Deglossing a buttstock
I have a fourth-year (1975) Winchester 9422 magnum that has nice wood except a previous owner applied glossy varnish [:0]) to it. Can anyone offer a shortcut to reducing the gloss to more of an original softer finish without completely stripping the finish? I've heard of using 4-ought steel wool, 1000-grit sandpaper, fine car-buffing paste, even fine jeweler's rouge. I don't really want to try any of these if (1) they're evil, and (2) there's a better method. Any advice from you wood experts? Thanks.
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the 'standard' method years ago was rubbing with rotten stone mixed with mineral oil. 0 -
There's a myriad of things that will work.
So long as you Don't rub through the varnish to the wood even tooth paste on a firm felt pad will work.
The reason steel wool should be avoided is that shards of the wool can/will break off and imbed into the wood and finish only to cause rust blush or fly specking in the future.
If you can find some, Brownells caries them, a wool felt pad and a fine grit rubbing compound would be best. Pick an inconspicuous area and do a small, size of a dime or smaller, test rub out. Don't go at it like you're killing snakes though as you might cut through the finish. Just lightly rub it and check the results. The compound you chose may be to fine or coarse. Be very careful rubbing any edges like the edge of a cheek piece or flutes of the comb. Finish tends to be a bit thinner there and it's much easier to cut through the finish at those spots.
Check the Ouater product. If it smells of ammonia don't use it.
Most paint strippers and finish removers are ammoniated, that's what eats the finish in strippers.0 -
Toothpaste or pumice in mineral oil -- both worth a try. I may start with toothpaste because I'm cheap and have plenty. But I may also try Ouater, a French product that is very fine pumice in lightly mineral-oiled cotton; it works amazingly well on polishing brass and aluminum so probably can't hurt much. (Famous last words: What could it hurt? or, "How to turn a $700 gun into a $350 gun in two minutes or less.")[:o)] Thanks, guys, for the ideas. Others are welcome to chime in, too. 0 -
If it is a varnish & not polyurethane, get some Formby's Furniture refinisher. Very easy to use with plenty of ventilation. 0 -
Steel wool works just fine. Use 0000 and lightly buff the wood. It won't imbed in the wood. Woodworkers use it all the time. 0 -
Birchwood Casey has a real good cheap bottle of stock sheen and conditioner. It's used after a gunstock has cured and the stock is too shiny. (it reduces the gloss) and its user friendly0 Just follow the directions and check your progress every so often. It will surprise you how it reduces the gloss gradually but test on a small spot on your stock first. It's actually a extra fine rubbing compound designed for gunstock use.
It's available in a bottle by itself. For the exact instructions of it's intended use read about Birchwood Casey tru oil stock finish kit instructions. Might even find some info about it's use on you tube video.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Okie743
Birchwood Casey has a real good cheap bottle of stock sheen and conditioner. It's used after a gunstock has cured and the stock is too shiny. (it reduces the gloss) and its user friendly0 Just follow the directions and check your progress every so often. It will surprise you how it reduces the gloss gradually but test on a small spot on your stock first. It's actually a extra fine rubbing compound designed for gunstock use.
It's available in a bottle by itself. For the exact instructions of it's intended use read about Birchwood Casey tru oil stock finish kit instructions. Might even find some info about it's use on you tube video.
I have some B/C Stock Sheen. Maybe that's a safe-and-easy place to start. Thanks again to everyone for suggestions.[:)]0
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