grand dad gave me a beautiful custom rifle, but wood looks unfinished?

[RevolverMan567]

my grand pa gave me a 270 h had bulit several years ago as an engagement present. Gun feels like an extension of the body when shouldered and I know for a fact that at 100 yards you might as well dry fire it because its a waste fo ammo to shoot it, you now where the bullet going if you know what I mean, i have seen him put 5 rounds in a group that made it hard to determine how many shots were fired.

the wood has what looks like a beautiful grain that has seensome wear because it looks like it was unfinished. I would like to get some clearcote on it or something like that to protect the wood a little. He knows how much i like to hunt and he told me when he gave it to me that he hoped i would hunt with it because it deserves a better fate than a bench and paper targets.

i am already immensely attached to it because of where it came from. whats the best way to protect the wood in the woods.?

I'll try to get som pics up later.

 

[TimM]

pictures please.

 

[GotGlock]

Get yourself some tung oil and rub it in using a lot of coats spread out over a week or so.

 

[birdbustr]

If it means that much to you, then it deserves to be finished or refinished, whatever the case may be by a gunsmith. I mean, it sounds like you will never part with it, and so far you have $0 in the thing. I think you can spring for a few dollars on something you "are already so attached to".

 

[highorder]

Get yourself some tung oil and rub it in using a lot of coats spread out over a week or so.

absolutely. rub it in with your fingers. also grab some OOOO steel wool to take the whiskers off the wood.

 

[RevolverMan567]

thanks,

I appreciate the advice, I was thinking about having a smith do it, but i kinda want to do it myself just so there is some of me in it as well. however i really want it to be protected as well as possible, thanks again for the suggestions keep em comin if you have any more.

 

[Dave P]

birchwood casey tru-oil at walmart. wonderful stuff, easy to use.Tough, cheap.

 

[Snarlingiron]

I'm betting that your gun has a classic hand rubbed penetrating finish. In my opinion this is much more beautiful than the artificial plastic looking glassy clear coat type of finish that is popular on todays guns. I agree with Dave P on the tru-oil. I have finished many stocks with this stuff. I rub in in with my hands. Since the oil actually penetrates the wood it provides good protection without the artificial look. However, there are those that like the glassy look, and if that is what you like, then go for it. There are a number of spray on type clear coat finishes around. However, it is difficult to get that perfect glassy finish without some specialized equipment. Some of us like one thing, some of us like another...its what makes the world go around.

 

[Vaarok]

Boiled linseed oil, pine tar, and turpentine in a 1/1/1 mixture, heated, mixed, and then rubbed in when it's a warm paste. Weatherproof and really brings out the figure in good wood. Smells kinda funny at first, though.

 

[TehK1w1]

If you can find a smith that will look at it for free or cheap, I would have it checked to see if it has a penetrating oil finish before you mess with it.

 

[Sniper4Life]

hmm... should i add my homemade concoction to?

If you really want to keep it, i would get a smithy to do it, but, if you have already refininshed 3-4 gunstocks... I would suggest you go for it. But i would not, repeat, would not do this gun as your first project.

 

[ScottsGT]

See this thread.......

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=331736

 

[RevolverMan567]

nice.

wow that BLO looks great, but i have only done one stock, it turned out good cause i worked on it for a bout a week and a half but i dont think I am brave enough to do this one alone, I have a good buddy who is a gunsmith at a local gander think i may recruit his expertese

 

[brentwal]

I prefer Teak Oil followed by wax.

 

[jkingrph]

kA mixture called Slacum oil. It's a mixture of boiled linseed oil, turpentine, Venetian turpentine and carnuba wax.

This is what some of the high grade British shotguns were finished with.

Look in archives on doublegunshop.com fourms for exact formula.

It does require heating to get the wax dissolved,\.

I refinished a Ruger #1 that had some nice wood and it is a fairly easy finish to apply, takes a lot of time. Apply a coat a daya for one week then one coat a week for a month ect until desired effect is achieved. I apply about one good finger dab for a complete stock, rub well with bare hands until applied evenly over entire stock and let dry. You may need to use some 4/0 steel wool between first couple of coats.

I like it because it does not give the ultra glassy look of Tru oil

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Try Old English Furniture Polish.