Tru-Oil and inlays

[remy11s]

Well I just ordered a few brass inlays from TOTW. It's going to be my first attempt at doing some inlays. I'd like to finish the stock with Tru-Oil when I'm done inlaying and staining. I read one of Zonie's old posts about taping over the brass before rubbing in the finish. I plan to do a few coats(around 10). Will I have a huge problem removing the tape? I thought it would be pretty tough to get it out from under the Tru-oil. Will it leave a ridge in the finish where it meets the inlay surface? Do you guys have any ideas that might hlp me along? I tried the search and didnt find to much. Almost every other question I've had so far was answered in a previous post. You guys are truly amazing. What a wealth of knowledge on here.

Remy

 

[Roy]

Pieces like thumb pieces and hunter's stars I just finish over them and then carefully remove the finish with 0000 steel wool and any engraving I do last... for the patchboxes I just leave them off.

 

I have been using the big "Pink Pearl" erasers for removing finish from inlays or any metal part that does not need finish on it. The cool thing about this is it does not effect the finish on the stock around the inlay.

 

[Roy]

cool :thumbsup: Thanks for the tip.

 

Merry Christmas Roy....and yer welcome. :hatsoff:

 

[Allan Gray]

Might be a good idea to remove as much excess finish from the metal between coats.
In other words, if you wait 'till after 10 coats it might present a problem with any tru oil that may seep under the tape. :thumbsup:

 

[remy11s]

The eraser tip sounds like a very good idea. I'll try rubbing it off betwen coats. Thanks guys and Merry Christmas

Remy

 

[bioprof]

You can also wipe it off with a good solvent like denatured alcohol before it's completely dry.

 

[Zonie]

The tape I use is the Scotch Magic Tape and it is in intimate contact with the inlay and cut with an Exacto knife to the edge of each inlay.
The stock finishes do not run under the tape so that is not a problem.
After applying the last coat of oil and rubbing it in I let it dry. Then, I once again run the point of the Exacto knife around the inlay to cut the built up oil.
At this point, removing the tape does get to be a problem but I've found that using the point of the pointed blade in the Exacto knife I can start to lift the tape. I then apply some common rubbing alcohol to the tape/inlay/stock. This kills the adhesive and allows me to slowly work off the tape.

Rubbing the edges of the inlay with a fairly course piece of cloth "fairs in" the edges of the finish making the transition from the finished surface to the inlay undetectable.

 

[remy11s]

Thanks Zonie, I was hoping you'd chime in. Would denim be coarse enough to fair the edges? I think I have some burlap stashed away too.

Remy

 

[Zonie]

I used worn denim a few times.
Bearing in mind that many of my guns have a high gloss "varnished" finish I was a little bit paranoid about using new denim as it is pretty stiff and I didn't want to scratch up the adjacent surfaces.

If your gun has a duller "satin" finish or a "dull" non-glossy finish it probably doesn't matter.

 

[remy11s]

I was planning on finishing to a high gloss. I have some worn denim somewhere around here. Are there any fabrics that might be better?

Remy