NEEDED: Wood Rifle Stock Refinishing Info

**The91Bravo** · 07-21-08, 01:53 AM

Instead of just Googling and hoping for the best, I would like to seek the advice of someone that may have refinished wood rifle stocks personally, or knows how to do it.

Here's what I have done so far:

1. The stock is solid from a non-collector value .22 single shot rifle, so I can monkey around with it without fear of screwing up something worth $$$$

2. Took 0000 steel wool and rubbed the existing lacquer off, revealing very smooth raw wood.

3. Took 240 grit sandpaper and got the thicker spots of lacquer off and re rubbed with the steel wool

4. Wiped clean of dust and cleaned all the cracks free of dust and debris

5. With a cotton ball, applied Birchwood Casey 'Tru-Oil' gun stock finish

6. Partially screwed in one of the Butt-pad screws and hung it overnight by a wire to dry

7. Next day, took 0000 grade steel wool and lightly rubbed smooth

8. Reapplied another coat of oil, dried and repeated number 7

THE PROBLEM IS THIS:

I cannot get the shine I want. I do not mind applying 20 coats, and re doing those steps, but how do I get a nice high gloss finish? This is where I really would appreciate your advice, folks.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

**MacLean** · 07-21-08, 01:58 AM

Originally Posted by The91Bravo

THE PROBLEM IS THIS:

I cannot get the shine I want. I do not mind applying 20 coats, and re doing those steps, but how do I get a nice high gloss finish? This is where I really would appreciate your advice, folks.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

You need to start with at least four grades of sandpaper, and probably some sanding putty.

Start with the rough stuff and work down to the smooth stuff. If all you used is 240, you left a porous surface.

You should start with 240 and work down to 1000, and use a good sanding putty in between.

You did everything right except you skipped a lot of grades of paper.

If you go back to start over, make sure you take it EASY with the sanding. Just remove dust, don't reshape.

**The91Bravo** · 07-21-08, 02:02 AM

Originally Posted by maclean

You need to start with at least four grades of sandpaper, and probably some sanding putty.

Start with the rough stuff and work down to the smooth stuff. If all you used is 240, you left a porous surface.

You should start with 240 and work down to 1000, and use a good sanding putty in between.

You did everything right except you skipped a lot of grades of paper.

If you go back to start over, make sure you take it EASY with the sanding. Just remove dust, don't reshape.

mac,

Will the shine I am looking for slowly develop with each coat after I go back and re-do this?

I really like what the look of the finish has done. The richness of the wood is really so much better that I expected.

Thanks for the tip. Like I said, I am in no rush, so I do not mind rubbing in a coat a day if I need to. (Besides, with my shift schedule, I can only really do one coat per day)

thanks again,
Steve

**MacLean** · 07-21-08, 02:24 AM

Originally Posted by The91Bravo

mac,

Will the shine I am looking for slowly develop with each coat after I go back and re-do this?

I really like what the look of the finish has done. The richness of the wood is really so much better that I expected.

Thanks for the tip. Like I said, I am in no rush, so I do not mind rubbing in a coat a day if I need to. (Besides, with my shift schedule, I can only really do one coat per day)

thanks again,
Steve

Shine is a matter of removing pores to allow light to reflect.

Adding coats will improve shine, but the real important step is surface prep.

**The91Bravo** · 07-21-08, 02:27 AM

Great! I will let you know how it goes.

**Shoestring** · 07-21-08, 02:51 AM

Dont go by anything i am saying here because I have never refinished a stock but my question on this is

Once you are finished with staining etc. wouldnt you get a great shine if you put on a coat of lacquer/sealant?

**MacLean** · 07-21-08, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Shoestring

Dont go by anything i am saying here because I have never refinished a stock but my question on this is

Once you are finished with staining etc. wouldnt you get a great shine if you put on a coat of lacquer/sealant?

True if you use a stain. Lacquer won't stick very well to oil.

**Cidp24** · 07-21-08, 01:48 PM

Wipe it with a damp cloth, sand with very fine sandpaper, let it dry, repeat a couple of times. Then use the fine steel wool. I have done a couple and my favorite finish is hand-rubbed tung oil. You will not get a factory high shine without a clear finish but you will get a very good looking soft "glow" or shine.

**The91Bravo** · 07-24-08, 02:08 AM

I decided to restart the finishing process, here are pics of the .22 and the larger one is a Sears .410 bolt gun

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...avo/IMG017.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...avo/IMG011.jpg

**The91Bravo** · 07-24-08, 04:45 PM

couple update pics:

**The91Bravo** · 07-30-08, 10:29 PM

I am finished with the .22

I had to touch up one spot, but hopefully you do not see it

Let me know what you think

Thanks for your input folks, it really helped

Steve