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Vintage stock refinishing question

82trooper
Awhile ago here I saw a link that someone posted that step-by-step described the refinishing a old military stock using Easy-Off oven cleaner to strip, then refinished with tung oil. Does anyone know where I can locate that link?

Thanks to all.
Mike
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5 comments

Date Votes
  • modtodd82
    Though i have heard of a lot of others out there who have used and had good results with the ez-off method of stripping it always made me uneasy to try that. i've tried the diswasher method once and while it was effective i will never use it again, dont like the idea of putting old wood into a strong detergent and extremely hot water. my favorite way to strip a non-shellacked stock is to wrap it in cloth rags and let it sit inside hot(140-150 degrees)area. I made a heat box from an old TV cardboard box and laid blankets around & over top of it to hold in the heat and then used a blow-dryer for heat and a remote digital thermometer(wal-mart $19.95) keep it to temp to get the oil out of it and then clean it with mineral spirits or DA. then a quick warm water wash with Dawn dish soap. place in a warm place to dry for a day and your ready to wipe on the oil, be careful what you use, i thought that Formbys Tung oil finish was oil.......it's more of a shinney varnish when built up in multiple coats. I personally like BLO
    theres good info at elsewhere.com in the forums sections. try there.
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  • Blairweescot
    quote:Originally posted by 82trooper
    Awhile ago here I saw a link that someone posted that step-by-step described the refinishing a old military stock using Easy-Off oven cleaner to strip, then refinished with tung oil. Does anyone know where I can locate that link?

    Thanks to all.
    Mike


    This is coming up a lot lately it seems! That oven cleaner or dishwasher stuff isn't needed in my opinion. Simple Green is about all you really need. I agree with modtodd82, chemicals, strong detergents, hot water in volume...not good. I feel that wood is made up of fibers held together with a natural glue, and you must- to some degree- damage that using those methods

    Although obviously Simple Green is a chemical of some description, it certainly isn't oven cleaner! I really recommend using mild cleaners first, and working your way up if it doesn't work...try what I did recently:

    http://www.elsewhere.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=54220
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  • sutterrog
    I use antique furniture refinisher with good luck.. Seems to gently but effectively remove the years of oil and grime. I then usually finish with either tung oil or birchwood casey Tru oil.
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  • nmyers
    I used sutterrog's method on this WW2 stock:

    M1carb225333g.jpg

    Neal
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  • modtodd82
    Here is a before and after picture of my Garand done the way i described above.
    011808a.jpg

    060808002.jpg



    Like i said i got most of my info from surplusrifle.com in the forums in the stock refinishing section. [;)][;)]
    The biggest thing no mater how you do it is take your time, dont be in a rush, and enjoy getting to know your rifle and all its parts and pieces. Oh yeah one more thing, post pictures so we can all see what youve done, and how it turned out.[:)]
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