors and Dad is a chippie from way back (he's 81 now) so he has plenty experience with native timbers.
    If it fails you can always buy the stock blank I'm selling on trademe

  10. #10
    dog chaser distant stalker's Avatar
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    Use the heart, it will look a much nicer stock when finished and give it some real character. Some of the hard woods people talk about splitting split because of the resin still within them, if it has been aged and dried slowly it should be ok but it is typical of some of the natives to split after being worked due to the air getting in to areas with more resin and drying it quickly etc. Some timbers were kept in streams for a few months before being carved to draw out resin and avoid the finished product splitting after completion

  11. #11
    dog chaser distant stalker's Avatar
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    I have some pieces of tiger grained Iron bark I would love to do a stock with, would be heavy though and pretty hard on the tool edges....

  12. #12
    Almost literate. veitnamcam's Avatar
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    Cheers horihunter
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    "Hunting and fishing" fucking over licenced firearms owners since ages ago.

    308Win One chambering to rule them all.

  13. #13
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    I have very old Matai floors in my house, borer love it. I would be worried using it for a full bore gun stock if it splits easily.
    Made a shelf from some of this flooring once, and coated it with polyurethane varnish. The varnish bubbled and blistered overnight. Paint shop told me that it was similar to Totara to finish, and needed special Totara primers to stop the blistering. No clear primers were available. Solved the problem by applying the varnish and sanding it back to bare wood between coats. Took about 6 coats to stop the blistering but the finish was never that good. It is a bathroom shelf and water has damaged the finish and stained or bleached the Matai.. In WW2 the government did research into replacement wood for walnut stocked .303 rifles. It's on the www somewhere, but it is a long time since I read it. I think their second choice after Walnut was Southland Beech.

  14. #14
    OPCz Rushy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Barefoot View Post
    I've repaired a few matai floors and Dad is a chippie from way back (he's 81 now) so he has plenty experience with native timbers.
    If it fails you can always buy the stock blank I'm selling on trademe
    Barefoot you never really answered the question. Are you a wood geek or not?
    It takes 43 muscle's to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger pull.
    What more do we need? If we are above ground and breathing the rest is up to us!
    Rule 1: Treat every firearm as loaded
    Rule 2: Always point firearms in a safe direction
    Rule 3: Load a firearm only when ready to fire
    Rule 4: Identify your target beyond all doubt
    Rule 5: Check your firing zone
    Rule 6: Store firearms and ammunition safely
    Rule 7: Avoid alcohol and drugs when handling firearms

  15. #15
    OPCz Rushy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Moby Duck View Post
    I have very old Matai floors in my house, borer love it. I would be worried using it for a full bore gun stock if it splits easily.
    Made a shelf from some of this flooring once, and coated it with polyurethane varnish. The varnish bubbled and blistered overnight. Paint shop told me that it was similar to Totara to finish, and needed special Totara primers to stop the blistering. No clear primers were available. Solved the problem by applying the varnish and sanding it back to bare wood between coats. Took about 6 coats to stop the blistering but the finish was never that good. It is a bathroom shelf and water has damaged the finish and stained or bleached the Matai.. In WW2 the government did research into replacement wood for walnut stocked .303 rifles. It's on the www somewhere, but it is a long time since I read it. I think their second choice after Walnut was Southland Beech.
    Welcome to the forum Mobyduck.
    It takes 43 muscle's to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger pull.
    What more do we need? If we are above ground and breathing the rest is up to us!
    Rule 1: Treat every firearm as loaded
    Rule 2: Always point firearms in a safe direction
    Rule 3: Load a firearm only when ready to fire
    Rule 4: Identify your target beyond all doubt
    Rule 5: Check your firing zone
    Rule 6: Store firearms and ammunition safely
    Rule 7: Avoid alcohol and drugs when handling firearms

 

 

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