How to Weatherproof Your Rifle
- Choose the Right Rifle Stock. One of the chief causes of failure is wood stocks. Wood is wonderful stuff, but it’s...
- Protect Your Rifle’s Metal Parts. Rust does not help. Cosmetic rusting can annihilate the value of a gun, and rusting...
- Use the Right Amount of Oil. During my formative years, it was gospel that you used a very,...
Full Answer
Why buy a wood stocked rifle?
When you buy a new rifle with a wood stock, you take it out to shoot it the first time. That is the exciting part of a new rifle. This is also true when you buy or receive a used rifle with a wood stock or an older wood stocked MILSURP rifle.
How do you fix a broken stock on a rifle?
The first step in refinishing a stock is to remove the action and all metal or plastic components. Don't leave anything on the stock, such as the buttplate, recoil pad, or sling swivel. Once these items have been removed, check the stock for cracks. If you find any, now is the time to fix 'em.
Do all rifles have oil finish on the stock?
However some new rifles and most older MILSURP rifles have wood stocks that have been finished with oil. Maintenance of this finish serves multiple purposes.
What is the history of the Woodstock on a rifle?
Starting with Wood Stocked MILSURP Rifles, think rifles from the turn of the 20th century ('03 Springfield, M1917, M1 Garand, M1 Carbine and others of that time frame). The stocks on these were all finished with oil from the Armory that made them.
Will gun oil hurt a wood stock?
Regular gun oil will make wood rotten. If you have an oil finished stock, you can touch it up with Tung Oil or boiled Linseed Oil.
Should I oil my gun stock?
It is important to clean your shotgun after each use to remove any moisture, unburnt powder or dirt. Gun oil should be used sparingly as excess oil or cleaner can damage the stock.
What do you put on a wood gun stock?
0:399:20Stock Care & Storage - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe would use I will recommend using a very very small amount of Bald linseed oil which.MoreWe would use I will recommend using a very very small amount of Bald linseed oil which.
What kind of oil do you use for wood gun stock?
For people who prefer to make their own finish for wooden gun stocks, boiled linseed oil is an excellent alternative or even the best alternative. It can be hand rubbed into wood to provide a durable, water-proof, and non-toxic finish. Boiled linseed oil is usually used on bare wood.
Is linseed oil good for gun stocks?
Boiled linseed oil is more often used on bare wood and is popular for finishing gun stocks, as the process of heating it decreases its drying time. When hand rubbed into wood, it creates a durable weatherproof seal and the heat produced from the friction of rubbing produces a deep, polished finish.
Is linseed oil better than tung oil?
Tung oil creates a harder, more durable finish than linseed oil. Tung oil is more water-resistant than linseed oil. Raw linseed oil takes significantly longer to cure than pure tung oil. Tung oil is generally more expensive than linseed oil.
Can you use furniture polish on gun stocks?
Any good polish used for fine furniture will work fine on a gun stock!!! Use RemOil on the barrel inside and out. If you want something with more luster to it, try a light film of automotive motor oil.
Can you stain a gun stock?
2:095:21Rifle Stock Refinishing 2 of 3: Re-staining Ruger 10/22 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's pretty light still someone give another coat of tobacco brown here a cool thing about usingMoreIt's pretty light still someone give another coat of tobacco brown here a cool thing about using these liquid stains is that you can put as many layers on as you want until you get the the right color
Can you use car wax on guns?
I used paste car wax years ago to cut the glare on polyurethane finishes and conventional bluing before the advent of camo finishes and flat finishes on guns. Works very well.
How many coats of tung oil does a gun stock have?
It may take 12 - 15 coats if your wood has large pores to fill, but you can apply a couple coats a day if your gun stock is in a low humidity environment.
What does tung oil do for wood?
Originating from China and South America, tung oil—an extract from tung-tree nuts—is a natural drying oil that coats your fine wood furnishings with a transparent, wet finish. It enhances the color of your wood, offers excellent protection and is eco-friendly.
What is the difference between Tru oil and tung oil?
The main difference between tru oil and tung oil is that tru oil can give a harder, more varnish-like finish, while tung oil lets you experience the natural feel of the wood. Lacquer finishes can provide relatively good protection, but care must be taken to keep them in the best shape as they age.
What keeps rain out of rifle barrel?
A small piece of camo tape over your rifle’s barrel will keep rain, snow, and ice out. RELIANCER
When hunting, do you wipe the break free gun off?
When hunting, I keep the Break Free handy, wipe the gun off at the end of the day, and don’t bring it indoors between hunts, where it will warm up and sweat.
Does Birchwood Casey kill wasps?
Birchwood Casey will make more. Gun Scrubber will not only clean out your guns, but will also kill wasps, hornets, and mosquitos, lift stains, remove package adhesive from knife blades, and, for all I know, cure leprosy. I expect that half the Gun Scrubber I use in a year ends up on bugs.
Do ARs need oil?
ARs have complicated the picture. Bolt actions, levers, pumps, and civilian autos need very little oil. ARs, however, thrive on it. I have been chastised by at least two gunsmiths for shooting my two Powerful Assault Rifles too dry. So be it. Now I oil them, if not copiously, at least not sparingly, and they seem happier.
Is gun oil synthetic or natural?
