Stock Sand-Along with Jim Kibler. Showing proper technique on sanding a flintlock muzzleloader kit.

Jim teaches how to properly sand a stock in this video. This is an area of gun building, especially when they are built from kits, where people tend to rush. When this is properly done the staining and finishing will go smoothly and look beautiful.
During the filming we had high winds and the power flickered off and on a number of times. The first time, when it came back on, the vacuum pump that we use for work holding malfunctioned and actually caught fire! Katherine knew Jim would grumble at her if she would have kept filming (though she really wanted to!). In the future, she will deal with him grumbling and keep rolling because it was really interesting.
Jim shows how to sand with the grain even in the challenging parts like the comb. Also, he discusses the importance of maintaining the shape of the stock and not rounding over corners or edges or wallowing out the low spots. There is a ton of valuable information and instruction in this video and much of it is in real time so you can follow along in your own project.
List of Products, Tools and Websites Mentioned in the Video
Kibler "Woodsrunner" Flintlock Muzzleloader Kit
Mirka Sandpaper: 150, 220 and 320 grit
Luxo brand articulating arm light
Bahco single cut mill file 8"
card scrapers .015 - .020 thick
maroon Scotchbrite
Gressel vise
various sanding blocks and backers
Gary Brumfield - prior gunsmith at Colonial Williamsburg. His website is still up. www.flintriflesmith.com
Iron nitrate & dye stains: • Testing Various Stains...
Staining & finishing WR: • Staining and Finishing...
Curly/figured maple: • Curly / Figured Maple ...
Hand carving WR: • Hand Carving Woodsrunn...
Kit class: • Sights-Employee Kibler...

[@emarquise32]

I delivered that CNC machine about almost 2 years ago. I’m glad to you guys are still going strong. Be safe out there and take it easy make sure to enjoy life.

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks! Time is flying

[@gregturner3757]

Thanks for your hard work and attention to detail. Truly the best kit on the market. Completed my Woodsrunner kit and ordered the Colonial. Can’t wait to start working again. I’m a firm believer in all the Kibler products! I’m 75 and I hope to order the Fowler kit when it comes out .

[@kiblerjim]

Wow. We really can’t believe the support. Thank you so much

[@scark00]

Jim you are truly an artist!

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you very much

[@h-minus2212]

Thank you for taking the time to video the sanding process. That looked like some work - not hard, but vital to the final results. I spoke to Dick Miller about finishing guns at the Kalamazoo Living History show and he said that he has never "finished" a gun - he has just stopped. I nodded and pretended that I knew what he meant. I can't honestly say that I watched every minute, but I did see the highlights - the Ohio State quarter zip and the puppies. Our English Setters were watching with me and they approve of your content.

[@kiblerjim]

We really appreciate you writing such a nice comment. Yes-sanding takes time and care. Daisy the Goldendoodle appreciates seeing other dogs on tv so I understand! Thanks for the support

[@tropifiori]

My primary hobby is making period furniture.We scrape first to decrease sanding. This would takeout the scraper marks. I believe the earlier abrasives were shark skin. The videos are very helpful Frank

[@kiblerjim]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching!

[@DocLaw172]

Gee, I wish I could be having as much fun and be as carefree as Murphy was at the end of this video. Thanks for adding it. 🥰

[@kiblerjim]

He is a city dog who was visiting the country and was having the time of his life!

[@stephenfields6236]

I’ve watched all your videos, some of them several times, and all are very helpful ... but this one is the most informative video you’ve done in my opinion. Thank you. ( please do some carving on this stock too) Hopefully in the future you will sell things like scrapers and sanding blocks on your website. Your dogs provided comic relief !

[@kiblerjim]

We truly appreciate the compliment and the input. Katherine will make Jim do carving on the stock and has no intentions of letting him out of it! Agreed-these would be useful and inexpensive products to make available. Thanks for watching

[@TomCramer-xu8tx]

Thank you. I appreciate all of the tips. It will help me to produce a way better gun without all of the frustration of making mistakes.

