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What do you guys use to clean up walnut stocks? I received some Garands and some of the stocks are in pretty good shape, but they are all covered with years of sticky black oil and grime. Before I do anything I would like to get the tar off and see what I have.
Thanks,
Paul
I use acetone as an archeologist uses a tooth brush. A little bit on a cloth or paper towel removes the black hand oils and dirt, and if your lucky will reveal a cartouche or two sometimes. Do not pour it on the stock, put it on the towel and use a little at a time. Do not remove the patina just reveal the grain. You can always add blo or tung afterwards and you are back to an original stock. Use proper ventilation (Outside), and go a bit at a time and you will reveal the grain under the black oil soaked areas. I always do this first before steaming or dishwasher. If I see it is not a collectable stock I do the steam or dishwasher followed by blo. Sometimes sanding may be necessary, but once again use the acetone to reveal the original stock. Acetone evaporates quickly so use ventilation, gloves and keep using a clean spot on the rag until desired finish is exposed. Like I said it is like using a toothbrush on a fossil. Less is more.
I have been using Go Jo without grit or a equivalent for 15 years on stocks. I rub it on and wait 20 minutes. I then take a tooth brush while rinsing the stock in the utility tub under warm water. I get it all off and let dry. I repeat until it is clean maybe sanding lightly with a 150 grit before the next Go Jo.
I have many happy customers after this method. On bad stubborn or lacquered finishes I use Bix stripper or Jasco for the real stubborn ones. The stocks below have all been cleaned with Go Jo. Hope this helps. Rick B
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Thanks. I've really learned a lot here and I appreciate you replies. A couple of these rifles are so black - I didn't know where to start.
I did notice a couple of these rifles had nice cartouches on them. It's probably unlikely that I would have a valuable stock on any of my rifles, they are all mismatched and none of them are terribly attractive, but I would hate to go scrubbing away on something that I should be smart enough to leave alone. Is there a site that will show me what cartouches make a stock more valuable? If I did have an important one I wouldn't use my questionable skill to refinish it.
Thanks again,
Paul
I have never lost a cartouche yet as you are not scrubbing the stocks with a hard brush when using a tooth brush. Folks here know I have done allot of stocks without harming them and I understand what your concerns are.
In the case of a dark stock like you are talking about you will need a stripper and the tooth brush method. But if not comfortable then leave them as they are, you can always clean them later if you feel the need. Rick B
Sorry Rick, I sure didn't mean to imply that you scrubbed off cartouches. I can tell by your shop that a lot of people trust you to finish their stocks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick B
I'm concerned that if I had an even mildly valuable stock I wouldn't know it. I need to find a place to research what the different cartouches look like and see if I have anything interesting.
I'll go easy, just like you said.
Thanks,
Paul
I have used Tri Sodium Phosphate on several, does a pretty good job, not perfect, but then neither am I.
OFC
Okay flame away but I use the dishwasher (on walnut stocks) and don't really see any depth loss with any stock stampings and I use Jasco on the stocks that are too long for the dishwasher.https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...03/10171-1.gif (but I will try the gojo method now, never thought of that, thanks Rick)
Okay now you can scream
Dan
Dan,
After spending most of the day cleaning one of these grimy things I'm about ready to consider that...........But if I put one of these filthy things in Momma's dishwasher I'd probably have to learn to live without half of my stuff.
Paul
I've put two stocks through the dishwasher. One of 'em a correct grade. :yikes: Simple fact was that the correct stock was so saturated with grease that the endgrain wood and cartouches were peeling off when lightly wiped. Rather than wipe the wood with cleaners and wreck it, the dishwasher seemed downright benign. Turned out I was right. Sweated BBs until the dishwasher grinding stopped. Then joy! After refinishing with BLO/Minwax Tung Oil Finish I've got two really nice stocks.
Here's a definitive dishwasher thread over at CMP.
Be patient. It's buried in the archives.
Have you ever used a steam cleaner? I have a Scunci Steamer and it does a great job on cleaning my dirty rifles. You can use it in the garage or outside and that would keep you out of the dog house.
Jeff
Quote:
Originally Posted by SGT K
I thought the same thing too. However, all you have to do to convince Momma is run the dishwasher empty for a complete cycle with detergent and you are good to go. Have done several stocks in the dishwasher without a problem.
MIke
The best stock clean up is always a debate; if you want the rifle to look authentic, with all it's warts and scars (and also preserve its dignity) start with plain old turpentine. Work outside and go over it as many times as you continue to get dirt on the rag. Let it stand an hour or two and do it again if the stock is really dirty/greasy. Then, use a 50/50 mix of turpentine and BLO, applying as many coats as it needs (some stocks are dry and absorb many applications). Again, if you are after an authentic looking stock, never sand, brush, dishwasher, TSP, GOJO or anything like it. IMHO, there is nothing grander than an authentic looking Garand. If you want the drill team look to your stock, buy one of the expensive commercial stocks - but keep the old girl's war wood too. dg
This is a Mauser stock that came from Sarco. It looked like a telephone pole. I started with denatured alcohol, then went to the go-jo but I like the gritty type. I use oooo steel wool very lightly and a dish cleaning type brush, think big tooth brush. I like to steam out the dings very light sand paper to get rid of the fuzzies then rub in the BLO....Frank
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