Cleaning Stock and Handguard

[kar66]

Back in the day we were told to use BLO, not raw. Because raw would just keep soaking into the wood and really build up. Where BLO would seal off and not build up in the wood. I remember stripping a stock that I had used raw on. It took forever to get it stripped.

[rocky321]

Can I just use Tung Oil with cheese cloth? These procedures are just way over the top for what I am trying to accomplish.

[rocky321]

xxxxx

[phil441]

Raw linseed oil is also found in the dietary food section at drug and grocery stores. It's sold as FLAX OIL or FLAX SEED oil. It'll be sold in a dark colored bottle. It probably won't have any additives in it. If you don't like it on your stock you can also take 1tsp twice a day for the OMEGA-3 in it. I prefer in on my old stocks tho.

[imarangemaster]

I've never used tung oil, but cleaning it with BLO/mineral spirits, air dry, then rub in a couple coats of BLO is really easy and works well. I know others that use tug oil the way you want, and it works fine.

[ulflyer]

Rocky, sounds like you only want to do a light wipe down and recoat. You can use about anything that is a cleaner: Simple Green works to get hand grime off. So does alchohol, min spirits, and if I want a slightly more aggressive cleaner I use acetone. Finish with 50/50 BLO/Min spirits and let dry.

[DaveN]

I by no means an x pert, but I have used simple green on new CMP stocks and some missed matched hand guards to then stain to darken and tung oil with varnish (would not do any of this on a nice authentic stock of any period) but a little simple green and then linseed oil would be all on a period stock. The one new stock came out like a finished piece of furniture. or a drill rifle/ modern hunting rifle. no harm no foul.

[rocky321]

Rocky, sounds like you only want to do a light wipe down and recoat. You can use about anything that is a cleaner: Simple Green works to get hand grime off. So does alchohol, min spirits, and if I want a slightly more aggressive cleaner I use acetone. Finish with 50/50 BLO/Min spirits and let dry.

There ya go!

[INLAND44]

RLO is not a 'finish' per se as much as treatment. The idea is that it soaks into the wood and does not 'dry' on the surface, creating a gloss that would not be desirable on a military weapon. Still, it does manage to give the stock a sheen over time which is very easy to remove by steam or just washing. BLO acts more like a varnish in that it will dry and build up on the surface forming a hard finish. RLO is applied with a small cloth or rifle cleaning patch in small quantities rubbed into the wood. Turpentine (mineral spirits) cuts it and makes the penetration faster while providing a solvency for cleaning. It also works with BLO the same way and to some extent helps cut down on the gloss if you use it as you would RLO. With either RLO or BLO you get the authentic scent that's like walking into a military gun room in the '50s. Linseed oil is also the scent that hits you at a gun show (along with old web gear) that guys think is cosmoline ('I love the smell of Cosmoline in the morning'). You must have this stuff on/in your carbine stock or any other US mil surp with a wood stock. Then every time you open your safe/cabinet it's like walking into that gun room with racks of carbines. Just a little 'time machine' of sorts, if you will.

[rocky321]

RLO is not a 'finish' per se as much as treatment. The idea is that it soaks into the wood and does not 'dry' on the surface, creating a gloss that would not be desirable on a military weapon. Still, it does manage to give the stock a sheen over time which is very easy to remove by steam or just washing. BLO acts more like a varnish in that it will dry and build up on the surface forming a hard finish. RLO is applied with a small cloth or rifle cleaning patch in small quantities rubbed into the wood. Turpentine (mineral spirits) cuts it and makes the penetration faster while providing a solvency for cleaning. It also works with BLO the same way and to some extent helps cut down on the gloss if you use it as you would RLO. With either RLO or BLO you get the authentic scent that's like walking into a military gun room in the '50s. Linseed oil is also the scent that hits you at a gun show (along with old web gear) that guys think is cosmoline ('I love the smell of Cosmoline in the morning'). You must have this stuff on/in your carbine stock or any other US mil surp with a wood stock. Then every time you open your safe/cabinet it's like walking into that gun room with racks of carbines. Just a little 'time machine' of sorts, if you will.

LOL I know exactly what you mean. My wife caught me smelling my stock the other day.