[@kiblerjim]

I'm happy the video was helpful, thanks for watching.

[@galenhisler396]

That was great. I can't wait for mine to come, but I have my colonial to make smoke until then. Thank you for all you do. You are the best

[@kiblerjim]

Our pleasure! Thank you so much for your business.

[@andrewlloyd2604]

Bravo I've only watched the 1st part of this video but nice close up work very informative 5 stars to Jim and, whom ever filmed this video....Best one yet !!!

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks! Katherine the better half is behind and camera and pushing him to make videos. Thanks for the nice compliment

[@davidwhiren817]

I really like the 2 bulb inspection lamp that has a circular florescent with a bulb in the middle & you can select one bulb or the other singularly , or both bulbs at the same time !!! costly but well worth the investment !!!

[@xd451e1edcc8]

Just completed my Woodsrunner. Very, very useful instruction Jim provides in this video (and the other videos, too) . This was such an excellent kit -- i would love to order another.

[@wrxs1781]

Excellent video, always anticipating the next one.

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks! I (Katherine) and going to try to get him to work on carving this week. It's fun to see the carving.

[@HomesteadingPatriot]

Love my Colonial Rifle that I finished last year, she's heavy but beautiful and accurate. Was looking at an SMR in the next couple of months, but I've been hearing really good things about the Woodsrunner.. choices!..

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you so much for your business and support!!!

[@kk5fe]

Thanks for the video!! Awesome to see what some say is a simple thing but in detail! Also since I am a dog person…. Thanks for the ending with the dogs!! ❤

[@kiblerjim]

so happy you enjoyed, thanks for watching!

[@MichaelJones-be2ke]

THANK YOu for putting these videos out. Ordered today and this helps ALOT!!! Can't wait.

[@kiblerjim]

Glad to help, thanks for watching!

[@ndmike]

Great video guys. Perfect viewing since we are in a blizzard.

[@kiblerjim]

Stay safe! Thanks for watching.

[@kriswhitmore5155]

Great video! I enjoy the countless tips you provide in these videos. I’m very interested about “raising the grain” and hopefully learning the proper way to accomplish that process.

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks--I (Katherine) learn a lot when I film. Jim has a lot of useful information and I enjoy learning as well. Thanks for watching and I hope you learn something good!

[@DavidLeslie65]

I must really want one I actually binge watched it 3 times and power interruptions made it real

[@hddm3]

Really well Done. Thanks so much for these vids

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed.

[@jackcrockett538]

Great research. Excellent video. Thanks for sharing.

[@kiblerjim]

Our pleasure! Glad it was helpful!

[@earlshaner4441]

Good morning from Syracuse NY brother and everyone else

[@donfullbright8468]

Nice instructions video

[@deputydang8291]

God I wish I could afford one of these. They are beautiful.

[@nigelkavanagh2048]

Brilliant vid jim👌👏👏👏

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks for the comment

[@Tired_of_it]

Nice video about finishing the stock.

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks!

[@singleshot2218]

Jim Kibler

[@craigcook1571]

You can always tell when your getting old……..er, we start fussing about things like like light 💡’s. Not laughing at you, I’m laughing with ya! 😂

[@Scott___T]

Pretty amazing what plain water can make wood look like!

[@kiblerjim]

It really is!

[@phildlight]

I just want to say that not all Phil Lights are bad. :) I'm sure I've angered a few folks in my day who would say otherwise though. Great video as always!

[@kiblerjim]

That’s hilarious!

[@davidwhiren817]

have you heard about permagrit sanding products ??? sold in both the U.K. & THE U.S.A. !!! They don't leave any abrasive grit in the pours of the wood , which can really wreak havoc on carving tool edges , where embellishment is planed !!!

[@maddog45auto66]

You do awesome work hopefully one day on one of your rifles Love to have a forty five caliber tiger wood rifle

[@lowndeswhatley960]

"Some kinda new dumb thing..." Love it!!

[@troystallard6895]

This video was worth watching just for the suggestion to use self-stick sandpaper....

