M1 Carbine Stock Cleaning

[Sport45]

I have a stock cleaning question. The wood from our carbine would bleed oil every time it was in the sun. I've had it (just the wood) in a garbage bag full of driveway oil-sorbant in the attic for a little over a month.

If the oil is through bleeding, what's the best way to clean it up without removing 60+ years of character? Should it be rubbed with mineral spirits or just BLO?

I stripped my HRA Garand Stock with boiling water (before I knew better) and finished with Minwax Tung Oil Finish. It looks good, but certainly lost some character.

 

[1KPerDay]

You may find this recent thread useful
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=578536

 

[Sport45]

Thanks! I'll try to close this thread.

 

[CZguy]

I was very happy with the results that I obtained cleaning the stock by rubbing it for countless hours with denatured alcohol. (available at Home Depot) then about three coats of boiled linseed oil finished it off.

1943 Underwood.

 

[Sunray]

Take the metal parts off then drop the stock in a tub/vat of mineral spirits and leave it there for 24 hours. Then apply whatever finish you want.
"...Tung Oil Finish..." Pure Tung oil, not tung oil finish.