Reducing the gloss on finishes

[bioprof]

Thought I'd pass along a hint that I've used before to decrease the shine on a newly finished stock. I used to restore/rebuild split bamboo fly rods, and didn't have a source for ground pumice, so I bought a bar of Lava soap and shaved some of it off and rubbed the finish down with it. Lava soap has ground pumice in it. The soap eliminates the need to put oil on the finish when rubbing it down. It worked well on bamboo fly rods, so I don't know why it wouldn't work on gunstocks too.

 

[LSU TIGER]

Go to Home Depot, Lowe's, or a paint store and ask for "rotten stone." Same stuff.

 

[recycle33952]

interesting technique :grin: i always 0000 steel wool everything only thing ive ever known. :grin:

i can say fer certain your guns cleaner than mine maybe even antibacterial retardant too :rotf:

 

[bioprof]

interesting technique :grin: i always 0000 steel wool everything only thing ive ever known. :grin:

i can say fer certain your guns cleaner than mine maybe even antibacterial retardant too :rotf:

...and smells as fresh as a spring rain. My girlfriend says, "I like it too". :rotf:

 

[Birddog6]

Don't use boiled linseed oil & pumice, as it will build a finish & if the gun is real cold & you bring it into a warm room (like been outside huntin & come back in a cabin) the finish may shatter winto a million spiderweb cracks. Been there done that.......

I use 2000 wet/dry paper from NAPA to rub down my stocks with & it takes off the high spots in the finish & also knocks the gloss off. Then wax bac to the sheen you want with auto wax paste or gunstock wax or whatever.

:thumbsup:

 

[Mike Brooks]

You might try burnishing with course burlap if the finish is still pretty fresh.

 

[George F.]

Pumice comes in grades, just like our powder. It has been 30 years since I used any. When I found out I could use 0000 steel wool for the same effect on rubbing out lacquer I stopped using it. As for Rottenstone, that's an even finer abrasive than the finest grade pumice... And that does a great job of final rubbing out lacquer.
.......George F.

 

[rich pierce]

If you have a Woodcrafters store nearby they have pumice and a can of it is well worth the price, as it can be used to rub out a finish or polish metal. i find that I am too aggressive to sucessfully use 4-0 steel wool. I just end up taking off the thin coat of finish I worked so hard to put on evenly.

Rottenstone in my experience will put a high gloss on a finish, it's so fine by comparison to pumice powder.

 

[Bill L]

I have for many years used the fine steel wool in combination with a good wood paste wax which contains carnuba.It has always turned out well.