Gun Stock Refinishing

[Manny R]

I am in search of a High Quality company that can :
1. Complete Stock & Forened refinishing.
2. Take it down to the bare wood and use multi coats to bring it and restore and preserve it to the original .
3. To restore original checkering
I am in Texas and hoping someone in my area but not opposed to shipping anywhere in the US.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I do a lot of stock refinishing. #1 and #2 are standard. If you want a deep smooth glossy oil finish, that will take a lot of time (and $$$). If you want the flat oil finish (hunting rifle look), less time is involved and maybe a bit cheaper. Restoring checkering can be a very tall order ... maybe impossible. It would require finding tools that match the original. If the checkering is badly damaged it may require removing all checkering and starting over. That would change the stock dimensions which might not be a good idea if the dimensions were cut trim to start with. I typically strip the old finish with chemical stripper, steam out dents, sand smooth (except checkering), and apply fifteen to twenty coats of oil finish (reducing every third or fourth coat to wood with fine steel wool). Only the last coat of oil is applied to checkering. Understand that it can take up to two days for a coat of oil finish to cure. Gives you some idea of the time involved. Filler can be painted on initially to fill the grain and speed up the process (very common shortcut) but the results will not be as "rich" looking.

I'm not in the "business" of refinishing stocks so can't help you. Just giving you an idea of what may be involved. Here's a stock I just finished for the 404 Jeffery I built on a 98 Mauser. The action and barrel are presently on their way home from bluing in New Brunswick. I'll post a photo when I get it back together. My guns are for hunting so checkering is of no importance to me.

Bottom photo is gun slapped together after barrel was done the week before leaving for Africa. Only three coats of oil on the wood at that point.

 

[Manny R]

Thank you so very much for your explanation. My checkering is really in pretty good shape. I was thinking why not do everything. It is a Dakota rifle and wish to get out the dings and make it rich looking again. If you would be so kind and tell me what you would suggest doing if you had this gun and second can you refer me to someone who would do an excellent job.
Thanks for your input .
Manny

 

[Manny R]

I forgot to mention the most important thing....You do excellent work. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Strip the finish with chemical stripper and flush with water. Likely will require several attempts to remove all the old finish. Carefully scrub clean the checkering areas with small brass brush. Once all finish is removed, sand down the grain whiskers on flat parts that were raised by flushing with water. Don't touch the checkered areas with sandpaper. Steam out dents using a wet rag and the point of a hot clothes iron. Most of the dent will be pushed back up but broken grain may still be evident. This means the surface of wood will be flush although it may still "appear" to have a dent. However, your dents/scratches are not that serious. I think steaming and then sanding should remove all traces. I prefer Linspeed oil finish. Apply with finger, rubbing it into grain. For checkering, apply that final thin coat with a toothbrush.

Sorry, I always did my own work. I can't refer you to anyone.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I forgot to mention the most important thing....You do excellent work. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks.

 

[Manny R]

You are a good man but I know my limitations. I rather hire someone who know how to do all this than me messing it and costing me more to fix. I will hold off trying to find a quality person who does this for a living and save a lot of headaches for myself.

 

[deewayne2003]

@Manny R

Call Tommy Shurley in Uhland TX, he and his guys can do anything with wood.

Even if he isn’t interested, he’ll point you in the right direction.

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