Shining Times

[Grimord]

I searched this forum for some information regarding "dulling" a shiny stock, but did not come up with anything useful. I have a flint lock long rifle that has some tasteful inlays and stock carvings in some very nice figured maple. The issue is that who ever finished this stock must have used a gloss polyurethane. The stock is way too shiny for me. Is there a way to remove the shine without having to remove the inlays or disfiguring the carvings?

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

0000 steel wool and butchers paste wax

 

[The Appalachian]

000 3M synthetic steel wool and some very patient work. Use a head lamp so you can see where you've dulled the shine, and where you haven't. Do your level best to NOT break through the finish or you'll be stripping it off and starting over being poly.

Then, when you've dulled the shine, use Axe Wax on it.

 

[oldwood]

Caution.....When applying the 0000 steel wool to the shiny stock , use pressure as if a butterfly was landing on the finish surface. You're only wanting to super lightly scratch the finish , not dig down into it. I routinely apply 4 or 5 coats of "gell " Polyurethane to build the finish , and allow it to harden several days , then 0000 wool the finish , apply a single wipe on , wipe off coat of polymerized Watco satin finish , let dry , then wax w/ Minwax Special Dark furniture wax.

 

[TDM]

Agree with above, fine steel wool and a light touch. You can always rub a little harder if you’re not getting the desired result. But start off light.

 

[VAN]

After using 0000 steel wool I like to go over the stock with a strong magnet to get out the wool strands from all the spots they hide in before waxing or rubbing out the finish with a polishing cloth.