BACK TO PROJECT PAGE:

Installing Ram Rod Pipes:

I installed the front two pipes. The front pipe was installed approximately 3-1/2" from the end of the rifle barrel. The middle pipe was installed mid-way between the end of the front thimble and the front face of the rear thimble location.  For information regarding steps to inlet thimbles see this link: Thimbles.

I've been asked a lot of questions how to inlet the rear thimble. So I will attempt to write a treatise on how I do this. The following instructions I hope you find useful. 

Position the rear thimble in the ram rod channel. Make a mark where the front tab touches the channel and another mark at the rear of the tab. Remove the thimble and trace a line using a pencil down the center of the channel between  the two marks. Drill a hole behind the front mark and ahead of the rear mark. Get a drill bit with the same thickness as the tab and drill holes with one hole behind  the front mark and another one ahead of the rear mark. Now drill a series of holes between the two marks. Using a knife, cut along both sides along the outside of the series of holes. Clean out as much material as necessary to even along the edges of the holes.  

Using a thin metal file, file the edges square to clean out the slot. As seen below.  On the thimble, bevel the end of the thimble and across the two sides of the thimble. This will give you maximum contact with the wood as you inlet the thimble.  I use a candle to blacken the thimble for inletting purposes. This was how the early makers did it and it works the same for me.

Make sure the thimble is in the center of the stock, prior to inletting.  Using knife, cut straight down into the wood along the sides of the thimble which are making contact with the wood. Remove the thimble and bevel cut the two cuts from the inside of the lines. Blacken the thimble again and place onto the stock again. 

Using a wooden mallet, gently tap the thimble down onto the stock. Use a piece of dowel to help you lift the thimble from the stock and repeat the process again and again.

If necessary, use an object or tool to push or tap the bottom tab of the thimble to drive it upward to release it from the stock.  As the thimble starts to recess into the wood, you will see wood building up along the sides. Need to remove this wood so you can ensure you are going straight down into the stock. I use my chisel to shave away the excess wood and seen below. (Make sure your chisels are sharp.).

Eventually the end of the thimble will become recessed into the stock. Once the lower edge face of the thimble is flush with the bottom of the ramrod channel, the thimble is inletted nicely. Push a piece of dowel the size of the ramrod into the thimble to ensure it runs smoothly thru the thimble. It may be necessary to further inlet the thimble tail deeper into the stock. Also, you can use a round file to open the entry hole into the stock to remove interfering wood. 

Once the thimble is fully inletted. The thimble should be parallel with the top of the stock. Using a depth gauge, find the depth of the barrel channel. Mark the outside of the stock. Also indicate the location where you want the holes to be drilled into the stock. I use a punch to mark the wood 1/16" below the depth of the barrel flat. This will clear the thimble and not pass into the barrel channel. 

Clamp the thimble into the stock and drill the holes. For the rear thimble I either drill one hole toward  the rear of the thimble tab or drill two holes. In this case I drill two 1/16" holes for the pins to hold the thimble in place. You can see below the holes in the thimble. Also above the holes you will see a scratch mark I make along the top of the tab from inside the barrel. I will cut off this extra material with a hacksaw and file smooth. This will make the top of the thimble flush with the bottom of the barrel channel. 

Now all three thimbles are installed on the rifle.