Mosin Nagant refinishing

11BravoCrunchie

October 06, 2011 04:39

I stripped the finish off of my Mosin stock, sanded it down with super fine sandpaper, and tack cloth-ed it, and now after having applied the finish, it won't dry. It's been 2 or 3 days, and it's still sticky.

What did I do wrong?

0

• 

  Floyd58523

  October 06, 2011 04:45

  You still have oil in the wood, remove the finish that you applied and you need to gently heat the wood to allow the oil (cosmoline) to come up out of the wood. The wood is saturated and the new finish can not be absorbed into the grain of the wood.

  0
• 

  11BravoCrunchie

  October 06, 2011 04:49

  What do I heat the wood in?

  0
• 

  jonk

  October 06, 2011 05:16

  For removing the oil you can go a few routes, none of them entirely satisfactory. Personally I pack the stock in cat litter, wrap up in black plastic, and leave in the hot sun for a few days to draw out the oil.
  
  Others buy whiting compound from Brownells and heat the wood piece by piece.
  
  Others build a 'cosmo oven' by installing a few light bulbs in a trash can or 55 gallon drum and leaving it 'bake' at around 100 degrees for a few days.
  
  Others build a steamer out of PVC and heat it that way.
  
  There's no single right way and no way that will get every last trace unfortunately, but any of the above should get enough to allow you to refinish.

  0
• 

  MIKE WISKEY

  October 06, 2011 05:44

  what are you useing for the stock finish?

  0
• 

  gotstolefrom

  October 06, 2011 07:55

  You have received good, consistent advice, so take whichever route you prefer. I use the sun for my heat source, but you may want or need another. I generally wash the stock with denat alcohol, or some other quick dry solvent to get the last of it off the surface.
  
  There was an inquiry on your choice of finish. Chime in with what you plan to use and why, you will get many supportive replies.
  When it comes down to it, you are on your own...but well informed.
  
  ENJOY !

  0
• 

  11BravoCrunchie

  October 06, 2011 08:19

  I was thinking of making a solar oven with a cardboard box, aluminum foil, duct tape, and a piece of plexi.

  0
• 

  brier-49

  October 06, 2011 16:22

  Wrap it in rags, put it in a black garbage bag and put it on your dashboard in the sun.

  0
• 

  Grasshopper

  October 06, 2011 17:08

  Some of those stocks are soft wood,,might not ever get it all out,,but as above a good washing and hot sunlight,,what I do ,but I am not an expert.

  0

Please sign in to leave a comment.