Stock refinishing help

[Nosler guy]

Coming along rather nicely - you are doing real well for a first time effort, looking forward to the finished product

 

[BenH2016]

This really is an exercise in patience.

The stock has now had 4 coats wet sanded with P400, 2 coats with P600 and 1 coat with P800. And now we wait again!

I took the recoil pad off a few coats ago so I could also treat the but end of the stock.

Out of interest any one got an idea what type of wood this actually is? I'm under no illusions that it may be a special piece of wood, but I'm still going to give it the best finish I am capable of. Few days and it will get another wet sanding with P800

 

[bilmcc]

Stay the course. This is going to be beautiful!

 

[ChrisG]

Coming along rather nicely - you are doing real well for a first time effort, looking forward to the finished product

It looks like a straight grained circassian walnut. No figure so it isn't especially valuable but It looks great and for a rifle you're gonna use, there really isn't much better. Leave the fancy stuff to guys who buy guns and leave them on their wall or in their safe. I like a good strong straight grained walnut!

 

[wesheltonj]

That is looking really sharp, the grain is coming out nicely.

 

[Rob404]

So Far So Good

 

[Ryan]

Beautiful. I agree with ChrisG, more than likely sincexit's from a European manufacturer it's Circassian walnut (Juglans regia) aka English, common, etc. etc. From Europe and Asia.

 

[cagkt3]

Looking good!

 

[Badboymelvin]

Wow! It looks fantastic, and for a first time effort - well done!

 

[Nosler guy]

well done so far - that rifle will mean so much more to you now

Almost looks too nice to take out into the brush - that first scratch is really gonna hurt ....

 

[wesheltonj]

well done so far - that rifle will mean so much more to you now

Almost looks too nice to take out into the brush - that first scratch is really gonna hurt ....

The solution for that is Boca-Sheild.

 

[BenH2016]

I gave it another coat of wet sanding today, so that's now 3 wet sandings with P800, I think this will be the last, will set it aside now until at least the end of the week.

I've found differing advice on whether to rub the stock down after wet sanding. Some people say wipe with a paper towel across the grain very gently to encourage the wood flour paste to stay in the pores. Others say rub vigorously with the grain to force the paste down into the pores. I've been doing it one way on one application and the other on the next. Certainly when I rub it all in vigorously a lovely flat sheen starts to appear.

I've also noticed that each time I set it aside for a few days more open pores appear, finer ones each time, my guess is that that happens as the oil mixture cures. I'd really like to fill all the pores completely but I'm half way through the small bottle of schaftol that I have so will move next to the very thin hand rubbed coats. I suppose one attraction to this type of finish is that if at any point I feel the pores need more filling I can just wet sand again.

I am enjoying this. Rubbing oil into silky smooth wood is a pleasing activity.

 

[PeteG]

Rubbing oil into silky smooth wood is a pleasing activity.

- wrong forum...

 

[BenH2016]

Bahhaha

 

[wesheltonj]

Sounds like another bottle and more wet sanding then some finish coats.

 

[BenH2016]

Sounds like another bottle and more wet sanding then some finish coats.

unfortunately this schaftol stuff isnt available locally, my parents brought this bottle back from a trip they did to Namibia a few months ago. That said im sure I could find someone willing to bring a bottle or two back from either Namibia or SA. Ill see how it all looks after a good week of curing now.

 

[wesheltonj]

That stuff is German I believe and should be obtained easily.

 

[Ryan]

According to the directions Pilkington gives with his gunstock finish concerning sand filling like you are doing he makes a like slurry, allows it to stand and soak in until tacky and the lightly rubs off with rough paper towel in a circular motion to just remove the slurry from the surface of the wood. I recall the Midway USA guy going against the grain to remove the top layer of finish used to fill on one video. Key at this point it appears is just take off the surface build up. So, from what I can tell you're doing fine.

 

[dsmerrills]

Ben I can get schaftol in South Africa in various colours starting from gold "original" to very dark. I can also send some up to you via DHL if need be. Let me know?

 

[dsmerrills]

These are the various colours.