Enfield-Rifles.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Off Topic > OT Forum
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Stock Refinishing
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Stock Refinishing

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>
Author
Message
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Stock Refinishing
    Posted: July 28 2022 at 10:24am
I’ve got a new stock fitted for my M1.  Bought it from Dupage, bare wood, unfinished stock set.

Decided to do a pure tung oil finish.  It’s slow going, taking about three days to cure sufficiently between coats.   I’ve been using the sand dust fill method, apply a very small amount of oil to the stock and sand it in with 600 grit paper, then aggressive hand rub.  This fills in the short grain “cracks” in the surface.  It’s now has 5 coats on it.  One final coat to do without sanding.  

That last coat will likely leave the stock with a satin finish.  Not sure if I want that or a complete matt finish, which is easy to do, just hit it with 0000 steel wool once cured. 

Anyone used tung oil before?  Tried the wet oil sand dust filling method? 








Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 28 2022 at 10:28am
Not on an Enfield or Garand, but I did one on my Remington 700 laminated stock.
It ended up really pretty, bringing the lamination colors out very nicely.
I usually knock the shine off with a piece of burlap or hessian, it takes the shine down but doesn't seem to touch the wood at all.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
Honkytonk View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 30 2017
Location: Brandon Mb
Status: Offline
Points: 4770
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 28 2022 at 11:08am
I'm not sure if it's classified as a tung oil, but I've been using Watco Danish Oil ever since my wife banned linseed oil from our property. My buddy was using linseed to oil his teak patio furniture table and left the soaked rag in the sun on his wife's rattan table ...
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 28 2022 at 1:23pm
Supposedly, tung oil is a more water resistant and a tougher finish than Linseed oil.  The only downside I can see is the long cure time of pure tung oil compared to BLO.  I think the colour and appearance is about the same.

That stock does look great Shamu.  Did you use 100% pure tung oil?  Tung oil varnish or tung oil with driers added is more common, it dries much quicker than pure tung oil. Tung oil is much like linseed oil, have to be careful with leaving soaked rags in a pile, they can spontaneously combust.  But the method I’m using is done by hand, no cloth or brush.  


Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 28 2022 at 4:18pm
Pure. That's after many many coats & long interval too.
But, Its a full custom build the only part of the original 700BDL is the bolt & receiver.
Each time it went out for something months passed while the smiths got round to it so I just kept rubbing one more coat in.
I found that tung would eventually build up a high gloss finish, but unlike vanishes & so on it kept the original "feel" of the wood. I don't like them THAT shiny though.
A while back I discovered that "Michaels" (Arts & Crafts) sold Pure Linseed oil & even better something called "Stand Oil" in 4 & 8 oz bottles for a reasonable price. Stand Oil is the old original heated but not chemically treated European version of BLO!
Its really thick, like golden syrup, or molasses, but it lets you use the "daub & rub technique" as long as you have the patience.

They also have Raw linseed oil (not the Refined stuff).

Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
A square 10 View Drop Down
Special Member
Special Member
Avatar
Donating Member

Joined: December 12 2006
Location: MN , USA
Status: Offline
Points: 14452
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 29 2022 at 8:36pm
its going to look great when your done - but not very military me thinks , chicken bone rub is more consistant with the old walnut military , that and a lot of use , that is a damned pretty looking piece of lumber 
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 30 2022 at 3:57am
I put on what I think will be the last coat of tung oil.  IIRC, tung oil was used in M1 stock finishing, as well as Linseed.  

It now has about six coats.  The grain is closed and filled in with the “sand dust” method I described earlier.  For my last coat, I rubbed the stock lightly with 0000 steel wool first, then applied a very thin coat I rubbed in by hand, did not wipe it off with a rag.  I dipped the tip of my finger in the oil, and spread that out, just that much would cover about half of one side of the butt.  

