WASR-10 AK Stock...

[XxWINxX94]

For those who own a Romanian WASR-10 most of them come with stocks that are really rough wood. I'm considering adding a varnish/laminate to it to make it look better and feel more smooth.


Any reasons I should NOT do this?

 

[Dentite]

Definitely refinish the wood. Makes it feel and look so much better. Not sure what you mean by a laminate but there are multiple types of finishes depending on the look you like. Do a google search for gun stock refinishing and read a few articles to get an idea of the pros and cons of each type of finish.

Definitely do some sanding with progressively finer grit before you apply any finish.

Here's mine after I redid the wood: A couple of the pics aren't showing, but you get the idea: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=520867

 

[fireman 9731]

Here is how my Draco ended up.

Birchwood Casey Tru-oil does a fantastic job, and its easy to work with.

 

[MIL-DOT]

I've done it a couple times. It's easy, fun, and makes the rifle look great, no reason not to,IMO.
I recommend removing the stocks from the rifle, and remove the butt-plate. I just use a light-medium sand paper, then smooth it further with some steel wool. Wipe it thoroughly clean, then use a cloth to apply about three coats Min-Wax Sedona Red stain, allowing time to dry between each application.
Then, I like to add a couple coats of Min-Wax Polycryllic.Use a good quality brush for this. Don't worry if it looks a little un-even when wet, it seems to even itself out when drying.
My stocks have come out looking better than the Red Russian finish on my old Lancaster, or for that matter, better than any other off-the-shelf AK I've seen anywhere.

 

[XxWINxX94]

Very cool everyone! I think I will try this sometime soon. I really like the red-ish color!

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

If you want a deep red color, you can mix RIT clothing dyes with alcohol. Buy a packet of red, cocoa brown, and orange, and mix varying amounts in a little cup of alcohol. Test the various combos on a piece of scrap wood to see similar to how it will look.

Also key to dyeing the wood is making the wood soak up the dye well. Rough up the bare wood with 60-100 grit sandpaper then wipe it with a damp towel to raise the grain. Then you wipe on a couple coats of dye/stain. After that go with steel wool 0000 between each coat of polyurethane. That's what I do.

As far as stains go, I really like minwax dark mahogany. I have turned a lot of those ugly ass surplus stocks to look pretty decent in my opinion.

These are all done from surplus romanian wood sets, they came in ugly as hell and totally ruined. One of them even have stuff carved into them.

Also, if you would like, I'll refinish your wood for you if you don't feel like doing it yourself. Or if you want any more info or in depth stuff just PM me. More than glad to help.

 

[XxWINxX94]

THE DARK KNIGHT,
Those are excellent finishes, your work is superb! I think I will just head over to the arts and crafts place and pick me out a stain with some red, and keep working with that and what I have till I get a good color. I've refinished before and it's came out fine.

I think I'll do it myself as a summer project, but thanks for the offer!

 

[grilledcheese]

Not a WASR, but a close cousin AES10B:



The rifle was a mess when I bought it, dirty, soaked in cosmo, full of metal shavings, and dressed in unfinished furniture. Cleaned her up, hit the stocks with Red Oak flavored stain, and finished with three coats of urethane with a fine sanding in between.
I thinks she's rather purty now.

....well, as purty as an ugly gun can be, I suppose.



Jeffrey

 

[Publius1688]

Dark Knight:
Where, where, where did you get that wooden forearm with the handle? I've been looking for one to match my all wood stock WASR for ever! Please let us know.

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

THE DARK KNIGHT,
Those are excellent finishes, your work is superb! I think I will just head over to the arts and crafts place and pick me out a stain with some red, and keep working with that and what I have till I get a good color. I've refinished before and it's came out fine.

I think I'll do it myself as a summer project, but thanks for the offer!

No problem man, best of luck, let us know how it comes out.

Dark Knight:
Where, where, where did you get that wooden forearm with the handle? I've been looking for one to match my all wood stock WASR for ever! Please let us know.

Yeah I like the "donkey dong" ones a lot actually. I got mine off a gunbroker auction, but there're a website carolinashooterssupply.com that has whole romanian wood sets with the VFG like that, in good condition, for only $30. Also ftfindustries.com has wood for $15, though its a little more beat up and sometimes they have REALLY deep carvings that are harder to fix

@grilledcheese - awesome work man!

 

[bkjeffrey]

Any reasons I should NOT do this?

Nah. In a weekend it could look like this for $12.

 

[Publius1688]

thanks for the info, dark knight

 

[fireman 9731]

Center Fire Systems also has those style stocks. I think they might even be on sale right now for less than 20 bucks. I would give you a link but their website seems to be down right now...