[@kiblerjim]

Glad to hear it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@donfullbright8468]

At the end of your video of your dogs playing. If those are big mounds of saw dust? If they are have you thought about selling the saw dust? Beekeepers use the heck of sawdust for putting in the smokers for Bees. You might find a bees supply company in your area. They would happily buy it from you. Just a thought for you to make more money for your saw dust.

[@DARIVSARCHITECTVS]

I have my eye on the Kibler Colonial rifle, Jim. Did you upgrade your production of the Colonial to use the same methods as you use on the Woodsrunner kit? I am especially interested if you began using the same milling techniques for the hardware in lieu of castings. Many thanks for the incredible instruction videos, and for just being there to provide such incredibly easy to assemble kits for making authentic vintage American rifles. My best wishes for increasing success for your business and your family. ❤your work! 👍

[@JamesWilliams-he4lb]

He mentioned on another video that moving the production of the other kits wasn't feasible, so those kits will remain as is with just a bit more work to finish them. That said, those other two kits are still far and away the easiest kits on the market aside from the woodsrunner.

[@kiblerjim]

Correct--those two kits will still be made on the other machine. Thanks for the comment

[@DangusSquatburger]

I'm at the 220 stage right now on my walnut Woodsrunner. I plan to do some carving and finish with Tried & True as I did with my Maple Woodsrunner. Would you recommend anything different from this process for a walnut stock such as wet sanding with some T&T at the 320 stage to help fill the grain a bit?

[@DocLaw172]

You and your people's health is not worth running seven days a week unless you have it covered that there is time off, even for you. I don't mind waiting on my order if it means that you and your people are in tip-top shape and not tired. 👍

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks for the input and the support. We have about 14 employees and run in shifts. Weekend shift does 3 12 hours days but gets paid for 40 and week shift does 4 10 hour days. All get paid holidays and vacation. Jim and Katherine work parts of 7 days a week right now for the most part but it’s by choice and with lots of breaks. We also live onsite but thankfully for everyone the rest of the crew does not 😆Katherine enjoyed using last Saturday to edit video and Jim uses weekends to work a different pace. We do look forward to holiday breaks!!!Having a business is kind of like having a child-we are always “on duty”.

[@DocLaw172]

@@kiblerjim , kudos to Jim for not being a slave-driver. Though I see from this video that not only does he burn the midnight oil, but also the motors on the vacuum machine. Regarding the ramrod pipes, my solution was to file notches on the tab for the 1st, (one) 2nd (two) and 3rd (three) pipes on my SMR kit. The notches were on the front of the tab, so I had proper orientation, too.

[@jedgurley]

Doing a proper job for sure! I like keeping fittings attached when sanding too! Much nicer finish on anything with metal and wood.

[@robagrant1969]

I just noticed your shirt. I’m buying one of your long rifles anyway. Go Blue. Just kidding Jim. I’d wear scarlet and grey to get my hands on one of those.

[@kiblerjim]

Ha! Happy you can look past our differences.

[@charlesaitken2222]

Great video Jim. Any advice on sanding the new carved Woodrunner. Don’t want to screw up the nice carving.

[@kiblerjim]

There is some discussion in the video New Carving on Woodsrunner kit. We will also try to do a detailed video on that

[@robertlittle7407]

Cool man cool

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks!

[@leemiller969]

Good evening from Marathon, NY. The little sanding block you're using. Where can one be found?

[@kiblerjim]

Lee, thanks for watching! We actually have been having trouble hunting them down again. We will keep looking and update when we find them.

[@Peter-od7op]

Iam on my 4 th kibler rifle kit i think if not for these vdo i might have stopped at one kit ty

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks so much for your business!!!

[@78sharpshooter]

I recently ordered the woodsrunner kit and am looking forward to completing it. What is your opinion on sanding versus scraping only in regards to the final appearance/finish?

[@kiblerjim]

It's a matter of personal preference. Sanding is easier to get a nice finish and scraping can be a little trickier but both are nice

[@kevingade5615]

some of the old timers would break glass panes and use the broken edges for scrapers

[@kiblerjim]

Interesting!

