painting a mosin m 44

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kd7nqb

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So long story short I have a mosin nagent that I was going to refinish. I read the sticky about an oil finish but I really think I want to paint it maybe a fire engine red. My idea maybe unusual but it seems like everybody and their brother has a mosin so this is a way to make mine special.
what precautions should I take and any suggestions on a good paint to hold up to being used on a gun stock. My plan as of now is to just strip the finish sand it down and then paint with some sort of durable enamel paint. Also any suggestions on a clear coat for the top?

BTW I know this will destroy collector value but right now the mosin is a dime a dozen.
 
My concern with painting might be the years of cosmoline being soaked into the stock, working out and loosening the paint. Maybe someone can chime in with some experience in doing this. I never had a lot of luck purging the cosmoline on milsurp stocks, even using newsprint wrap and stuck in a sun heated car trunk to sweat it out.
Maybe use some chemicals?

Top coat is easy if you can get your paint to stick, spray satin polyurethane.



NCsmitty
 
I always like the way cold zinc galvanizing spray turns out on a gun. It has a sort of light parkerized look that adds alot of corrosion resistance and looks good.

Just be sure to degrease the gun and do two coats. A light mist coat followed by a heavier smooth coat after the first one dries.
 
I looked at the ATI stocks but I want this to be pretty unique. I'm going to hit up the hardware store tomorrow and get some stuff to start the project and maybe pick a paint color
 
If you take off the stock, and spray it with easy off oven cleaner it will pull the oil out of the wood, you will need to do this a couple of times sanding the wood in between the applications. Once it's dry enough sand with fine sand paper and some steel wool and duracoat as you want. And yes duracoat works very well on wood.
 
Gosh I love the people on thr few questions that don't. Get great responses I. Went to the. Store today got. Some. Mineral spirits and rags and such to start removing old finish still have not found a paint color but I will. I should start removing finish tomorrow
 
Well, you're obviously an amateur radio enthusiast, so along with the (I really don't believe it!) RED paint......why not mount an integral two meter antenna where the bayonet is............for that matter, it's close so just stick a tuner on the underside of the mag and see if it'll load!!

Sorry, couldn't resist..............K4JPF!!!
 
You will need to find a way to get the cosmo out of the stock first. Maybe steam it out. I had a buddy that put a few SKS stocks in the dishwasher and they turned out very well. Then, you will need some way to fill the grain. They make specific wood grain fillers. Use it. Once you get the grain filled, go back with sandpaper and sand the entire stock. Make sure it is smooth and even. If not, put on more filler, and sand again. Then, you can paint the stock. I would look into a good primer that would adhere to the wood very well and was compatible with the paint of your choice.

I learned all of that the hard way. I decided to paint the stock on my sks. I sanded everything smooth, and painted. If I had it to do over again (and I still might) I would take the extra time and spend a few bucks more and do the filler. It is slightly annoying that you can see the grain through the paint.
 
Juk thanks that's great advice already have a plan for the oil removal as for filling the grain that's a good idea. I still have not found a paint color that I am in love with but I haven't looked too hard either. Prep of the stock is almost done just a few little traces of finish left.
 
I may be too late, but I am a custom cabinet/ fixture/ furniture builder by trade. Anytime you apply anything but an oil based finish to wood that has come into contact with oil, grease, silicone or anything of the sort the finish does what is called fish eying basically does not stick, some guys have told you ways to get the oil out, try those first, I have never succesfully gotten a quality finish on anything that has fisheyed without introducing silicone into the new finish, however this will not be possible with paint. You may be lucky though and not have an issue if the stock is not oil soaked
 
Matt thanks for the input advice from a pro is always welcome my current plan is to pull the oil out with oven cleaner and then prime with kilz before I paint. From what I can tell the oil isn't to badly soaked.
 
good luck hope it works well. If not maybe some oil based paint might work. If paint does not work a dye type stain will work, obviously if you have adhesion problems a spirit or water based dye will not work, an oil based will, so check that if you end up having to go that route.

also turpentine may help pull some oil out if you have any saturation, if mineral spirits dont help.

definately keep us informed of how its going
 
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