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This
labor guide has been compiled from bench logs of the last several
hundred projects that I have worked on over the last 10 years, or so.
It is intended to give you an idea of how many hours I would
likely spend working on a project for you, and thus provide some idea of
what your costs would be. I
have indicated three different sets of times for each category of
project. Shown first is the average number of hours that type
of project has taken me to complete in the past.
Shown next are the shortest and longest times it has taken me to
complete that category of project, as well.
Remember that the times taken to complete any two similar
projects may not necessarily be the same, due to differences in desired
custom features. None of
this is meant to imply that I will be able to finish your project in a
set amount of time.
There are quite a few reasons for
variations in how long it might take to accomplish certain tasks.
For example, when doing new checkering or recutting original
checkering, the number of lines cut per inch, or lpi, makes a difference
in how much time is spent. A
project being cut at 24 lpi takes longer to do than one cut at 16 lpi,
simply because there are more lines to lay out, deepen and finish the
ends of. The amount of
checkering coverage makes a considerable difference in how long a
project takes. I once
figured out that each square inch of checkering takes about ½ hour to complete, and if that square inch of checkering has a
ribbon (a narrow uncheckered strip or band) passing through it, the time
all most doubles.
Another aspect is that some very
porous, quick growth walnut used by some gun maker’s recently fuzzes
up badly when cutting the checkering, and needs to be treated with
finish and gone over an extra pass, or two, with the final hand
finishing tools
Yet another phase of a project
subject to considerable variation is that of final hand inletting of a
semi-inletted stock. Some
wood cutters set their machines to route out 95% of the inletting,
leaving me to do a lot of scraping and fitting, so I figure on 12 to 15
hours for the average bolt gun.
Others cut the inletting mortices very close, and it may only
take me only 3 or 4 hours to inlet the same type of stock.
The list can go on and on.
As a result, I seldom will quote
exact prices for anything, and do charge by the hour for whatever time I
spend working on your project until I feel that it has been done the way
you wanted it done. My current
hourly labor rate is still $25 an hour, as of Feb. 1, 2011. A copy
of the bench log of my time spent working on your project is normally
sent back with your completed project. An example from a similar
completed project can be scanned and emailed to you for perusal on request.
RETURN SHIPPING AND INSURANCE PRICES
ARE BILLED AT MY ACTUAL COST, AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN ANY PROJECT’S
ESTIMATED TIMES!
TYPE OF
PROJECT:
Average #
Shortest #
Longest #
of Hours:
of Hours:
of Hours:
NEW
CHECKERING ( on finished stocks only) :
Bolt Action Guns
15
8
30
SxS & Lever Action Guns
13
6
20
Semi-Auto & Pump Action Guns
14
11
26
Pistol Grip sets
5
4
8
Grip panels only on stock 6
4
10
Forearm panel(s) only on stock 8
5
10
RECUTTING
ORIGINAL CHECKERING ONLY (no refinishing work included) :
Bolt Action Guns
8
6
13
SS & Lever Action Guns
11
8
13
SxS & O/U Guns
8
6
12
Semi-Auto & Pump Action Guns
6
5
10
Simple patterns
5 4
7
Grip panels only on stock
4
3
5
Forearm panel(s) only on stock
5
4
6
REFINISHING
& RECHECKERING ORIGINAL STOCKS :
Bolt Action Guns
20
10
36
SxS Guns
18
8
25
O/U Guns
20
12
35
S-A, Pump Action & SS Guns
16
10
22
Butt Stock only
15
-
-
Forearm only
7
-
-
SEMI-CUSTOM
STOCKS (working from semi-inletted
blanks) :
Bolt Action Guns
60
40
90
SS & Lever Action
50
30
83
SxS Guns
40
35
50
Semi-Auto & Pump Action Guns 30
25
40
Simple stocks
25
16
3
REFINISH
UNCHECKERED STOCKS :
Bolt Action Guns
15
8
20
SxS Guns
12
10
16
S-A, Pump Action & SS Guns
7
4
12
Butt Stock only
14
-
-
PISTOL
GRIP SETS :
Refinish and rechecker :
S&W
5-6
High Standard
4-5
Make new revolver grips:
Uncheckered
12-14
Checkered
17
Make new
S-A grips, with flat backs
only,
uncheckered
6-8
MISCELLANEOUS
ITEMS :
Fit recoil pad
1-2
-
-
Shorten stock and fit pad
2-3
-
-
Inlet typical bolt action stock
15
6
18
Glass bedding action only :
unfinished stock
4
3
6
finished stock
6
4
8
Glass bedding action and
free-float barrel:
unfinished stock
5
3
7
finished stock
7
5
9
Pillar glass bedding action :
unfinished stock
6
4
7
finished stock
8
6
9
Inlet and shape blot stock only
16-20
-
-
Inlet, shape and sand SxS
stock set only
18
-
-
Inlet, shape, fit pad, sand and
epoxy seal wood
20
-
-
Sand, finish and checker an
already inletted stock
27
22
31
Repair of cracks & chips with
spot refinishing
3
2
6
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