Gunk removal from an old / beaten stock

If you are going for a literal total refinish, acetone sure will do the trick.

You can also get a spray bottle of paint stripper from Home Depot or Lowe’s not sure what you have in your area that will take it off in layers or all at once. If you want to really strip it down get some stripper apply it and wrap it in plastic let it sit for about thirty minutes and take the plastic off and wash everything off the stock. Let it dry. If needed repeat the process. Nylon bristle brush for stubborn stuff. Light sanding to tighten the wood grain back up if you want light stain or leave it open for a darker stain. The water will open wood grain up. Acetone will work but it’s hard on your skin and requires a lot more exposure. If your just cleaning and touching up stain or reapplying clear coat then rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol will work. Denatured is a lot stronger so don’t spend too much time in one spot.

The light touch: several applications of Citristrip followed by the trash bag in the sun and Simple Green treatment.

The scorched earth: acetone

In truth, “scorched earth” is hyperbole. But acetone will take everything and leave some very dry wood. No matter which way you go, once the cleaning is finished, you need to get some natural oils back into the wood before you finish.

Before and after pics would be fun!!

My treatment consists of spraying it with Simple Green, Purple Power, or a similar degreaser. Let it soak for awhile then hose it off. Do multiple treatments then hit it with a hot iron and wet towel while it is still wet to try and raise some of the dents. It probably had some sort of an oil finish when new, so that is what I like to refinish with. After it dries, of course. I don't like to sand if at all possible.

Laphroaig said:

... hit it with a hot iron and wet towel while it is still wet to try and raise some of the dents. ...

Click to expand...

Hey, thanks for reminding me of that method. I'd been aware of it before in another context but never tried it with a wood rifle stock. What a dummy ... shoulda known better and connected those two dots before!!

I've boiled small stocks and pieces like handguards with the battle bruised stuff. I got the idea off a gun restoration guy in Canada that's on YouTube. I was amazed how well it cleans raises dents.
Typically I use paint stripper for wood or Simple Green.

Mark Novak has a youtube channel in which he works on a lot of old milsurp guns. I don't have a need for the information, but I find them fascinating and have learned a lot from watching that seems like it might help.

I just did one that's been in storage for 90 years. Used 0000 steel wool with mineral spirits. Removed the gunk without damaging original finish. Just kept working it until I achieved the results I was looking for. I didn't want to refinish it, just clean it up and keep original patina. Used 0000 steel wool and 3n1 light oil on metal for same result.

MaduroBU said:

Mark Novak has a youtube channel in which he works on a lot of old milsurp guns. ...

Click to expand...

Name of the channel for those looking is "Anvil":

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM86hA7E1y3vOJuzdqCXh1Q

Citristrip. Might as well get the big bottle it goes surprisingly fast. You can find it in the painting aisle of pretty much any hardware store. It is bright orange and you can't miss it. Paint it on, wait awhile, and scrape it off with a PLASTIC putty knife. Mineral spirits to clean off any remaining residue on the wood. After that you can use acetone to clean off more crud if you want. Acetone is also a residue remover for Citristrip.

The boiling water and washing soda does a fantastic job, it will raise small dents and proof marks, leech out old oil and crud.
Add a cup of washing soda to a gallon boiling of water (keep ratio the same if you need more water).
Submerge stock under the water and weigh it down, let soak over night. The next day rinse, repeat if necessary. otherwise let dry. sand with 600g to remove the "whiskers" use your choice of finishes.
I have done several Garand stocks that looked hopeless and had fantastic results.

All are good methods

2nd for minteral spirits and the 0000 steel wood