tutorials on checkering

J.McDonald Knives

J.McDonald Knives

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Jan 28, 2007
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anyone know where i can find them? or do you have any advise on who to do it? ive got plenty of 2x4's i can practice on. also what tools do you need for checkering? pics would help too.
 
Usually the tools you will need look like this: click The technique is hard to explain, and I too am having trouble finding a Web-based tutorial. You might check to see if your library has any books on gunsmithing.
 
I've been looking in to this a while back.
I have found that there are two supplies of checkering tools:

http://www.gunline.com/index2.html
http://www.dembartco.com/

They come in different sizes, lines per inch. 20 lines per inch is the most common.

I bought the Gunline Camp Perry Set, 20 lines per inch. It is the middle set of the three they offer. I'm very content with it, although checkering takes a LOT of time and is very precise.

The basics are very easy. If you buy a set, it will com with a booklet with instructions, wich will get you going.
http://www.gunline.com/included.html
Basicaly you need fine grained wood to work with.
Draw the outlines of the part you want checkered.
Draw two lines wich will be your masterlines. (I used duckt tape to keep the line straight around the bends)
Very common is a 3:1 ratio. (the checkers will be 3 times higher than they are wide)
Use a single line cutter and cut the two crossing lines. Next you take a two line cutter. The line you just cut will be a guide for the tool and the second line will be exactly parallel to the first.
And so you go on untill you are finished.

At the moment I am checkering the handle of my hammer for practice.
Becouse a hammer handle, just like a knife handle, is rounder than a gun stock it is a bit trickier. I am very happy to have a 3-line cutter, it comes in very handy.
I switch a lot between the 2 line cutter and the 3 line cutter.

Before I started my practice on my hammer I thought that 20 lines per inch would be a bit bulky for a knife handle. But now I think it will be just right.
I wouldn't advice to go any finer than 22 or 24 lines per inch.

I also bought this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Checkering-Ca...2558401?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178363509&sr=8-1

I thought it would be a how-to book. It is not, but is does have a lot of photo's of very beautifull works of checkering. If you need inspiration, the book could be handy, but don't expect it to tell you how to do it.

Hope this helps.
 
I purchased a dem bart tool handle, a single line cutter (90deg I believe, maybe 60), a 16LPI (I figure it would be easier to learn on a fairly coarse LPI first), right hand double line cutter, they make right and left hand, the difference is one of the rows is smooth so you can start cutting the next line while the smooth side rides in the line you have created already. At first I thought I would only need the double line cutter for only one direction, but I guess it would be smart to have it for both directions. Theyre cheap so no reason why not. I also purchased a triple line cutter to help even out the depth and sharpen the diamonds after you have your lines cut from the double line cutter.
A starter set like this will work as it comes with pretty much everything you might need to get started. Even comes with a jig/guide to measure/start your progress. It does not come with the triple line cutter, I only got that to help make sure my line depth is really even.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=654807

I can only tell you about what I have purchased, as I have not dived in yet to try it.
 
I've just started checkering my thumb grooves on my knives using my mill by setting up my blank on an angle plate at 45* and using a 60* double angle cutter. Cut the full length one way, flip the blank 90* and cut the next set of lines. It looks like you would see on a fine handgun hammer or grip frame. Comes out absolutly perfect :thumbup: (picked this tip up from another maker) Checkering wood or scales by hand ...............can't help ya :D ;) That is next though :) Right after I master engraving...........:D ;) YEAH RIGHT....... Lynton, come back ;)
 
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