1898 Krag - how do I clean the wood?

[Monster Man]

I just purchased a Krag rifle (1901) and have it disassembled for a thorough cleaning. The wood if very grimy; what can I clean it with to brighten it a bit and get the grime off. I am attacking the bore now, and maybe I'll find the grooves sometime this week as I am now seeking the lands! It was probably last cleaned in the 40'sfrom the way it looks.

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[Singer B]

I just purchased a Krag rifle (1901) and have it disassembled for a thorough cleaning. The wood if very grimy; what can I clean it with to brighten it a bit and get the grime off. I am attacking the bore now, and maybe I'll find the grooves sometime this week as I am now seeking the lands! It was probably last cleaned in the 40'sfrom the way it looks.

If you are just looking to clean the wood and not refinish it, I use regular Hoppes cleaning fluid. It is a very gentle solvent that contains banana oil. It will remove the surface grime and dirt without harming the original finish. I usually apply it in small amounts using a cleaning patch. For a rifle that has not been cleaned in a very long time, I will sometimes go through 40 applications to get down to the original finish. You can try it in a small area first and see how much grime it lifts off on your first application. Sounds like a great project!

[browningautorifle]

It really does matter how dirty and exactly how far you wish to go cleaning the wood...as to what you'll need to use.

[mark1]

I use denatured alcohol and a green scotch bright pad. Work in a small area and than wipe off with a rag. It will clean the grease and grim. Use gloves. It is slow and slow is better. You will need to go over the stock several times.

[butlersrangers]

I start with Mineral Spirits and an old Cotton 'T' Shirt. Evaluate progress as you proceed. Turpentine works, too. Continue until 'grunge' is gone.

If you like how the wood is looking switch to several hand-rubbed applications of 50/50 mix of linseed oil & Turpentine.

Buff dry with soft cloth, then, finish with Howard's Feed & Wax or Pledge.

[usabaker]

If you like how the wood is looking switch to several hand-rubbed applications of 50/50 mix of linseed oil & Turpentine.

butlersrangers is what I would do, you can use a cotton rag 'wetted' with the 50/50 mix of linseed oil & Turpentine to clean as well if you want to skip the Mineral Spirits.

[Surpmil]

You could use a 50/50 mix of mineral spirits and linseed oil. Or less than 50% mineral spirits.

Stock refinishing/restoriing is a slippery slope most of us have been down in the past. It often ends with a bump at the bottom and suddenly you find you went a solvent or abrasive too far!

Now, having made my share of mistakes and having a better understanding of where to stop, I would limit myself to brushing or blowing out dust and dirt, and wiping down with linseed oil.

The oil will remove superficial dirt, but the reality is that the patina on an old stock is to some extent a mixture of oil and dirt in many layers, and solvents will strip off those layers.

Where do you stop? Usually when you get down to the surface of the wood.

By that point the patina is mostly gone and a good deal of value with it.

Ironically, we seem to be seeing in some similar collecting fields a simultaneous preference for the total rework look and the totally original look on the part of different buyers. A new approach in both cases, at least in some fields.