Need help: Refinishing a couple milsurps.

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Well, as most of you know, I am the proud owner of a MN44 and a K-31.

And both of these have seen better days. I need to know quote a few things.

1.) How should I strip the stocks from their previous oils/stains/finishes/what-have-you?

2.) Will I be able to find an exact to a near exact finish in todays' market?
(Will post pictures to make stain color idetification easier.)

3.) What is the best method to removing dents? I know there's steaming out the dents with a damp rag and an iron, but I'm unsure about how to go about with it.

4.) What should I do with the recievers/barrels/all parts while the stocks are getting refinished, and how do I take of the metal pieces along the stocks?
(The springs that hold the barrel bands in place on both mosin and the K31, and this part that is on the top-piece of both rifles.)




5.) And how many coats should I put on?

Here's the K-31. I chose the best pictures that's showing the dents.



And here's what the K-31's stain looks like, can you match it?


Here's the MN44, which generally needs a refinishing. It's shellac is starting to rub off, so I wanna refinish now instead of later. The original color is the darker areas. It's almost like a cherry finish. Can you match it?


I thank all of you in advance, and both these rifles need it.

 

[lacoochee]

This is covered in great detail in the below forum have fun reading....

http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/directory

Scroll down and look in the Maintenance of Original Configuration Milsurp Firearms section.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

I don't see it. Got a direct link into the forum?

 

[Philmccan]

I can only help you with one of your questions sorry. That being said the answer to number 1 is Dawn Power dissolver, you buy it in the cleaning supply section of your local grocery or hardware store. It is made to clean baked on food. I recently used it on a MN 91/30 and two treatments had 96 % of the finished removed. You spray it on the stock and let it soak at least thirty minutes and rinse off. Other's have suggested wearing gloves but I did not and it did not bother my hands. Hope this helps! And have fun, refinishing was allot of fun for me!

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Thanks. That helps a little bit.

 

[ColinthePilot]

Dishwasher, no detergent, potscrubber mode.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Too small of dishwasher.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

seriously? no one has a clue?

 

[alamo]

seriously? no one has a clue?

See the posting by "lacoochee"

More specifically, this forum:

http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/forums/101/t/C-R-stock-cleaning.html

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Okay thanks. I couldn't find anything on that forum.

 

[Olympus]

The quickest way is to go to Lowes in the paint department and get some heavy duty stripper. 15 minutes and it eats off everything. I did this to a Mosin I just bought a few days ago. When the stuff dries, take a 60 grit sandpaper and sand off any excess, but there shouldn't be much.

As far as the dents, the iron trick works just as good as anything. It's pretty much just going to be trial and error. Give it a shot, it won't hurt anything.

As far as the stain, that will be a little tricky to match. The best thing would be to get some RIT dye and mix with about 90% rubbing alcohol. I'd get tan dye and dark brown. Trial and error on this too. Always start the mixture light, then add the dark to get it to match. Work slow and try each new mixture to see if you're getting close.

 

[Gewehr98]

Do you have small children near the computer?

There's a whole bunch of red crayon on the first pic.

A clothes iron and wet handkerchief can do miracles in raising dents in wood, btw.

 

[MRIman]

I like the way they look now.
They have "aged character",what a
mil-surp should have.

 

[Claude Clay]

Too small of dishwasher

does she have a friend who is bigger?

 

[Duke of Doubt]

They look beautiful just the way they are. Please spare them, their historical authenticity and their collectibility.