-
FREE MEMBER
NO Posting or PM's Allowed
Stock clean-up
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
Information
|
Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current. |
|
-
03-12-2009 05:53 PM
# ADS
Friends and Sponsors
-
FREE MEMBER
NO Posting or PM's Allowed
-
-
FREE MEMBER
NO Posting or PM's Allowed
Acetone.
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.
-
-
-
FREE MEMBER
NO Posting or PM's Allowed
Thanks, one more ?
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
-
-
FREE MEMBER
NO Posting or PM's Allowed
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.
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.
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
-
FREE MEMBER
NO Posting or PM's Allowed
I have used Tri Sodium Phosphate on several, does a pretty good job, not perfect, but then neither am I.
OFC
-
Dan Wilson
Guest
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.
(but I will try the gojo method now, never thought of that, thanks Rick)
Okay now you can scream
Dan
-
-
FREE MEMBER
NO Posting or PM's Allowed
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