Re-Finishing a Stock

[CjC73]

So got an old stock and wanting to refinish it. So looking for some guidance. Read a lot online and have a decent idea what to do. But looking for any tips to help out.

Here is what it looked like when I started:




And after a little bit of sanding. Most was done with 220 grit but got the 100 out for some spots that were tougher. Still some black spots which I'd take any tips on how to remove them. After 220, I went over it all with some 400.


So what will my next steps be? There are a few small dents, nothing big and if they don't come out, I won't fret. I'd like it super smooth and debating how dark I'd like it when finished.

 

[Seagull]

You can steam small dents out of timber this way.

 

[Bc'z]

Lookin good!!

 

[CjC73]

Lookin good!!

What should I do next? I've read rub some lemon oil and then sand with 400? then stain to whatever color I'd like. I have Tru Oil and some Rub-On Poly sitting around.

 

[Bc'z]

Determine how dark and color direction you want to go.
I apply aneline dyes sanding between applications to enhance the grain.
@joshb & @Preacher can help you with oil finishes i believe they use Arrow wood oil.

 

[strut64]

I have used both Tru Oil and Chem Pak from Brownells with success.

 

[Ccrider]

I have had good results using gel type paint remover to take out dark spots.

 

[dteamer]

I have had good results using gel type paint remover to take out dark spots.

You can steam small dents out of timber this way.

soak the dent with isopropyl alcohol and a steam iron with damp rag over the dent. The alcohol penetrates the dent deeper and helps lift the compressed fibers

 

[CjC73]

Determine how dark and color direction you want to go.
I apply aneline dyes sanding between applications to enhance the grain.
@joshb & @Preacher can help you with oil finishes i believe they use Arrow wood oil.

what colors you use? any examples you can share?

I just ordered some Arrow wood oil, looks like what I want in a finish.

 

[Bc'z]

Medium brown, copper, vintage amber

 

[Kracken McGraw]

We used to get this, back when the old fashioned hardware stores were still around. I was curious if anyone still uses it?https://www.lin-speed.com/

 

[Twdmar]

My guess is your stock is birch by looking at it. Birch can be blotchy when dyed and if it's not figured like curly maple which also blotches badly, you may get an inconsistent color.
You can do some tests on scrap wood. You may need to put a pre-conditioner to prevent blotching.
If there is dark stain in the grain, it may be very difficult to remove without sanding it out.
Another option is to sand it out, 320 is plenty fine and then put a coat of dewaxed shellac on. That will seal the grain. Then you can put a gel stain over that or even use a tinted topcoat. Minwax antique oil works well and is easy to use. It also allows you to use the stock pretty quickly after.

 

[6MMsteve]

Medium brown, copper, vintage amber

perfect color

 

[jepp2]

I just ordered some Arrow wood oil, looks like what I want in a finish.

If you wipe some rubbing alcohol on the stock it will show you what it will look like after you apply the Arrow Wood Finish. Might change quite a bit, might not. Here is one I finished with Arrow and how it changed. But I didn't aggressively sand it like you did and I had a better figured piece of wood.

 

[joshb]

It does look like Birch. I would sand it down to 1000, apply your stain of choice, then a light sand and apply the Arrow. You can sand in between coats of Arrow if you find rough spots.
Bc’z is the high expert of finishing. No doubt about it. I’m not so I took a shortcut with the Aniline dyes. I applied a mix of dyes in alcohol to my maple stock after I sanded it to 1000. I explained it in the last few recent pages of my stock building thread.

 

[CjC73]

perfect color

mixed together?

do you have a stock with this? picture?

 

[CjC73]

It does look like Birch. I would sand it down to 1000, apply your stain of choice, then a light sand and apply the Arrow. You can sand in between coats of Arrow if you find rough spots.
Bc’z is the high expert of finishing. No doubt about it. I’m not so I took a shortcut with the Aniline dyes. I applied a mix of dyes in alcohol to my maple stock after I sanded it to 1000. I explained it in the last few recent pages of my stock building thread.

you do some amazing work. this stock is awesome, are the stripes the natural wood?

 

[CjC73]

It does look like Birch. I would sand it down to 1000, apply your stain of choice, then a light sand and apply the Arrow. You can sand in between coats of Arrow if you find rough spots.
Bc’z is the high expert of finishing. No doubt about it. I’m not so I took a shortcut with the Aniline dyes. I applied a mix of dyes in alcohol to my maple stock after I sanded it to 1000. I explained it in the last few recent pages of my stock building thread.

and what is this one?! I really like this

 

[CjC73]

Raw wood



Rubbed with alcohol

 

[Twdmar]

I don't see much figure in that birch (it is relatively rare in birch). You're going to have a hard time getting the dye to show figure that isn't there. If you can add a little color to the arrow wood finish, I might just do that. Flamed abd tiger birch is a thing but it doesn't get used on gunstocks much because birch is a cheaper stock wood. It does oj savages and 10/22s. It's a great stock wood but usually pretty plain.
Those fancy dye jobs are done on wood that has figure, resulting from irregularities in the wood. They use dye because it doesn't soak into all the wood the same leaving darker and lighter spots.
Essentially you're highlighting blemishes like I did on this stock. It's easy to do but the wood has to have the right figure.