Stripping gun stock

diamondpete

August 06, 2012 15:57

What is the best product to strip the finish off old military stocks, i.e. M-1 garand?

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  perry shooter

  August 06, 2012 16:15

  Be very careful with striping any Military stock Value will be decreased 95% of the time. If it is yours and you never plan on selling then use Formby's Furniture Refinisher . However military collectors would rather see PATINA .

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  mark christian

  August 06, 2012 16:16

  There are two important steps before removing the old finish; first is to make sure that all of the stock metal is removed and second to be sure that any cosmoline that has soaked into the wood has been removed. Cosmoline will continue to seep out of wood for a very long time and if left in the stock will quickly ruin your project. Several hours out in the hot sun of several minutes with an electric heat gun oil force the cosmoline out of the wood and you can then easily wipe it away. I like to use Minwax Antique Furniture Re finisher on stocks that I intend to refinish, but there are numerous others on the market. Try to avoid the use of really harsh (fast acting) chemicals because removing the finish form a nice walnut gun stock is much different than removing the finish from an old kitchen table or a barn door.

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  nmyers

  August 06, 2012 17:42

  I use Perry Shooter's method for stripping, rubbing with 0000 steel wool. Never use water based soaps, or harsh chemicals like oven cleaner, to remove an old finish.
  
  I have never had any success with oil stained wood, or soaked-in grease as is found on the CMP Greek returns.
  
  For a new finish, I use Formby's tung oil, rubbing with 0000 steel wool between coats & after the final coat.
  
  
  
  Neal

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  diamondpete

  August 06, 2012 18:13

  Thanks to all. The stocks are not original to the guns and have no collector value from that standpoint. No cartouches or other markings. Basicily I just want to get rid of all the grunge from abuse and restain them to a sembulance of originality. Thanks again.

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  bartman45

  August 07, 2012 02:40

  I do not use bore cleaner on my oven, and I do not use oven cleaner to refinish a stock. The CMP has an article on removing aged military finishes and not harming the wood. Leave oven cleaner on long enough, and there will not be enough wood left to refinish. I took the finish down to the original GI finish on a '44 carbine using Citrus Strip, a few coats of boiled linseed oil, and it looks original. Military stocks were finished by dipping the stocks in boiling linseed oil, as it was the quickest way to fast finishing, also giving the wood the distinctive color.

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  Juggernaut

  August 07, 2012 03:18

  I also used 0000 steel wool, Citrus Strip and denatured alcohol and the outcome was outstanding and the old finish came right off.
  It looked as if the wood never had prior finish when I was done stripping the old finish off the wood and then when the wood took the new stain it was beautiful and smooth.
  
  quote:Originally posted by 35WhelenClassic
  Simple Green, undiluted in a spray bottle, works great on dirty and greasy gun stocks.
  
  
  Good idea 35WhelenClassic, I will have to try that and sounds like it would work well from also having used it on so many other things.
  
  Regards

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  35 Whelen

  August 07, 2012 19:04

  Simple Green, undiluted in a spray bottle, works great on dirty and greasy gun stocks.

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