Tung Oil on Express Stock?

[Hammerhead]

Hello,
The title pretty much says it all. Has anyone tried putting Tung Oil on an 870 Express stock? I don't know what the original finish is, so I hesitate to put anything on it blindly.

I don't want to strip and re-finish, but I would like to add a little extra protection, and maybe darken it up a bit.

Thanks for any information.

Regards,
Hammerhead

 

[riverdog]

I have no idea what the finish on the Express stock is, but Tung Oil should go on bare stripped wood as it should be allowed to penetrate for optimum protection of the stock. I've done a number of M-1 Garand stocks in (100% Pure) Tung Oil and I've always stripped the stock first.

 

[JohnBT]

I bet it beads up and makes a mess.

The finish on my 1993 Express stock was painted on and the only reason I messed with it was because some of the finish got scraped off from bouncing around in the bottom of the duck boat. I called Remington and asked for touch up finish. No go. They said send it back. Ha.

Removing it required either laquer thinner or acetone - I don't remember which, but 3 or 4 kinds of paint remover didn't work. It was a very tough finish.

As usual, YMMV.

John

 

[HSMITH]

Give it the krylon touch, be done with it.

 

[Traveler]

Take a sanding block and some 400 grit paper to your stock. Get rid of all the annoying bumps and imperfections, but do't waste your time tring to sand it all the way down. Then use some Verathane Satin Natural Oil finish. It is a polymer based finish, and will coat over the stuff that's on there now. It is also a great penetrant and sealer. It will put on heck of a finish on your gun. It will look better too.

 

[Ledbetter]

I have put Minwax Tung Oil Finish(TOF) (much different than 100% tung oil) directly over the factory finish on the following gun stocks with great results:

Springfield Armory M1A
Ruger 10/22 (X3)
Marlin Camp 45
Henry .22 lever

One of the 10/22's had been finished in polyurethane first. I didn't like the surface, so I sanded with 400 grit and applied the TOF right on top. Looks great and NO weather worries.

I recommend TOF, and remember to seal ALL the wood while you're at it.

 

[Johnpl]

"Strip-Eeze" by Savagran took the finish right of my Express stock. I would imagine any other furniture stripper would work as well. Sanded with 400 grit then steel wool. I then stained with a Minwax Walnut, using several coats to get the light colored wood to darken up a bit. I finished with Birchwood Casey True Oil. Stock looks really nice, nice color, grain shows thru, and the satin finish is looks perfect.