[@craigwilcox4403]

I have used microscope slides for the scraping - work very well.

[@martyadams3915]

At 60 yeas old I suppose I'm one of those old timers. Lol back when I was about 12 or 13 I got my first kit gun and had to get the information to turn it into a tool worthy of use by books and questioning the old guys around who worked wood. Glass was the most delivered answer when I asked about shaping a simi finished piece. I've mostly moved on to carding scrapes nowdays when I once in a blue moon take on a project but am still known to keep my eye out for quality shapes of broken glass.

[@kevinwhite4101]

How many stocks are now on the web site cause of all the eletric outages? I figer 2 or 3.. cnc machines are picky..

[@kiblerjim]

Luckily nothing on that day- but you are right the machines weren’t happy. They needed some attention before getting them up and running again.

[@kellyinterrante3884]

As anxious as I am to receive my Woodsrunner, ya'll shouldn't work 7 days a week. I am willing to wait if it means getting a break for your family.

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you for your concern and understanding but the crew doesn't work 7 days a week--we have enough coverage for 40-45 hours for all employees with lots of days off and paid holidays and vacation. Jim and Katherine live at the shop (about 20 feet away) and get to see their family lots, take lots of breaks and really enjoy their setup! It won't be forever.

[@kellyinterrante3884]

@@kiblerjim I wish I could be a kibler employee. ;-)

[@Peter-od7op]

Are you going to make vdo on when to polish brass

[@kiblerjim]

Yes, we will definitely do that. We have filmed a carving and staining on this rifle that still need edited but we will show the brass as well.

[@trevorfitzgerald4996]

Pardon my ignorance, what grade of maple is this beautiful stock.

[@kiblerjim]

This is a specialty stock which is above our extra fancy maple grade. It's amazing

[@gezakoszty8349]

What are your thoughts on rounding the edges on the bottom of the butt stock to include the butt plate?

[@kiblerjim]

It's traditional to be flat. If you are trying to say shape it like a fowler buttplate, it's not reasonable to do with the rifle guard

[@kenmartin9106]

This is like using a broken piece of glass to fit an axe handle

[@frank64409]

I'm starting to understand the workmanship and quality of this kit. But what about the blueing of the barrel?

[@kiblerjim]

We recommend Jax Black for a nice patina on the barrel. We don't blue in our shop, but I'm sure you could find some videos online. kiblerslongrifles.com/products/jax-black-darkener-recommended-for-iron-steel-parts?_pos=1&_sid=522cb1ec4&_ss=r

[@MichaelLanier-qk8kg]

Is your dog a goldendoodle? Thanks for these videos. They really help a lot.

[@kiblerjim]

Yes. Daisy is a 9 month Goldendoodle. The other dog is a friend and is a Bouvier des Flandres and his name is Murphy

[@sasquatch885]

Is the process the same for Walnut stocks?

[@kiblerjim]

For sanding the process is the same for all different woods

[@e3rr]

hello i need help plz

[@TomSchmidt-vu2vi]

Why are you sanding the brass?

[@kiblerjim]

Metal needs prepared for finishing with files and sandpaper

[@Peter-od7op]

Maybe fill base with Lead

[@kiblerjim]

great idea!

[@wesmosseroutdoorhobbieswas7207]

What kind of dogs do you have? and when is my woods runner coming? Please send me it.😢

[@kiblerjim]

We are shipping lots every week so it’s coming! Goldendoodle is ours and the Bouvier des Flandres was visiting. Thanks for watching

[@Peter-od7op]

You should make a kit sell it for sure. Rather u get profit

[@kiblerjim]

We make the kit

[@Peter-od7op]

Heck sell these sanding products i rather buy from you guys.

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks--I think we will do this. Probably can come up with a kit with the basics so you wouldn't have to buy a lot of everything to get started.

[@Peter-od7op]

@@kiblerjim great idea save us time and money to buy kit from you