beeswax treated stock care

[robin du bois]

I bought my first muzzleloader last month, a roy gillis built gun with a 44" .40 cal rice barrel, chambers gunsmith lock and davis triggers. Wonderful gun. But I found that the stock is finished only with heated beeswax. Would anyone here be able to tell me how to take care of such a stock. I've heard a finish like this is less durable than modern techniques though I have no intentions of changing it.
thanks

 

Treat it as if it were a piece of fine furnature. Buff the surface occasionally and add warmed beeswax to any scratched areas or areas showing handling wear. This is probably the least durable PC finish available.

I cannot imagine attempting to maintain this finish in Arazona! It is historically accurate, but so are any number of oil and varnish finishes that would be more suited to your heat and humidity level. I can imagine the wax oozing from the wood pores in that 115 degree temp. If the barrel is in the white it will never age out there!

Pity that your builder did not take that into consideration.

:imo:

 

[flintkeeper]

What kind of gun is it?
I am asking because there are several period correct types of finish that might be available to you instead of beeswax.
So, what say you?

 

[robin du bois]

It's a southern mountain type, built from a john gillespie rifle dated at 1810. The stock is a real dark walnut that contrasts beautifully with the chambers lock. I would love to hear of any alternatives that I might use but I want to keep the wood a deep chocolate colour. thanks.

 

one of the better kept secrets is that many gunbuilders finish the wood with a coat of furniture wax. It looks good and no one is the wiser. It protects the wood better than most PC stuff....

 

. But I found that the stock is finished only with heated beeswax. Would anyone here be able to tell me how to take care of such a stock. I've heard a finish like this is less durable than modern techniques though I have no intentions of changing it.
thanks

Robin, it is less durable in that it won't resist scratches or dings but is quite good at fending off weather. It is NOT a maintainance free finish but then again, muzzleloading is not a maintainance free sport. periodically (particularily after being out in the rain) you will need to replenish the surface wax. Get some bees wax and disolve it in turpentine. It takes a few days to disolve. You want it to be the consistency of vaseline. Then, when the finish looks a bit dull, wipe it on and buff off, just like waxing a car. It will make the stock glow and restore the surface wax. I have used my rifle finished in bees wax in 40c degree weather with no ill effects. I don't know what that is in F but it's hotter than the hubs of hell.

 

[robin du bois]

thanks guys -- glad to hear that such a finish will work because i'd much rather keep it as is. Thanks for the advice, cody, i'll try that.

 

[Zonie]

40 degrees C is 104 degrees F.
In Arizona 104 degrees F is considered a warm day. It might be pointed out that the relative humidity is usually below 20 percent, with 5 to 15 percent being common.

Even with the low humidity, in the middle of summer it is often 115 degrees F (46.1 degrees C) in the shade. That is hot any way you look at it.

Even at 115 degrees F, I doubt the bees wax would begin to melt though, and with our low humidity it is probably a moderatly durable finish here.

 

[Redleg130th]

I never have heard of Beeswax as a finish, but it does make sense.

Is Tung oil considered a authentic finish from the 1770s forward? I have always used Tung oil on my modern arms and have allways liked the smooth shiny finish I can achive with muliple coats, steel wool and cotton rags.

 

[robin du bois]

My thoughts as well, Zonie. And we must all remember that Aizona is a large and diverse state. I reside in the extreme northeast, 70 miles from colorado and far closer to durango than phoenix. The warmest temps I'll get here will be the low 90's while most of the fall and winter will seldom see temps above 55. Furthermore, the stock will recieve the most abuse during hunting conditions when the temps will stay between 20 and 40. :thumbsup: