Help with cleaning stock - The Firearms Forum

bdfinst · 12-17-2006, 08:41 PM

Hi, I'm new to the forum and I'm hoping someone can help me with this.
I have a Smith Corona 1903 in great shape with a stock so oil soaked it's black. Does anyone have a good method for removing some / all of the oil without destroying the markings on the stock?

Thanks,
Bryan

southernshooter · 12-17-2006, 10:04 PM

Welcome BD
What I usually do is take the stock and bake it in the oven. Around 350 degrees. Just keep an eye on it while your doing it

Mark · 12-18-2006, 09:58 AM

Southershooter, your wife must really love you. If I did that, I would wind up a grease smear.

I've had good luck removing grease with furniture stripper. You will need to remove all metal from the stock, and just float the stripper on with your rubber gloved hand. DO NOT USE STEEL WOOL OR ABRASIVES!!!!!
Ask at the hardware store for stripper that will remove finish but not effect the patina of the wood. Did I mention not to use abrasives?

At this point you can use a steam iron and wet cloth to steam out any dents. Do not at any time use anything abrasive!

Once you get the crud out of the wood, use a 50/50 mixture of turpentine and raw linseed oil to seal the wood again. This will be stinky, and you will have to let the stock dry 3 or 4 days between coats. 2 or 3 coats will do the trick. After the spirits from the turpentine evaporate, you will be left with a milspec finish.
As long as you don't use abrasives, all markings will be left intact.
Mark

southernshooter · 12-18-2006, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

Southershooter, your wife must really love you. If I did that, I would wind up a grease smear.

Now is the time of year you should do it while she is gone all day gift shopping

bdfinst · 12-19-2006, 06:26 AM

I don't think an 03 stock will fit in my oven.

I'd never thought of the furnature stripper route. That sounds like just the thing. I'll try that out this weekend and post the results.

Thanks!

Bryan

LDBennett · 12-19-2006, 07:56 AM

I have heated the wood with a propane torch (very carefully to avoid burning it) and watched the oil bubble out. Once the stock is wetted with the oil I then cover the stock in baking soda. It sucks that oil up and more from the wood. I let it suck for a day and do it again several times until no more oil comes out. But the oil leaves a stain. I seriously doubt that you will get away from the stain without sanding away the top layers of the stock and refinishing it. But maybe the stain makes it look more original.

LDBennett

Pistolenschutze · 12-19-2006, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdfinst

I don't think an 03 stock will fit in my oven.

I'd never thought of the furnature stripper route. That sounds like just the thing. I'll try that out this weekend and post the results.

I've had good luck using that method on military rifles, Bryan. Once you get all the guck and varnish off, sand it down to the extent you want (rough or smooth), then apply whatever finish you desire. I usually use Tru Oil, but if you want a finish that looks more military, you can use linseed oil or even varnish.

SouthernMoss · 12-19-2006, 10:24 PM

I can't vouch for this method, because I've never tried it, but I've had folks tell me that if you put the stock in a black garbage bag with kitty litter (the clay kind, not the clumping kind) and leave it in the back seat of your car on a sunny day, it will "cook" the gunk out of the stock, and the litter will soak it up.

Of course, depending on where you live, you may have to wait until summer to try it.

southernshooter · 12-19-2006, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdnfirst

I don't think an 03 stock will fit in my oven.

I'd never thought of the furnature stripper route. That sounds like just the thing. I'll try that out this weekend and post the results.

Thanks!

Bryan

Believe it or not what SOMO said does work it don't have to be summer just 50 or above
Also if you do it on a sunny day you can put tinfoil on a picnic table and set it in the sun all day.

Mark · 12-20-2006, 05:18 AM

Bdfinst,

The method I've given you is a restoration technique to salvage and return to service an artifact. Please don't use any abrasives.

If you sand it, or use steel wool, the only comments you will get is, "It's been refinished".

If you have to use anything use a natural fiber bristle brush. The furniture stripper will dissolve plastic ones.
Mark

Popgunner · 12-20-2006, 07:49 PM

A little twist on the car method I've done is to wrap the wood in newsprint paper (blank so printing ink doesn't stain. Your local newspaper will give you a roll end) & keep in the trunk for a couple of weeks, changing the paper every couple of days.

I'm with Mark in that I don't ever want to remove anything with abrasives on milsurps. Alot of the mystique of milsurps to me is the finish that retains the bumps & scratches from whatever service the gun saw. The car method works best in the summer. After the wood sweats out most of the oil it's usualy good to go for me.

Oven cleaners & such risk cracking the wood.

bdfinst · 01-28-2007, 04:49 PM

I meant to reply sooner, but work's been a killer.

I found a citrus based furniture stripper at Lowe's and gave it a try in the barrel channel. The results were very good so I went to work on the whole shebang. There were a couple of areas that required two applications, but the results were very nice. The black was gone, but the wood wasn't bleached the way Easy-Off tends to do. I used a scotchbrite pad to lightly knock down the raised grain from the water based stripper (I covered all markings with my thumb). I didn't bother trying to steam out dents as I like my old rifles to look a bit old. Five coats of tung oil later, the rifle has a soft satin glow with the reddish tones and nice grain of well cared for walnut. Very happy. Next is my Springfield 1903.

12-17-2006, 08:41 PM	#1
bdfinst Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 40	Help with cleaning stock Hi, I'm new to the forum and I'm hoping someone can help me with this. I have a Smith Corona 1903 in great shape with a stock so oil soaked it's black. Does anyone have a good method for removing some / all of the oil without destroying the markings on the stock? Thanks, Bryan -->

12-17-2006, 10:04 PM	#2
southernshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep South Mississippi Posts: 5,943	Re: Help with cleaning stock Welcome BD What I usually do is take the stock and bake it in the oven. Around 350 degrees. Just keep an eye on it while your doing it __________________ Only you can see this

12-18-2006, 09:58 AM	#3
Mark V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 314	Re: Help with cleaning stock Southershooter, your wife must really love you. If I did that, I would wind up a grease smear. I've had good luck removing grease with furniture stripper. You will need to remove all metal from the stock, and just float the stripper on with your rubber gloved hand. DO NOT USE STEEL WOOL OR ABRASIVES!!!!! Ask at the hardware store for stripper that will remove finish but not effect the patina of the wood. Did I mention not to use abrasives? At this point you can use a steam iron and wet cloth to steam out any dents. Do not at any time use anything abrasive! Once you get the crud out of the wood, use a 50/50 mixture of turpentine and raw linseed oil to seal the wood again. This will be stinky, and you will have to let the stock dry 3 or 4 days between coats. 2 or 3 coats will do the trick. After the spirits from the turpentine evaporate, you will be left with a milspec finish. As long as you don't use abrasives, all markings will be left intact. Mark

12-19-2006, 06:26 AM	#5
bdfinst Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 40	Re: Help with cleaning stock I don't think an 03 stock will fit in my oven. I'd never thought of the furnature stripper route. That sounds like just the thing. I'll try that out this weekend and post the results. Thanks! Bryan

12-19-2006, 07:56 AM	#6
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,711	Re: Help with cleaning stock I have heated the wood with a propane torch (very carefully to avoid burning it) and watched the oil bubble out. Once the stock is wetted with the oil I then cover the stock in baking soda. It sucks that oil up and more from the wood. I let it suck for a day and do it again several times until no more oil comes out. But the oil leaves a stain. I seriously doubt that you will get away from the stain without sanding away the top layers of the stock and refinishing it. But maybe the stain makes it look more original. LDBennett

12-19-2006, 10:24 PM	#8
SouthernMoss Admin Tech Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SW MS Contributor Posts: 10,651	Re: Help with cleaning stock I can't vouch for this method, because I've never tried it, but I've had folks tell me that if you put the stock in a black garbage bag with kitty litter (the clay kind, not the clumping kind) and leave it in the back seat of your car on a sunny day, it will "cook" the gunk out of the stock, and the litter will soak it up. Of course, depending on where you live, you may have to wait until summer to try it. __________________ My Second protects your First "I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand." - Susan B Anthony

12-20-2006, 05:18 AM	#10
Mark V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 314	Re: Help with cleaning stock Bdfinst, The method I've given you is a restoration technique to salvage and return to service an artifact. Please don't use any abrasives. If you sand it, or use steel wool, the only comments you will get is, "It's been refinished". If you have to use anything use a natural fiber bristle brush. The furniture stripper will dissolve plastic ones. Mark

12-20-2006, 07:49 PM	#11
Popgunner Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Contributor Posts: 1,764	Re: Help with cleaning stock A little twist on the car method I've done is to wrap the wood in newsprint paper (blank so printing ink doesn't stain. Your local newspaper will give you a roll end) & keep in the trunk for a couple of weeks, changing the paper every couple of days. I'm with Mark in that I don't ever want to remove anything with abrasives on milsurps. Alot of the mystique of milsurps to me is the finish that retains the bumps & scratches from whatever service the gun saw. The car method works best in the summer. After the wood sweats out most of the oil it's usualy good to go for me. Oven cleaners & such risk cracking the wood.

01-28-2007, 04:49 PM	#12
bdfinst Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 40	Smith Corona 03A3 Results I meant to reply sooner, but work's been a killer. I found a citrus based furniture stripper at Lowe's and gave it a try in the barrel channel. The results were very good so I went to work on the whole shebang. There were a couple of areas that required two applications, but the results were very nice. The black was gone, but the wood wasn't bleached the way Easy-Off tends to do. I used a scotchbrite pad to lightly knock down the raised grain from the water based stripper (I covered all markings with my thumb). I didn't bother trying to steam out dents as I like my old rifles to look a bit old. Five coats of tung oil later, the rifle has a soft satin glow with the reddish tones and nice grain of well cared for walnut. Very happy. Next is my Springfield 1903.