Problem Getting Magazine Tube To Fit In Replacement Stock *** Photos Added ***

[Cross Draw Dave]

Hey guys,
I'm in the final stages of completing the restoration of my charred Burnside Spencer. I've got a Dunlap Woodcraft replacement stock that I have finished inletting for the receiver, saddle bar, buttplate etc. and while test fitting the magazine tube, it only inserts about halfway (and is very tight) then I cannot insert it any farther. I'm figuring I'll have to bore it out, but have no idea with what. A really long file? Does anybody have any experience with this?

Let me know as I would really like to get my baby completed, and this is all that's holding me back.   Here are a few photos of my Dunlop Stock, inletted, and just about done with the exception of enlarging the magazine hole.






                                    (Photos Posted by Two Flints)

Thanks!!

Cross Draw Dave

[Two Flints]

Hi CrossDraw Dave,

What I did with mine was to take a dowel that just fit into the buttstock hole and then wrap it with sandpaper and push it in and out of the hole until it fit.  Do it gradually to enlarge the existing hole.

In more detail:

I wrapped the sandpaper around the dowel a couple of times depending on the thickness I needed to work on the inside of the hole.  I secured the sandpaper with a staple at each end of the sandpaper (into the dowel) and one in the middle.  Tap down the staples so they don't rub on the walls of the hole.  Leave enough room on one end of the dowel to use that section of it as a handle and then just push it in and out until the hole opens up.  I started with an 80 grit or 60 grit and then went to a finer and finer grit until I ended up with a 120 grit. 

I saved the several dowels you make for this project for future use!  I then used a bare dowel and coated it with a floor type wax and coated the inside hole as much as possible for a smoother slippier finish.

Hope this helps.  I wish you'd post photos of your completed inletted buttstock 

Two Flints

[Cross Draw Dave]

Ahh Hah! Good idea!
Thanks!

As usual, Two Flints to the rescue! 

[Shenandoah]

I've had to slightly enlarge buttstock holes before. I used a dowel (like 2Flints), glued some foam on the rod and then cut a piece of sandpaper. I glued one edge on the foam and inserted the dowel into the hole. Make sure the edge of the sandpaper is going with the dowel rotation, not against it.

Then, place the dowel in a drill and slowly work the dowl up and down. 

[Cross Draw Dave]

Thanks Shenandoah! That's a great idea!
Anything I can do with a drill beats doing it by hand!

[Two Flints]

  Shame, shame, they didn't have electric drills during the Civil War. . . it was all done by hand  

[Shenandoah]

And steam. 

[Cross Draw Dave]

Eureka!!!
I have just invented the steam powered drill!
Now to put it to the test.

I'll just have to build a fire and fill the water reservoir and......sssssssssboom!! 

[PvtGreg]

Actually the Harper's Ferry Arsenal was powered by water, as were many of the armaments plants in new England.

No sure about the Spencer factories.

[Cross Draw Dave]

Thanks for posting my pictures Two Flints!

I picked up a 3/4" dowel today at the local Tru Value, and hopefully, I can get the magazine tube to fit this weekend.
Then...it's finish time!

I'll have more pictures as I make progress.

Thanks to all for the help on this project!