Stock refinishing

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  • Last Post 31 March 2019
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Bill2728 posted this 31 March 2019

I have an '03A3 that the metal is in good condition but the stock had a VERY heavy coat of what appeared to be polyurethane. After about 3 weeks, I finally have that finish off and all of the oil that's going to come out, out.  The only sanding I've done is a very light touch up to remove any "hairs" that have risen. I want to keep the stock markings and all of it's life's mishaps.  I'm using pure tung oil and citrus solvent to finish it.  My plan is to replenish what was used up from the mix with pure tung oil, reducing the solvent percentage as I go.  I'm comfortable with this but am now wondering if the inside of the stock should be treated as well? My first thought was NO but in retrospect, would it not help with keeping rain, sleet and melting snow from saturating the wood on the inside of the barrel and receiver channel?

I know this has a simple solution but I keep going back and forth on it.  What is the correct way to do it?

 

Bill

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RicinYakima posted this 31 March 2019

All US military wooden stocks were dipped in raw linseed oil, not tung oil. After dipping, they were allowed to absorb and drip off for 12 hours. The rifle were roughly wiped off and assembled. The new rifle was then hand rubbed with raw linseed oil every week/month for the rest of its life.

Now, linseed oil is not water proofing but fiber binding. Since you have coated the outside with tong oil, you might as well do the inside also. As long as you don't go from dry to wet climates, you should be OK.

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Rich/WIS posted this 31 March 2019

On my US MILSURP stocks I use a mix of three parts boiled linseed oil and one part mineral spirits.  The mineral spirits thin the oil slightly to aid penetration and also speeds curing time,  

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RicinYakima posted this 31 March 2019

Bill, I think you hit the nail on the head, cost. Not only was tung oil probably ten times more expensive, it will set in the can much faster than raw linseed. Even when I did basic training at Fort Polk with the M14, Friday nights were rifle cleaning time before Saturday morning full inspections. The squad got about a teaspoon of linseed to share for rubbing into the stocks. Being gun crazy, that was one of the chores I didn't mind. Ric

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Bill2728 posted this 31 March 2019

Thanks, Ric.  Actually tung oil was approved for use in the '30's but from what I can find wasn't used very much even though it was a little better than the raw linseed.  Maybe because we had plenty of flax and few tung trees? Irrelevant.  Yeah, you're right, I'll start with a coat or to later today.  I'll finish it with Renaissance wax, not water proof but more resistant than just the tung oil.

Appreciate the reply

 

Bill

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