best refinish for stock....

[Allan]

Hi all,

Gosh, it's been awhile since I visited with you at this campfire, been shootin but life does get in the way most times......

Three or four years ago I bought a Pedersoli frontier in 50cal. with beatiful stripped maple as my first flinter. With all your good advise and encouragement she was turned into a fine, sweet shooter. Wicked-quick lock, tight groups at any yardage.

But.........

This factory finish is worthless....
I chemicaly striped her down, gentle sanding, and a coat of minwax oil stain of my own color. I swear she has more strips now then before.
But now what do I do? I have read websites and asked questions and every question seems to get a different answer.

I want as close as I can get to some of the wonderful rifles over on TOTW. Do I have to get special oils? Farnby's furniture? What finish is best for these guns that are used often?
You were all such a help tuning her up, now she needs to look more purdy........

 

[Swampman]

I really like Formby's Tung Oil Finish. It dries and looks great. Lately I've been using Daler-Rowney Purified Linssed Oil from the Walmart Arts & Crafts department. It is a truely outstanding finish. It dries in less than 24 hours, but it stays wet the entire time you're applying it. It cost about $2.50 per bottle.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I like Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil for a stock finish. It only takes about 5 drops to cover an entire stock, and it dries overnight. I rub it down between coats with a coarse tack rag, or paper towels, and buff each coat with my palms to get them hot , and the surface hot, too. Then I rub in the next coat. If you want a matte finish, all you have to do is run your fingers over the finish after about 10 minutes of letting the last coat set. That will dull the glossy finish, and give you the matte finish you want. When it is done, I like to use a spray wax on the stock, to protect the finish further from the acids and oils from hands that will be touching the gun all over as you show it off to friends. The wax comes off easily with a towel with alcohol in it, and, of course, you don't want the alcohol to sit on the finish as it will begin to dissolve it. Alcohol is a solvent. Make sure to put a thin coat of finish in the lock, trigger guard, and tang mortises, and in the barrel channel to help in water proofing the stock. Same with under the buttplate, to seal the end grain. I have also had fine results using Tung Oil, sold for finishing furniture.

 

[Allan]

:hmm: Thanks Swamper.......
I can't get over how much more figure is showing through now with the new staining. Looks like a completly different rifle. Strips from stem to stern.
I will try the tungue oil finish. Seems to be the popular vote and makes sence to me. Since this is my hunting gun also I will try and find a low luster coating.
Thanks again for your time and advise.
Allan

 

[Allan]

Heya Paul.....
Thanks for your input, this is really a different gun with this new stain.
I have come across the Birchwood-Casey oil before, seems to be very popular for gun stocks.
I am sumwhat more familiar with the furniture type oils and I think I'm going to go that route.
Next I build a pistol kit to match this rifle then a rifle kit is in my future.
Thanks for your time and input,
Allan