Stock help needed

[TX1911fan]

I was out dove hunting in the rain yesterday and my O/U got soaked. I've taken care of the metal, but the stock needs some help. It has a satin finished and the grain is still open, so it absorbed some water and some of the grain has raised. Here is what I am planning on doing to fix the problem. Please tell me what you think.

Take 0000 steel wool to gently knock down the grain. Use boiled linseed oil to treat the wood. Use my synthetic Winchester in the rain from now on.

Is that a good plan or should I do something else? Thanks.

[tkendrick]

Any wood will absorb water, given the proper circumstances. Satin finishes shouldn't be any more susceptible than a gloss finish, if it's been applied correctly.

Steel wool and linssed oil should fix the problem.

After each use in the field, and especially aftercleaning, it would help to apply a good coat of wax to the wood. I have used a lot of different products over the years. Johnson Paste wax is my favorite for protection, but any good furniture grade wax will do.

I would avoid the spray on brands that are supposed to clean and wax, my experience is that the cleaner in them tends to prevent the wax from settling in.

I'm surprised that a factory finish would do this. Has it been refinished?

[hoghunting]

Linseed oil will give the wood a sheen, but it doesn't do a thing to protect the stock from absorbing water. I seal my stocks with Minwax's spar urethane. I use the satin finish and mix it in a 50-50 ratio with paint thinner. It is as thin as water when mixed. Brush it on the stock and let it absorb into the wood. Let it dry, then brush on another coat. Keep doing this until the stock no longer absorbs the finish - usually about 5 or 6 coats. Now your stock is sealed and I use the straight spar urethane for a final finish coat. You can get the spar urethane at Home Depot and I'm sure many other hardware stores carry it.

[TX1911fan]

I don't want a shiny finish, I want to keep the satin finish. So linseed oil is probably out then, right?

[Jeff F]

Can't you use fine steel wool on a shiny finish to get a satin finish.

[Capstick1]

It's experiences like yours that are the reason why I use shotguns with synthetic stocks if I'm hunting out in the marsh or woods. If you accidently drop these these things in the water or expose them to some harsh rainstorms all you do is give them a quick wipe down and put a little oil on the gun. Next time you go hunting leave that expensive O/U at home and use it at the clays range. My favorite knock-around-use-and-abuse hunting shotgun is a synth stocked Rem 870 express. It's fairly inexpensive, easy to clean, always works in the rain or snow and I really don't feel any anxiety or regrets if it gets wet or dirty when I'm out duck hunting.

[TX1911fan]

Well, the 0000 steel wool and Minwax Tung Oil worked beautifully. An extremely nice finish. I'll let it dry one more day and finish with a few coats of wax.

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/7545/dsc0225cm1.jpg

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/7667/dsc0227ok8.jpg


Next to the 12 gauge

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/8393/dsc0224ac8.jpg