Stock Refinishing Service Recommendation

[Armed012002]

I'm looking at a new Browning Maxus Hunter.

I like everything about it with the exception of the gloss finished walnut stock and forearm

I prefer a satin hand rubbed oil or satin polyurethane finish.

What places do y'all recommend for stock refinishing?

 

[Tom Held]

Midway Kit

Midway sells a nice stock refinishing kit, comes with a nice DVD. You might be able to do this yourself since you're not making any repairs to it. Otherwise I would send it to Turnbull Restorations.

 

[oneounceload]

Montana Long Guns also gets high accolades, but I do not know what their costs are. Locally, I have access to a gunsmith who also does stock refinishing (actually prefers that aspect), and to do a Browning stock is several hundred dollars for stripping and refinishing

 

[Kingcreek]

The Browning high gloss finish is a real b!tch to strip. I tried it once.

 

[oneounceload]

The Browning high gloss finish is a real b!tch to strip. I tried it once.

Which is why this guy I know charges more - he said the same thing - whatever it is Browning uses lasts forever, but if you need to strip it, it is a real PITA. He finally found some stripper product that is over $200/gallon - only thing he found that did the trick reasonably quick and well.

Whether they are still using this stuff on their current line-up, I do not know

 

[clang]

If all you want is a satin finish - why not knock some of the gloss off the current finish yourself. Try OOOO steel wool and some oil (I use Arrow Finishing Oil, but any slow drying oil should work. I've used CLP and it worked fine) and rub VERY LIGHTLY is circular motions. Did I mention you should do this VERY LIGHTLY.

Wipe the gun down and see how the finish looks after 24 hours.

If you really want to be conservative, mix talcum powder (baby powder) with oil and try rubbing the stock with the mixture a while. If it doesn't take enough shine off the finish either repaet or try the steel wool.