stock finishing

I

ICMCumin

New member
I bought a Remington 788 several weeks ago over the internet. One of the previous owners had painted the stock grey. I just got tired of looking at the hatchet job someone gave the stock and dipped into the cookie jar and bought a Richards Microfit stock for it in select black walnut.

The new stock came in a couple of weeks ago and I have been slowly sanding the new stock down and fitting it to the action. I am just about there with it and it is looking pretty durn good if I do say so myself.

I was watching Shotgunners Journal on TV last week and it featured the Ithica shotgun factory and how these fine shotguns are built. They were staining the stocks on these guns with several coats of some mystery stain.

So I don't mess up this beautiful piece of wood, how to best stain and then seal the stock on this rifle. What stain should I use and should I then coat it with linseed oil?

Thanks for your guidance here......
 
Most of the old timers used linseed oil you need to work it in real good it will seal it up. Lost of work. You can also use a stain of your choice an or a clear coat finish just follow the instructions.
Also Birchwood brand make finish & stains for stocks one called Tru-Oil stock finish. I have seen it at WalMart or you can order it from MidWay USA or Brownells
 
You can put a traditional linseed oil finish on it if that is what you want. However that finish is quite time consuming to do well and not very durable or waterproof.

I like to use Val Oil, made by Valspar. It is extremely tough and waterproof. Start out with 3-5 coats brushed on and wiped off after 5 minutes. Be sure to coat all surfaces including the barrel channel and under the buttplate. The first coat can be thinned. You can get most any finish you want with the final coat. If you just let it dry, it will be shiny. Wipe when half way dry and you get dull. Steel wool when almost dry give another finish. Be warned, when fully dry, it is very hard and steel wool will not touch it.

Jack
 
There is a product called tru-oil, you can get it at most gun shops, and yes even walmart, it works very good I have used it for yrs, you can rub it into the wood and sand between each coat, just to smooth a little
 
If you have the time and dont mind the mess, Hand rubbed tung oil put a gourgeous deep shine on and is easily fixed if you happen to dent it.
 
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