Over-oiled stock.

[CentrePunch]

Hi all,
i have a rifle stock to refinish that has been heavily over oiled with artists raw linseed oil by the rifles builder
Its an awful finnish that always feels tacky more so when the weather is warm.
The owner has asked me to strip it and re-apply a proper finnish.
My problem is getting the oil out, i have done 5 applications of whiting, but when it looks okay and i try to sand with 240 paper it clogs immediately.
Are there any quicker easier ways of getting the oil out and any tips on stopping my paper clogging up.
Many thanks in advance.

Ian.

 

[rider_hunter]

I have heard of people using mineral spirits wiping the stock down a few times it some how is thins and pulls the oil out just enough to sand it

 

[Steve Blair]

Japan Drier is usually added to Linseed Oil as an accelerator. You could run an experiment on another piece of wood and see whether wiping with a thinned mixture of the drier would cure what is already in the wood.

 

[EdwinD]

acetone

 

[acloco]

I mounted three light sockets in plastic boxes inside of a metal garbage can. Using 100 watt bulbs, the heat helps draw the oil out of the stocks. DON'T leave this unattended!!!!!!

Keep turning the stock and keep wiping the oil off.

 

[therifler]

Heat lamp shining down on stock so we don't set the stock on fire. Also we must not tell the wife about this one hair dryer as the oil rises to the surface wipe it with lacquer thinner . TURN THE HAIR DRYER OR THE HEAT LAMPS OFF at this point . Repeat the process till the oil stops rising . Heat lamps work better . However it can be a long drawn out affair . TR

 

[GerryM]

Citra strip Paint remover.
non toxic from citris.
I bought it in Home Depot.
It works really well. Kind of messy but does an excellent job.

 

[CentrePunch]

Thanks for the tips guys, going to try the heat lamps/hair dryer method

Ian.

 

[Borg]

Doing a few CMP rifles, I've always use TSP from Home Depot. An application w/paint brush, the stock setting in a pan w/a couple of oz, and brush it down and dry it off.
Change when dark brown. Do that for a couple of days, and it pulls all the oil out.
Ken S

 

[CentrePunch]

Hi Borg,
What is TSP, have done a search and come up with BIX TSP surface cleaner but this stuff is not available in the UK so i would be looking for an equivalent.
Thanks

Ian.

 

[mj2evans]

TSP = tri sodium phosphate, painters use it to prep before painting items (its a powder you mix with water), there are non-phosphate versions of of TSP also (TS and no P?)

I am going to suggest something that will make some cringe. After a LOT of military surplus stocks I can say that Easy Off oven cleaner will suck junk out of a stock. Is it nasty? Yes. Does it work? Oh yes.

 

[jerryscherrer]

Sounds like your getting some garands. I took all the metal off mine and ran them in the dish washer 4or5 times. This does two things, gets rid of old oil, raises dents in wood from the steam. Then I re-oil.This seems to make any cartouch stand out more.

 

[dennisinaz]

If you can find some Super railroad, it will work fast. Otherwise, the next quickest way is aerosol oven cleaner as previously suggested.

 

[CentrePunch]

I picked up some aerosol oven cleaner which is going on tomorrow.

Ian.

 

[navyrad8r]

+1 ON THE OVEN OFF! the oven off with #4 steel wool and some light rubbing. the dishwasher thing works great too, taking it to the local gym and sitting in the sauna will get you some stares but might be helpful too. also wet cloth on tstock and iron it, this can help with the really deep dings or really oiled spots.

 

[CentrePunch]

Thanks for all the replys guys,
The stock is done now, sanded, burnished and the first coats of finish applied (tru-oil).
I did the oven cleaner thing which was pretty successful but also managed to draw a lot of oil out of the stock with a hot air gun which i wiped away with a cloth soaked in acetone.
Care had to be taken not to scorch the stock but this method got rid of more oil then anything else.

Ian.

 

[TAB]

Another method to draw out oil or cosmoline is to bake the stock in an oven at about 200* for 20 minutes or so, wipe it down and repeat as necessary. This will stink up the kitchen.

You can also wrap the stock in paper towels, close it up inside a black plastic trash bag, leave it on your dashboard, and let the sun bake it.

Once you get most of the oil out a couple of spit coats of shellac will seal up the grain and keep any remaining oil from leaching out. Then, finish as desired.

The guys on ParallaxBill's forum have lots of info on cleaning up old oil soaked stocks. http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/forums/101/t/C-R-stock-cleaning.html

TAB

 

[CentrePunch]

Thanks for that link Tab, some excellent info there.
Its not something i want to do again but if it ever comes up i will know where to go to get sound information on clenaing over oiled stocks

Ian.

 

[CentrePunch]

Now then, I have applied several coats of hand rubbed Tru-oil into the stock (literally) and have used a well known (in the UK) industrial hand cleanser to remove the stuff from my hands but they are still feeling sticky.
Do any of you guys have any tips for getting my hands clean after using tru-oil?
Many thanks

Ian.

 

[LWolken]

Wear rubber gloves!