SKS Stock Finish?

[TenDriver]

Got done doing my 870 stock and pleased with the results. Now, it's time to move on into another refinishing project. This one is my Chinese SKS.

The plan is to strip it down, then re-do it to original color. Any suggestions on stain / other agent?

Thanks!

 

[squarepants33889]

sks refinish

I fought a long hard battle against cosmoline on mine. Once it was ungreasified and the surface was finished(methal hyrdrate, steel wool, degreaser, etc), I used minwax "gunstock" stain. I topped the stain with a layer of thinned minwax tung oil finish, then an unthinned layer rubbed out gently with 0000 steel wool. Followed by much buffing with a cloth.
The finish feels great, but there was staining i never could get rid of.

 

[TenDriver]

Looks nice! I see the stains you're talking about and think they add some character to it. I have the same thing going on with the 870 but to a lesser degree.

Nice job!

 

[chrt396]

My Yugo was heavily coated with cosmolene when I bought it a few months ago. I disassembled it..soaked the metal parts in diesel fuel..melted off VERY easily. Sprayed the stock with Easy Off oven cleaner..normal strength. Cosmolene wiped off easily with two applications. Rinsed the stock off under faucet to clean off residual. Accelerated the drying time by using a heat gun at low setting and holding it away from the stock about 8-10 inches. I then coated it with two coats of Linseed oil, (let it dry over night), then applied 5 coats of Watco Danish oil from Lowes, letting it dry a couple hours between coats. I then let it dry for two days..then rubbed her down with 0000 steel wool to smooth it out. I then took a spray can of spar urethane satin finish, and gave it two coats, letting it dry overnight between coats. Used the steel wool again...smoothed it out...let it cure 1 week and applied some Flitz gun stock wax to it and it is better looking than any SKS has the right to look.

 

[TenDriver]

I finally got around to field stripping. What little rust was on the gun came off easily with 000 steel wool. I also got the stock stripped down to the bare wood, took a LOT of chem stripper and elbow grease, but I can't believe the wood under all that nasty. It is beautiful! My only issue now is getting the rest of the chemicals out of the wood. I've rubbed it down with mineral spirits twice, and washed it down with dish soap as well. When it's wet, the stock is still very slippery. Feels like some sort of chemical is still coming out of the wood so I don't want to get the iron out yet.

Any ideas on how to get the wood chemical free? More soap / water and elbow grease?

 

[briansmithwins]

I went with chicom red.

BSW

Me using it at a match on a mover:

 

[Trevorusn]

Wow, that chicom red really hits the mark on a SKS.

 

[briansmithwins]

sksman.com has the chicom stocks for $20 last time I looked.

BSW