This was good advice because gun oil was actually oil, and it did turn to sludge or varnish. Today, most gun oil is synthetic, and will not gum up except in extreme cold.
Is wood a good material for a tree?
Wood is wonderful stuff, but it’s also treacherous. My friend Norm Nelson, who worked in the forestry industry, pointed out that a tree is a pump so powerful that it can bring water from far below ground and move it a hundred feet into the air. Trees are made out of wood.
Can you leave a rifle cold?
Once your rifle gets good and cold, leave it good and cold. Unlike you, it works better if it doesn’t get warmed up.
How to protect checkering on stock?
The first step in protecting your stock's checkering is to cover it with ordinary masking tape. Use multiple overlapping strips of tape to completely cover the checkering panel. The stock had handcut checkering. It was nothing fancy, but it was serviceable and reasonably attractive.
How to strip stock outside?
That will make cleanup a lot easier and help to keep from making a mess. Apply the stripper according to the manufacturer's directions. Once the finish has softened, I use pasteboard or plastic scrapers to remove the bulk of the finish and stripper. I then use paper towels to remove any residual stripper and finish.
What is a razor knife used for?
A standard hobby-type razor knife is used to trace over the borderlines made by the plastic knife, and the excess tape outside the panel is pulled away. The checkering is now covered with a protective layer of masking tape.
What is used to press tape down into the borderlines of the checkering panel?
A plastic picnic knife with the serrations removed is used to press the tape down into the borderlines of the checkering panel.
What do I need to sand checkering?
In fact, it's pretty darn easy. All you need are a few simple tools; I use a razor knife, a plastic picnic knife, and masking tape. With just a little time and effort you can protect your checkering from damage while sanding and later when applying finish to the stock.
How to smooth tape over checkering panel?
Don't worry about the ends of the tape not matching the outline of the panel. Use the body of a pencil or pen to smooth the tape over the panel.
How to use a plastic picnic knife?
Take an ordinary plastic picnic knife and file any serrations or teeth off the blade. You want the end of the rounded blade to have a nice sharp edge. Once the knife has been prepared, use it to go over those borderlines around the checkering panel. Use the knife to depress the tape into the borderlines.
What oil does Howard feed n wax use?
howard feed n wax with beeswax and orange oil they sell it at lowe's if you want to remove anything from anything instantly just use methylethylketone in a well ventilated area.
Can you use Milsek wax on oil stocks?
Application of waxes can be a slippery slope if you don't know what your doing, what you want or what to expect. I stole my wife's furniture cleaning cloth; an old tee shirt soaked with Milsek furniture polish. I use it to wipe down my stocks, and it instantly brings them to life. It adds a little moisture and sheen with no rubbing, buffing or build-up. It seems to work equally well on both oil and gloss finished stocks.
Can non wax guys use oil in?
You non-wax guys can use anything you like and more power to ya. 'Specially you rub-the-oil-in guys. You all are a great source of stock refinishing work. Thanks.
How to clean varnished stock?
If a stock is varnished, then just wipe it clean with damp cloth or possibly a solvent (i.e. spirits) for dirtier areas. If a stock is oil-finished, re-apply oil lightly to re-condition it. I use boiled linseed because it is thin and rubs into the dry wood easily.
What is the best oil for wood?
As wood finishes go, tung oil is among the best. The oil is absorbed by the wood, which makes it very long lasting, and durable. As far as care for your stock, take a lesson from guitar and furniture makers, plain old lemon oil. No wax. Wax is fine as a finish on its own, but is prone to hazing.
What is the best way to renew a finish?
If a finish is starting to look a bit shabby, a coat of a good-quality wax is the best way to renew and protect it. And "waxy build-up," by the way, is a myth: all modern wax formulations include solvents -- turpentine, mineral spirits, or toluene -- which dissolve any wax on the surface as the new wax is applied.
Why does wood crack when it's dry?
Can't speak to guitars, but in furniture, drying out and cracking of wood can result from exposure to too much moisture : the wood swells, the fibers take a compression set, and then, when the RH goes down again, the fibers can't expand evenly, and you get checks in the wood.
Do you need to strip a Skyyr stock?
Skyyr, there's really no need to strip and redo a finish that's in good shape -- and if you think the rifle might appreciate in value over time, it's probably a bad idea anyway. Just wipe the stock down with a clean cloth before you put it away, and give it a coat of wax every year or so.
Can you see the stock on a gun?
In most modern guns you will likely find this includes every bit of the stock, you cannot see (underneath and close to the action). Be sure to remove the buttpad or plate too. After re-assembly, on "shiny" finished stocks an application of a hard paste wax (floor wax or similar) will give excellent protection.
Is lemon oil good for furniture polish?
Furniture polishes (like pledge) contain surfactants (cleaners,degerasers) that are fine for, and intended for tougher finishes like urethanes, but hard on softer finishes like oil or laquer. Lemon oil is a natural cleaner as well as a moisturizer. Use lemon oil. Sorry, smoakingun, but I have to disagree here.
What wax do I use on Ruger Blackhawk?
I use Johnson's Paste Wax on the Indian Elephant Ivory grips on the Ruger Blackhawk in my avatar...since 1971....they look pretty good !
Is Renaissance wax good for metal?
Renaissance Wax, it is also good for the metal too. I use it on my 1911's ivory grips, its what the manufacture recommend.