how to refinish shotgun stock

^{5 Ways to Refinish a Gun Stock Yourself, Plus Other Touch-Up Tricks}

1. Remove a Dent. The key is steam. Take a regular iron and set it on high. ...
2. Fix a Gouge. Now you’ve done it. You banged your stock against a rock and have left an unsightly gouge. ...
3. Restore Faded Wood. Once you’ve steamed and sanded a stock, the wood can appear faded and worn. ...
4. Bring Back Color. Another way to make a faded spot go away is to apply a light coat of Tru-Oil by Birchwood Casey. ...
5. Protect Your Stock. One of the best ways to protect wood with a natural finish is to use some kind of wax-based or oil-based ­product (but not Pledge). ...

Full Answer

How to tighten a shotgun stock?

take a ratchet or bar 1 foot long and pull 6 lbs on it. Or some combination of lbs times length that equals 6 ft lbs. Probably would be best to do the lbs-ft thing on a practice bolt until you get a feel for how hard to pull and then just do the gun by feel.

What is the best oil to finish a gun stock?

Top 10 Best Oil For Walnut Gun Stocks In 2022

1. Birchwood Casey Gun Stock Wax
2. Dr. Tobias Colon 14 Day Cleanse. ...
3. CuttingBoard Food Grade Mineral Oil for Cutting Boards. ...
4. Lin-Speed Gunstock Finish and Care Oil. ...
5. Tru-Oil Gun Stock Finish 3oz
6. Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil Stock Finish 3 Ounce
7. Ostermayer Jagd Gun Stock Finish. ...

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What adhesive works best to repair a gun stock?

best glue to repair a cracked stock

• Tripod. I have an older BT-99 that has developed a small crack on the right top tang area. ...
• mixer. I think a "Crazy Glue" type product will work very well or any wood glue. ...
• PerazziBigBore. Acra Glass ...
• wanderer. ...
• GW22. ...
• Baron23. ...
• Dennis DeVault. ...
• OldRemFan. ...
• phirel. ...
• Spanky. ...

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How to make a shotgun stock out of wood?

Building a Custom Rifle Stock

1. Design. I spent a lot of time looking at other stocks, and although I really like the look and feel of thumb-hole stocks, the action of this particular ...
2. Prepare the Original Stock. Note: Anyone doing their own inletting can skip this step ...
3. Prepare the Laminated Blank. ...
4. Glue Up. ...
5. Cutting the Profile. ...
6. Scuplting and Shaping. ...
7. More Sculpting and Shaping. ...

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What is the best finish for a gun stock?

The best finish to put on a gun stock is an oil finish. It is easy to apply, durable and can be used on finished and unfinished wood. Oil finish is also water-proof, prevents UV light from damaging the wood, and can last for several years.

Can you stain a gun stock?

2 If the stock is relatively scratch-free, give it a gentle sanding with 120-grit, 180-grit, and finally 280-grit paper and polish with extrafine steel wool. Wipe with a tack cloth and go right to staining or applying Tru-Oil® Gun Stock Finish.

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.

How many coats of Tru oil are on a gun stock?

As little as two coats can make a durable glossy finish, but I like to take it out to 4-6 or even 8 for a deep luster. For guns, I personally prefer the satin finish from buffing it out after the last coat, but then I'm a softy for that old-world look when I'm building a new rifle stock.

Can I polyurethane a gun stock?

0:257:46How To- MinWax Wipe on Poly Gun Stock application Part 4 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd start putting the polyurethane on the stock. Uh right here it is i just put a attachment inMoreAnd start putting the polyurethane on the stock. Uh right here it is i just put a attachment in there inside where the assembly goes for the trigger.

How much does it cost to refinish a gun stock?

Current Refinishing Pricing for most gunstocks: $385 – 445 for most stocks. The amount depends on variables such as type of wood; ease/difficulty of old finish removal; extent and location of dents, gouges, scratches; coats required, etc.

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.

Does gun oil hurt 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.

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.

How long should you wait between coats of Tru Oil?

Both of these factors encourage a finish to dry quicker. Tru-Oil takes about 2-4 hours to dry enough for a second coat. This is longer in humid and cold places, and shorter in warm dry places. After a couple hours, lightly touch the piece.

Is Tru oil the same as 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.

Will Tru oil darken wood?

Re: Darkening Finish After Tru Oil However, very likely to will darken with age and exposure to light.

🏆 What's covered?

The stock can be coated with a thin layer of polyurethane. Polyurethane is a polymer that..