At the moment, it looks glossy, but as it dries, it should look more satin.  Hard to get a good photo of it. I don’t want a gloss finish, but I don’t want it dead flat either.  




Back to Top
Honkytonk View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 30 2017
Location: Brandon Mb
Status: Offline
Points: 4770
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 30 2022 at 4:25am
Nice grain to that wood. I will always prefer wood stocks over plastic. So much character. Well done.
Back to Top
shiloh View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 08 2019
Location: Ontario, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 2369
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote shiloh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 30 2022 at 5:05am
As a wood worker, I`ve been using tung oils for decades. Gives a beautiful finish and really high lights the grain. It`s durable and easily fixed, the best of all worlds.
I especially like it on gun stocks, the more it`s used/handled the better it looks, my choice when restoring old military wood.
Beautiful piece of wood Brit.
Lead from the front; eliminate all obstacles...
Back to Top
A square 10 View Drop Down
Special Member
Special Member
Avatar
Donating Member

Joined: December 12 2006
Location: MN , USA
Status: Offline
Points: 14452
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 30 2022 at 6:59pm
that is a beautiful piece of lumber , if it fits right it should shoot real well - in style , 
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 31 2022 at 5:24am
I had our local M1 smith fit the stock for me first.  He’s very knowledgeable with the M1 and M1A/M14.  We test fired it and it’s looking good.  The interesting thing is that I had to lower the rear sight by 10 minutes to get the shots into the 10 ring compared to the old stock.  For some reason, that old stock always made the rifle shoot low.  It’s now where it should be. 

Shiloh, this is only my second time using tung oil on a rifle stock.  The first time I wiped it on with a cloth, let is sit about 30 mins, then wiped off the excess.  On this job, I rubbed the oil in well with the palm of my hand, got the oil hot.  Did not use a cloth.  I was finding that as the coats built up, it took longer to dry to the touch, up to three days.  I’m not sure how long it will take to fully cure, I’m thinking of leaving it for 30 days.  

Pure tung oil is supposedly a harder and more water resistant finish than linseed from what I read.  UV won’t change the colour either over time as it does with Linseed.  



Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 31 2022 at 11:26am
That's probably the reason for the regimen with linseed oil too.Exclamation
7 coats,one daily
4 coats weekly
12 coats monthly!
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
A square 10 View Drop Down
Special Member
Special Member
Avatar
Donating Member

Joined: December 12 2006
Location: MN , USA
Status: Offline
Points: 14452
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 31 2022 at 10:44pm
it sure looks really nice , im glad you got it fitted those stocks would be way beyond my fitting ability , shoot well and enjoy that rifle , 
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 02 2022 at 5:56pm
Guys,

I’ve let the stock sit for 4 days now.  It seems to be quite dry, but probably not fully cured.  I did a “tissue test”, and the tissue does not stick to the stock when it’s pressed firmly onto it. 

I’m pleased with the overall results.  I would describe the finish as “satin”, not matte, not gloss.   BUT, I see some small areas where the final coat of tung oil seems to have been absorbed into the wood.  I’m too anal to let this go, so I will need another coat.  Should I rub some oil in over these spots, or apply another coat over the entire stock?  

Anyone out there with experience with pure tung oil give me a recommendation?






Back to Top
Honkytonk View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 30 2017
Location: Brandon Mb
Status: Offline
Points: 4770
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 02 2022 at 7:49pm
Maybe those spots on the wood are a little more porous. I'd try some spot applications and see if they don't oil up. Might take several applications, but they will. When they do, you may have to give one more complete coat but it is worth it as that's a great looking stock.
Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 03 2022 at 11:08am
I'd do both.
One local treatment to see if there's anything more than absorption happening.
the one more light overall coat with lots of rubbing in to uniform the whole thing.
If its too shiny when thoroughly cured rub it down with burlap to make a nice satin/eggshe!! surface.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.04
Copyright ©2001-2021 Web Wiz Ltd.