Suggestions on refinishing this 870 stock?

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  • Alphabrew

    Binary male Lesbian
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 27, 2013
    40,717
    Woodbine
    I’ve never done this befo’ and I need advice. I assume you strip off old finish, sand, and stain?

    There is actually a decent looking finish underneath the crappy top finish, but I guess there’s no way to only remove the top layer of finish?

    What stain would you recommend for an 870 stock?
     

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    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    Looks like it might be congealed Tru-oil or some that was applied too quickly or maybe over applied.You might be able to steam some of it off but its going to be messy. I would use a mild chemical stripper, steam it with an iron or tea kettle, wipe it down with some lint free cotton rags and let it dry out some. ( be careful steaming from the end grain to avoid a split like from behind the recoil pad)
    Have a look at it, then avoid sandpaper as much as possible. Use a scotch brite pad, degreased bronze or steel wool with a backer where necessary then rub in some alcohol based stain.
    If it's beech or birch, which it doesn't look like from here, it will be hard to get oil based stain to penetrate very well.
    Finish with Rlo or Blo to fill the grain cut back with some turpentine and then a few more coats uncut then wet sand. Let it dry one or two days minimum between coats in a warm area then continually apply every so often.
     
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    Ranchero50

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 15, 2012
    5,411
    Hagerstown MD
    Citrus strip in a plastic paint tray. Let the juice do the work. Never, ever sand a stock. Steam any dents and refinish as you'd like. Layered BLO is fine for a flat military finish. Layers of Tru Oil (now available at Wal-Mart) and silicone spray to a high gloss shine. I never use poly urethane products. Don't like the plasticy feel.

    I have a 1912 Remmy Model 10 that looked like that. Currently the stock is clean waiting for the rust bluing the finish before deciding what to do with it. It had been sanded so the stock to metal fitment is poor.
     

    slowpoke

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 2, 2011
    1,114
    Annapolis
    I used the kleen strip stuff once to do something similar. It was a nasty process. I wasn't sure exactly what I was doing but was willing to risk the stock.

    If you're not emotionally tied to that stock, you might also look on Numrich or ebay to look for unfinished furniture and skip the labor of trying to get that old stuff off. But the "easy" way is not always the point of the exercise.
     

    ironpony

    Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 8, 2013
    7,145
    Davidsonville
    Mahogany, I have an old one on a shelf in the shop. Ranchero has the right idea, citrus strip, Boiled linseed oil .. maybe a coat every 2 weeks until your happy and BLO can be applied again every season or mornings below 15 degrees LOL.
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    Right there on the can "Satisfaction Guaranteed" Homers formula with the gloss or satin driers makes a nice finish after its been rubbed out with pumice or rottenstone. Works good for that open grain soft walnut like on unfinished Boyd's stocks. Waterproofs and hardens up the exterior of the wood some. I cut back the final coats when I use 600 wet paper then the pumice on a hard felt pad.
    A good stripper used correctly on a particular wood species will not damage the wood fibers. To harsh a stripper can act as sand paper. Use wet dry paper on the finish, not the wood.
    If you get through it, reapply oil or focus on another part of the stock, then re-oil again till it gets right.

    I used citri strip to lift old grease and grime before steaming, it almost works like whiting and is cheap.
     

    rouchna

    Defund the ATF
    MDS Supporter
    Nov 25, 2009
    5,943
    Virginia
    I lightly sanded this old stock set then refinished using 8 coats of tung oil.
    I used 0000 steel wool in between each coat.
     

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    Ranchero50

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 15, 2012
    5,411
    Hagerstown MD
    Aussie with a couple coats of BLO. I rubbed it into the metal as well. Gave it a nice 'as oiled' finish for a wall hanger.
    DSC02856.jpg~original


    Single coat of Tru Oil. Mystery wood stock with a hand made walnut forarm topper for a M1 look on a Glennfield 75
    DSC01951_zpsd82817ec.jpg~original


    About 10 coats later. Feels super smooth and lovely to look into. Added a set of 99-M1 sights and SKS sling for military flavor. Great fun little shooter.
    DSC01973_zps3b7006d3.jpg~original
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    One thing I have always had a hard time doing is touching up old Win and Browning factory finishes. Where the finish gets worn around the wrist and high wear areas. Does anyone know the recipe for the finish or how it was applied? Or even something that will get close. Tru-oil and Linspeed (g96) carefully rubbed in will get close with the right temps. I guess because of the plasticizers in the old formulas. Im not talking about high grade collectable things, just like ordinary hunting grade guns that are still serviceable.
     

    Alphabrew

    Binary male Lesbian
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 27, 2013
    40,717
    Woodbine
    Got her done, I’m happy with how it turned out. I stripped it, degreased it with Purple Power (this cleaned up a lot of dark parts in the wood from excess oil over the years), restrained and topped it off with a few coats of tung oil. I didn’t sand it at all. It’s an LE trade Wingmaster so I didn’t want it to look “too pretty”. It was a pretty fun project!
     

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    nomade

    Active Member
    Apr 26, 2014
    350
    Got her done, I’m happy with how it turned out. I stripped it, decreased it with Purple Power (this cleaned up a lot of dark parts in the wood), restrained and topped it off with a few coats of tung oil. I didn’t sand it at all. It’s an LE trade Wingmaster so I didn’t want it to look “too pretty”. It was a pretty fun project!

    It looks great.
    I've been thinking about refinish a Chinese SKS that I have.
    I may do it.
     

    rouchna

    Defund the ATF
    MDS Supporter
    Nov 25, 2009
    5,943
    Virginia
    Got her done, I’m happy with how it turned out. I stripped it, degreased it with Purple Power (this cleaned up a lot of dark parts in the wood from excess oil over the years), restrained and topped it off with a few coats of tung oil. I didn’t sand it at all. It’s an LE trade Wingmaster so I didn’t want it to look “too pretty”. It was a pretty fun project!

    Nice Job!!! Looks great!
     

    j_h_smith

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 28, 2007
    28,516
    Why didn't you take a butter knife and carve your initials into it before you finished it? Isn't that what you're suppose to do?

    It looks good.

    Congrats!
     

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