🔍 How did we come to the conclusion?

Before, refinishing keep in mind whether refinishing the gun will improve the..

🤔 Summary

You can also use steel wool, but it can cause problems during the refinishing..

How to clean a gun stock?

Clean the Gun Stock. Once the waiting period is over, wash the finish remover off of the stock with mild soap and warm water. If needed, you can use a rough sponge or steel wool to remove the finish along with any grit and grime remaining. After that, rinse the wood thoroughly and wipe it down.

How to refinish a gun?

Because of the process involved, you can't refinish the wood while it's attached to metal. Start by removing the wooden pieces from the rest of the gun. Usually you do this the same way you would when cleaning the gun. 2.

How to clean wood after heat?

After applying the heat, use the degreaser and give the wood a good scrub. You can alternate and repeat the heat and degreasing as many times as necessary until you're satisfied the wood is clean and oil-free. 5. Inspect the Wood. Inspect the wood for cracks or damage. Take steps to fix or repair any issues now.

How to get sawdust off wood?

7. Stain the Stock. For many people, this is the fun part. Start by applying conditioner to the wood to prep it for the stain. Then, with a cheesecloth or your preferred application method, apply the stain you've picked.

How to sand wood with lemon oil?

Put a little lemon oil or other natural oil on the wood to strengthen it. Once that has set in, begin sanding by hand. Start with the smallest number grits first and work up to larger numbers. There's typically no need to go beyond around 400 grit size.

How to fix cracks in wood?

Inspect the Wood. Inspect the wood for cracks or damage. Take steps to fix or repair any issues now. Most cracks or other damage can be fixed with a little sawdust and epoxy or wood sealant, so feel free to attempt those at your own discretion. As long as there is no structural damage, you can move on to the next step.

How to remove a sanded sand from wood?

There are several methods for removing this, but the most common and effective move is to apply heat and some form of degreaser. You can use heat guns, bo iling water, or even a hair dryer to provide heat, although boiling water will also saturate the wood as it opens up the fibers.

What is the slowest finish to remove?

Home-finishes, varnish, polyurethane , even shellac, and factory epoxy are common. Removal time and technique involved varies by the chemical nature of the finish and how strongly it’s bonded to the wood. Polyurethane seems to be the most common and can be the slowest to remove, depending on the manufacturer.

How long does it take for oil based finish to dry?

Sometimes up to 10, even more coats are needed to achieve deep, lustrous beauty. Drying time between coats is at least one day. Drying times also vary, depending on humidity.

What does street value mean on a firearm?

The street value may mean something or nothing to you. As well, an extremely valuable firearm may be perceived of lesser value if modifications, including gunstock refinishing, are made to it. Really, it comes down to whether you want to focus on the collectible dollar value, or re-do the stock and get a look for your own personal enjoyment.

Can you remove gun oil from wood?

Gun oil stains in wood: These are difficult to remove. Many can be removed completely, but not always. The severity and depth of the stain, type of oil that created it, and how long it’s been there are crucial factors. Some oil stain residue simply can’t be completely removed.

Does rubbing oil make wood grain pop?

In so doing, it reveals the true grain inherent in the wood. Rubbing oil penetrates, making the grain ‘pop!’. The penetrating oil also deepens contrast between light and dark wood fibers (grain), revealing the full beauty of the pattern. (And therein lies the ‘rub’ of hand-finishing.

Does refinishing a stock increase the value of a firearm?

Keep in mind refinishing a stock can definitely increase the “perceived value” and even street value of any firearm, simply because it looks so much better. I’m not referring to the collectability value of the firearm here, only to what others may be willing to pay for your gun should you want to sell it.

How to remove finish from a rifle?

After applying the remover on one side, wrap that side with a plastic sheet and repeat the same process with the other side. The plastic sheet will help the remover to work correctly as it will not dry out.

What is the best way to remove walnut stain from a gun?

Fillers are used to duplicating the rich, walnut-hued stain. We use French red as many gun makers use it. Let it dry and wipe out the extra filler with the help of scrub pads. It would help if you rubbed it in the grain’s direction to take all the filler out of the pores.

How to protect checkering?

Sanding. After the stock is dried, the next process is sanding. To protect the checkering from the sanding process, you can cover it with tape. For smooth, full-length stroke, we recommend using a large sanding block. 5. Dusting. Use some scrub pads to remove the grain dust from the stock.

How long does it take to remove plastic sheet?

