Barrel channel finish

[CWH28]

I pulled the barrel on a recently acquired Miruko and the barrel channel looks dry and appears never to have had any treatment. I was going to apply a couple of coats of boiled linseed oil (cause I have some), but I see several mentions of boiled tong oil in this forum. Does it matter as it gets something applied?

 

[64Springer]

Big fan of BLO.

And you already have some.

 

[TDM]

Either is fine. I like both, but Tung oil takes longer to dry but is more protective.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Water pump grease works fine if you don't plan on dismounting the barrel very often.
Have used deer tallow too. works V well.
Yes, linseed oil is fine, but the above protect the barrel as well a bit better.

 

[Red Owl]

In Florida the tung oil NEVER dries- tacky forever. Use BLO and put on thin coats

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Originals have no finish in the barrel channel.

 

[Grenadier1758]

While it is true that originals do not have finish in the barrel channel, we expext to use our traditional firearms for a much longer time. It is beneficial to treat the barrel channel. To that end, a coat of wax might be better than BLO, some form of protection is warranted. Use several thin coats.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Why would a coat of wax in the barrel channel lengthen the usefulness of a flintlock?

 

[CWH28]

The bare wood is very dry and hairline cracks are beginning to show near the ramrod pipe near the nose cap. My thought as that some “oil” to penetrate and protect the wood be good and prevent further deterioration.

I am not a woodworker, but would a couple coats of wax after the BLO cause problems? That is basically what they do with wood floors.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Why would a coat of wax in the barrel channel lengthen the usefulness of a flintlock?

It would protect the wood, preventing deterioration of the stock.

 

[Zutt-man]

I am not a woodworker, but would a couple coats of wax after the BLO cause problems? That is basically what they do with wood floors.

It would not cause issues at all, just adds an additional layer of protection

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

What are we protecting from? Is the stock going to turn to dust?

 

[Red Owl]

It seems BLO would soak into the wood and work well.

 

[TDM]

It seems BLO would soak into the wood and work well.

That's been my experience. BLO continues to soak in and after a couple of coats does a nice job IMO. A coat or two of paste wax on top finishes it off. While it's a know fact original guns had mostly zero done to inletted wood, in the extreme humidity cycles where I am I prefer to have all the wood sealed to some degree. But this can be accomplished with different techniques.

 

[NorthFork]

Some kind of a drying oil (blo, tung, tru-oil, etc) and then a heavy coat of wax.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I use BLO and then a heavy coat of wax to help act as a bedding compound .

 

[Doc Hickok]

I use BLO and then a heavy coat of wax to help act as a bedding compound .

Hello I was told by someone you make wad punches if so how can I contact you

 

[Red Owl]

BTW- years ago someone here said they had examined many original rifles and the barrel channels were a mess, all gouged out- we do it better today.
I've posted this before but as you get about done- if you have a straight barrel (won't work with a swamped barrel) use the barrel as a sanding block. Cut sand paper EXACTLY the width of a flat and glue on the bottom three and back and forth- makes a really good channel. No paper on the sides. Glue in place with Elmer's Glue, don't fold the paper around the barrel's edges.

 

[Montgomery]

What are we protecting from? Is the stock going to turn to dust?

Stock channels, lock mortises etc. unfinished, can and will absorb moisture, even yours! What part of that do you not understand? They are not trying to re,design the wheel, they are putting a thin coat of BLO on raw wood. Done.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Stock channels, lock mortises etc. unfinished, can and will absorb moisture, even yours! What part of that do you not understand? They are not trying to re,design the wheel, they are putting a thin coat of BLO on raw wood. Done.

BLO is not water proof. There is no reason to put it in barrel channels if you're trying to seal the stock, water goes right through it. If you do put some sort of waterproof sealant in the barrel channel you'll have trouble with rust as there is no place for the water to go.