Nick Quick Fix

[Marc Adamchek]

You'd think I'd already know the answer to this after all these years, but I guess I've been lucky enough to not have to concern myself with this issue: A pesky nick in a beautiful black walnut stock. Nothing major, and not at all like the usual dings and bangs picked up in the woods, just a result of a silly incident/accident in the wilds of one's home, i.e. a pair of scissors inexplicably dropping 4 feet with one of the blades nicking the stock of an innocent rifle standing against the bookcase. It's small (3/8"), but incredibly annoying because the remaining small gouge is not only perfectly centered but glares out WHITE against beautiful chocolate fudge figure. I thought of shoe polish, but then regained my senses and decided to appeal to the experts on this forum. What say ye, masters?

 

[Roy]

is it cut in or is it just dented?

 

[jgr1974]

Hello,

I have 2 cents here!!! If there was no actual wood loss, and it is a push in the wood, you can take a damp cloth, and a clothes iron to raise the fibers. This however could damage the finish around the spot leaving a larger area refinished. There is some stuff out there called Kramer's oil. It is a mixture of several items, don't know what all is in it, but know it is turpentine based. The mixture actually moves some of the stain from the other areas rubbed to mathch the dammaged area. I used it on my dining room table, after the cat sharpened this claws on it!!! Worked great!

The Mad MIck!

 

[Marc Adamchek]

Roy, it's more of a cut - actually, the effect on Mad Mick's table from his cat probably looked like something similar. Not a dent, heck, those I pick up on all my guns out hunting and don't really mind them on account of the character they add to the history and all. Just think of a nice piece of nice, dark burled walnut with a "gougey" scratch, if you will, cutting through the surface and showing as a white blemish in all that nice dark figure.

Mad Mick - Sounds like you mentioned something worth looking into.

 

[George Holton]

As a last resort,place a tasteful inlay over it, silver looks great over walnut.

 

[ehoff]

Two things I've used to fix small nicks are shellac sticks or colored wax. Shellac sticks come in a varity of colors, you melt the stick over an open flame, collect some on a blunt knife and apply it to the cut. After it is dry, cut it down to the surface (apply masking tape around the adjactent area to protect the stock)carefully sand. The other way is to apply colored wax such as BRIWAX soft wax sticks, they come in a varity of colors. The wax may have to be reapplied from time to time. Woodcraft carries both products.

 

[Roy]

I would combine both methods... first use jgr1974's idea and try to steam it a bit and then if it still looks horrible then try ehoff's plan... both will take a bit of refinishing.