How do I clean walnut grips?

[Twiki357]

After half a dozen searches and a rummaging couple of months of postings, I give up. So….

I have a couple of recent S&W acquisitions (Shipped in 1974 and earlier) with original factory walnut stocks that look like they were carried around by an auto mechanic who avoided soap. How can I clean (Rehab) the walnut stocks? I seem to recall a thread on this a few months ago, but can’t find it. I think the recommendation was dish soap and a tooth brush, but I’d like help before I damage them.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[JTQ]

Ballistol is wood safe. I've seen folks on the "net" use it and recommend it for wood. I've not used it on wood myself, but I do use the product for other things. It works well, but it does have a distinct aroma.

http://www.ballistol.com

 

[Drail]

Murphy's Wood Soap. Remove the grips when cleaning if you're going to get sloppy with solvents and oil.

 

[RustyShackelford]

+1 for Ballistol....

Id advise Ballistol. It's non toxic, you can use it with bare hands, it's CFC free & has a pine tree type scent. The big - with recent Ballistol cans is they only come in 6oz types.
In the late 1990s I used bigger cans of Ballistol & it worked great. It's handy around the camp or home too.
Around 1999, I cleaned & checked my cousin's rusted-out, dirty Remington 1100 12ga shotgun with Ballistol. After about 2/3 hours of cleaning the 12ga shotgun looked brand new(even the wood stock & foregrip).
Rusty
www.brownells.com

PS; grip maker; Craig Spegel might have some good advice too; www.craigspegel.com . He uses walnut & wood.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Dish soap

 

[Big Shrek]

Some dish soaps are made with things that will do bad things to your wood.
It ain't like it used to be...

Murphy's Oil Soap is meant for wood, it protects better than anything else I've run across.
Its still inexpensive & a big bottle lasts for YEARS

 

[Blade First]

Put your grips in a Mason jar and pour in enough acetone to more than cover them. Let them soak for 24 hours, remove and let dry. Not only will all dirt and oils be removed, the old lacquer will be gone, too.

To refinish, rub in a coat of tung oil and let dry...again for 24 hours. If they aren't dark enough or shiny enough, apply another coat. Repeat until the grips look like you want them to look on your revolver. Don't forget, you must let them dry completely before applying the next coat.

You'll like the result.

 

[Sunray]

"...Murphy's Oil Soap is meant for wood..." Yep, or any other product made for cleaning wood. Wood is wood.

 

[rcmodel]

Try some Lemon Oil Furniture Polish on a rag first.

Use an old toothbrush to clean the checkering with it.

WD-40 will work too.

rc

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Murphy's Wood Soap. Remove the grips when cleaning if you're going to get sloppy with solvents and oil.

This Murphy's Oil soap will get them clean . I use an old toothbrush.

 

[Lafitte]

GoJo hand cleaner will take the grime and dirt off but won't remove the finish.

Lafitte