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Removing oil from old stock

10turkeys
My husband is refinishing an original stock from a Winchester '86. The tang area is soaked with old oil... when the stock is warmed it will literally ooze oil! The stock is otherwise in great shape. Does anyone have a solution for removing as much of this oil as possible before he refinishes it?
Thanks so much!
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • duckhunter
    Do what you are doing. Heat.
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  • navc130
    I just talked to a professional stock maker yesterday at the Antique Arms Show. He said to use whiting (an absorbant powder). Warm the wood and apply the whiting: let sit until it absorbs as much as it can. Scrape it off and keep repeating until no more oil can be absorbed. Clean up with acetone (or maybe any degreaser solvent).
    I have removed oil from a stock just by leaving it in the hot sun and wiping the oil off with paper towels every hour or so. I'm not sure how thorough this method is. Also, it can be difficult to get into the inner areas to wipe out.
    Edit added. I did not think of the collector factor. Unless he is an expert (and I do Mean EXPERT) the refinished stock will look like just another home done job, and maybe worse. The Win. 86 is a collector rifle and they want it ORIGINAL. I would think an after-market replacement stock is a better way to go, as suggested. This doesn't mean you can't clean it up a little, including the oil in the oil soaked stock, IF DONE CAREFULLY.
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  • Spider7115
    This site explains using "whiting" and E-Z Off oven cleaner: http://www.charm.net/~kmarsh/whiting.html

    Before you try those methods, you might try giving it a good washing with Dawn Dishwashing Liquid. I've had pretty good success using it.
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  • merrbarb
    Hello Madam (I am not going the Mrs. 10turkeys route[:I]): I have two first impression comments, STOP. Do not go any further in the refinish mode until....read on, and God bless you for asking a question in behalf of your husband. Your husband is fortunate in having a concerned wife for what is ostensibly his hobby.

    First has your husband considered the historic or collectible aspect of the Winchester Model 1986. Refinishing the wood on an inherently collectible Winchester rifle will diminish collector value. I acknowledge that it is his firearm and he can do as he pleases. However if the firearm has already been altered to an extent that it does not retain collectible value,or if there has been very poor housekeeping of the firearm - corrosion of metal, bore shot out, broken/cracked, chipped wood, etc, then refinishing may make sense.

    I offer the following in this instance, assuming that the rifle has not been altered or the metal is not in horrible condition. If the oil "oozes out when wqrmed (NOT heated) continue to clean but do not over do it. Original Winchester wood was oiled anyway and one does not want to remove all oil. The wood at the wrist or tang area will still be stained. Leave it alone. It is part of its history and you are not going to remove the staining. I will not fault you if you then decide to rub on a light coating of boiled linseed oil with 0000 steel wool. Rub lightly please. Do not try to remove any scratches, dents, etc.

    Please, if you can, give us a more complete description of the rifle, and include pictures, so that we can help, and your husband can get a more complete picture of what he has. There are experts on the 1886 rifle that will chime in.
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  • ern98
    And if the rifle is in a collectable condition and he still wants better wood on it then he can alway pick up an aftermarket stock set and leave the original stock set off and original. Just bag and tag it so it is clearly marked with what rifle it belongs to, including the srial number....
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  • gesshots
    quote:Originally posted by navc130
    I just talked to a professional stock maker yesterday at the Antique Arms Show. He said to use whiting (an absorbant powder). Warm the wood and apply the whiting: let sit until it absorbs as much as it can. Scrape it off and keep repeating until no more oil can be absorbed. Clean up with acetone (or maybe any degreaser solvent).
    I have removed oil from a stock just by leaving it in the hot sun and wiping the oil off with paper towels every hour or so. I'm not sure how thorough this method is. Also, it can be difficult to get into the inner areas to wipe out.


    Make a paste of acetone and whiting - when dry, brush off with stiff brush. Repeat as needed. VM&P naphta can be used also but has a much slower evaporation rate and works better for the first few applications.
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  • cbyerly
    If any of you have used "whiting", I am surprised that anyone recommends it. It is messy and not very efective. A little heat and some fast evaporating solvent will work better.
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  • sharpshooter039
    I have used heat and clay cat litter with good success,heat it up stick it in the litter and let it absorb it, 3 or 4 doses will dry it right up
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  • 10turkeys
    Thank you to everyone who replied. I should have stated in my first post that this is a rifle that was not in original condition by any means when he purchased it, the magazine had been shortened at some point, it had been re-blued and not a very good job at that... my husband has had to obtain various parts to replace ones that were damaged or missing... so he is "refurbishing" the rifle to bring it back to nice condition whereby it can once again be a "using" firearm [:)]

    Thanks again for all the great information! This is the first time we have posted to the forum.
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