I'm looking for some stock finishing advise.

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Tominco

Tominco

Member
Apr 1, 2015
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Colorado, United States
I've got this nice grade 2 Walnut stock on my 400...


I was planning on sanding the whole thing with 400 grit and then move up from there. Maybe bring it up to 800-1000 
But, then what? I've never worked on a stock before.
I'd like a clear finish that will bring out the highlights of the wood. I certainly do not want to make it any darker. 
I really like the soft satin finish I see on some stocks. 

What would you experienced guys suggest?
Sanding final grit?
Pre-finish cleaning?
Brand of finish?
Application of finish?
Coats?
Dry time? (very low humidity where I am)

Tom

 
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Hi tom
I wouldnt go sanding that stock back!!
Just break it back with some 0000 wire wool,you can use alkanet root for a lovely stain,it will bring out the grain,the just oil breK it back and keep doing that,rub the oil in till palm of your hand is red hot,it helps the oil to set, you can get a laquer type finish with just oil ,patience and time !!
Rgds steve
 
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Scirocco - Patience and time... Reminds me of that line from Shawshank - "Geology is the study of pressure and time. That's all it takes really, pressure, and time. That and a big G**d*** poster!" lol
I have to sand it down. It feels like it was hit with about 150-220 from the factory. I repaired a tiny indent on it and finished that with the 400. I can feel a big difference in that area. 

jgburks - Thanks. I'm actually going to go for a matt finish, however. The links worked audit looks like you did a real nice job on that! I bet your pretty proud of it. 
 
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Tominco. I use my own oil, mixed from 50% benar, 25% raw linolje and 25% am.terpentine, but I am sure true oil will do fine. I use very fine sanding paper for the last finish, up to 2000, and after that I use steel wool (000) and work the oil into the wood. Several layers. Be patient about this.
This is for my knife shafts, but the same goes for my gun stocks.
Here you have some before/after pictures.




 
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I like the rich gloss from an oil finish. superfine sand the surface or 6-ought steel wool, clean then I've used Birchwood/Casey True oil rubbed on with 12 gauge patches &/or cotton balls. A little bit on each coat to build it up till it fills the grain & starts to seal it & shine. Patience is key here. They have wax in that same brand for after it dries too. I always just oiled it after cleaning. Then a soft, clean cloth for buffing it.
 
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Just out of curiosity, if you sand it, how do you plan to handle the checkering on the grip and the side? If you don't sand those bits and restain the rest, isn't there a risk of it not matching?

Do you have sanding block for the flat bits? Without them, you could sand it unevenly which would become apparent when you added a high gloss coating later. I've screwed up a few sanding jobs like that. They end up looking like there are small dents under certain lighting. 

As someone who has accidently destroyed a number of stocks with the best of DIY intentions, my advice would be to do lots of research, take advice from a pro and test everything on another piece of wood first. 

 
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"Smaug"A true oil finish is never glossy. If it winds up glossy, it's because they put something else in it. (polyurethane, wax, etc.) 

Not saying it's not beautiful, just that it is not a true oil finish. (


Not sure where the never glossy statement comes from? Here is one of my rifles (tx200) before and after tru-oil. Are you talking about an oil finish or a tru-oil finish?
https://www.birchwoodcasey.com/Refinishing/Wood-Finishing/Tru-Oil%C2%AE-Stock-Finish.aspx

I did this stock as much to seal it as make it shine. I think I did 8 coats with buffing between each coat with 0000 steel wool. If you want more of a satin finish you just go over it with steel wool after your last coat of tru-oil. I think JWR thins his 50/50 with thinner? I used to just use boiled linseed oil and a lot of rubbing and a little Renaissance wax later.
Tominco this rifle was high gloss on the barrel and action. If I had one like your FX I would go satin as you stated in your first post.

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Click to expand...
 
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God that is some pretty wood


This was done with Blond Shellac Cut with denatured Alcohol buffed with a car wax. the wood is called leopard wood 



This is Tung Oil and poly sanded 800 grit up to 1200....
BTW I have a bunch of cedar I hope to make a stock out of for an air rifle I know its not the normal brown or plain but I think it would make a beautiful stock 
 
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