After 15-20 minutes, you should remove the plastic sheet, and you will get the softened surface of the old refinishing that can now be removed with scrub pads. You can also use steel wool, but it can cause problems during the refinishing process, so we do not recommend it.

What is refinishing metal?

Mainly in refinishing, the metal parts are cleaned and polished. The metal parts that should be appropriately refinished are taken to the factory in which they were manufactured. It is done to protect their serial number, proof marks, pinholes, and sharp screws and edges.

What to do if you have 1% of doubt about your gun?

If you have 1% of doubt regarding your gun’s price, then don’t apply this process. Before doing the first step, wear plastic gloves and a protective eyepiece. So the remover that is a harmful substance doesn’t affect your skin.

How to protect surface from remover?

Also, use some newspapers or some piece of paper to protect the surface from the remover’s effect. Do this process in a highly ventilated area to protect yourself from breathing complications. Now let’s begin the process. 1.

Step 1: Step 1

The gun has no flat surfaces so I only used steel wool to remove the finish. Start by applying a liberal coating of solvent over a section of the gun stock. Work a section at a time. Wait a minute or so and test the area. I live in a warm climate so my wait time is short. Solvent works best in warm weather.

Step 2: Step 2

Sand the gunstock. I used various grades to smooth it down. The grain will sometimes raise up when you strip wood. Try not to over sand to preserve the natural patina. In this case though I had to use a power sander as I was having trouble removing oil stains from the side that the solvent didn't remove. Wipe it down with a dust cloth.

Step 3: Step 3

Time to apply the finish. Working from the butt of the gun stock up, I coated the wood with Rustoleum Clear finish. if possible, always brush with the grain. The finish dries quickly like the stain. After about an hour, I lightly sanded the stock with 1200 sandpaper to remove any dust particles.

How to paint a rifle with steel wool?

Rest the rifle on a work bench or over an old towel and put on a pair of gloves. Apply approximately one tablespoon of paint thinner to the steel wool and rub the rifle down within circular motions. Add more paint thinner to the steel wool as needed .

How to get rid of BLO on a rifle?

Continue until the wood won’t accept any more and walk away. Allow the rifle to rest, occasionally readjusting its positioning to avoid BLO pooling up in certain areas.

What is a BLO in a rifle?

Linseed Oil —Nectar of the Gun Gods. Boiled Linseed oil (BLO) will bring new life to an old rifle while protecting the stock for years to come. While craftsmen like Heineke use a concoction of BLO and alkanet root that steeps for years, giving the BLO a pinkish hue, we will simply be using BLO.

How does Heineke use sandpaper?

Heineke uses sandpaper to raise the grain of the wood and remove any fibers of steel wool that may have been left behind in the previous step. Alternating between slightly dampened and dry sandpaper, work the stock with a soft sanding block.

How to inspect a gun for bullets?

Remove detachable magazines if possible. Pointing the gun in a safe direction, open the breach and inspect for a bullet in the chamber or anything sitting on deck. Remove the wooden stock from the barrel and action.

Does Meateater support the rifle revolution?

MeatEater fully supports the rifle revolution, as you can see in our collaboration with Weatherby. That being said, hunters tend to be a nostalgic bunch. Geriatric shoulder mounts, honey holes that evoke sentimental hope, and historic rifles passed down the family tree for generations are staples within the hunting community.

How to remove old finish from rifle?

After the stock is removed, the most effective way to remove the old finish is to sand it by hand.

How to fix scratches on a rifle?

Apply Filler. Once you have sanded off the old finish, look for any remaining scratches or gouges. If there are any, fill those in with a wood filler. After letting the filler dry, sand down the spots that have just been filled so that the rifle’s stock is even and smooth. Apply Walnut Stain.

How long to wait to apply Tru-Oil to Birchwood Casey?

After waiting at least 24 hours, use very fine steel wool to lightly remove any dust that may have settled while drying before moving on to the next step. Apply Tru-Oil. Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil is sometimes easier to apply to your rifle stock using bare fingers.

How to get darker walnut stain?

To get the color that you want, just add water and spot test the stain on a piece of scrap wood until the right consistency is achieved. If you decide you like the darker stain, no water is necessary.

Can you use water to stain walnut?

If you decide you like the darker stain, no water is necessary. For most refinishing applications, a 50/50 water/stain mixture is just about right, but this depends on your personal preference and the original color of the stock. Apply the walnut stain with a clean, dust-free cloth and let it dry overnight.