Refinished my first shotgun! Pics!

Brad - Stevens 311 · 03-02-2012, 03:36 PM

Hello everyone, Just wanted to share some pics of my first gun stock refinish job. Well it may not look like much to some, But this is one of my prized shotguns, My Stevens 311 12ga. When I first got it the original finish was toast. It was all faded and chipped everywere, So I decided to give it a little makeover. I apologize everyone for no before pics. When I took pics with my camera the peice of junk didn't save them to the card. It is my fault for not checking. But anyways I picked up a Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil refinish kit and got to work. I had no trouble at all removing the old finish with the stripper. I sanded the stock down with 120 and then 180. After wiping with a cloth I applied the walnut stain. I didn't dilute the stain any, I used it straight from the bottle. After letting it dry I buffed the stock and foregrip with 400 grit and moved to Tru-Oil. I ended up using 7 coats in total along with a sanding with 400 in between every coat. So here is the final product. I don't think it looks to bad for my first time. Let me know what you guys think! Enjoy the pics. - Brad

BETH · 03-02-2012, 04:05 PM

wow beautiful job that's walnut thought it would have looked darker

Brad - Stevens 311 · 03-02-2012, 04:39 PM

Thanks BETH! Yeah I will admit I wanted it a little darker. But I am still happy with the results. I know now so when I do my next gun I will apply more stain. I have a couple more old relics that need some tlc. Thanks, - Brad

BETH · 03-02-2012, 04:44 PM

Brad i like the color the way it is

BETH · 03-02-2012, 05:09 PM

this is the thread Jim can't see Carl

Woodnut · 03-02-2012, 05:10 PM

Hey Now, that looks good.

sting75ray · 03-02-2012, 05:22 PM

Looks good. Here is my Rem 81 that I did this past summer. It has about a dozen coats of Tru-oil with 0000 steel wool in between each coat.

BlackEagle · 03-02-2012, 05:29 PM

Both guns look great. Well done both of you.

Munch · 03-02-2012, 07:49 PM

Those are both excellent looking restorations. I like the steel wool also. Has given me good results as well StingRay. Outstanding workmanship on both your parts, keep it up!

norahc · 03-02-2012, 07:51 PM

I've been so busy troubleshooting why one member is having a problem with the pics in this thread, I forgot to comment on it.

Nice job on the refinishing. I still like the classic look for certain things, and this is one of them.

76Highboy · 03-02-2012, 08:51 PM

Brad, I finally am able to see your pics. It was important to me because I am going to do a stock sometime this year. The wood turned out beautiful on that shotgun. Very nice and thanks for the pics.

Jim

JLA · 03-02-2012, 08:58 PM

Looks dang good.

jyantkilr · 03-02-2012, 09:09 PM

I like it, great job. The color is cool. I have the same model and will be finished with mine in a couple days. I used rosewood gel stain and I'm on the 4th coat of wiping varnish. Mine is almost the same color I think. I'll post when I'm done, we can compare colors. I was going to go over the rosewood with a walnut to darken it more but I like the color. Had the stain left over from my kitchen cabs.

Zane71464 · 03-02-2012, 10:15 PM

Awesome!!! (just put a recoil pad on one just like that Brad)
Nice to both guns!

Fast Forward · 03-02-2012, 10:55 PM

Nice work Guys

Claudius Valarium · 03-02-2012, 11:03 PM

Nice work.

Brad - Stevens 311 · 03-03-2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sting75ray

Looks good. Here is my Rem 81 that I did this past summer. It has about a dozen coats of Tru-oil with 0000 steel wool in between each coat.

Hey nice looking 81 You have there! My grampa has one just like that except its a model 8 made in like 1904 or something and its chambered for the 30 remington cartridge. Its really cool, It has a rear peep sight and you can hit about anything with it. Its super accurate but hard to get bullets for. Thanks, - Brad

Brad - Stevens 311 · 03-03-2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 76Highboy

Brad, I finally am able to see your pics. It was important to me because I am going to do a stock sometime this year. The wood turned out beautiful on that shotgun. Very nice and thanks for the pics.

Jim

Thanks Jim, Yeah i don't know why the pics didn't upload at first. I don't know if the site was busy or something. Not sure.... I'm just glad they finally uploaded lol. Thanks again Jim, - Brad

Brad - Stevens 311 · 03-03-2012, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norahc

I've been so busy troubleshooting why one member is having a problem with the pics in this thread, I forgot to comment on it.

Nice job on the refinishing. I still like the classic look for certain things, and this is one of them.

Yeah thanks norahc! My main goal was to try to give it that old school look.
I am truly impressed with the results from birchwood casey. It really brought the gun back to life. - Brad

Brad - Stevens 311 · 03-03-2012, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyantkilr

I like it, great job. The color is cool. I have the same model and will be finished with mine in a couple days. I used rosewood gel stain and I'm on the 4th coat of wiping varnish. Mine is almost the same color I think. I'll post when I'm done, we can compare colors. I was going to go over the rosewood with a walnut to darken it more but I like the color. Had the stain left over from my kitchen cabs.

Thanks man, Can't wait to see the pics of yours! I really enjoyed doing mine. I got a couple more guns in need of refinishing. - Brad

Brad - Stevens 311 · 03-03-2012, 09:09 AM

Thanks everyone for the awsome posts and warm welcoming. I hope to be spending more time on here! - Brad

agedhunter · 03-03-2012, 10:18 AM

Nice refinishing.
I have a Ranger 12g that I believe is the same as the stevens 311.
I need to find a set of barrels for. I won,t say what the person who gave it to me did to it.

But she couldn,t read a tape measure.
She is an orthopedic surgion

gun-nut · 03-03-2012, 03:01 PM

Very nice job!

Brad - Stevens 311 · 03-03-2012, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gun-nut

Very nice job!

Thanks gun-nut! I'm pretty happy with the results. - Brad

sting75ray · 03-03-2012, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad - Stevens 311

Hey nice looking 81 You have there! My grampa has one just like that except its a model 8 made in like 1904 or something and its chambered for the 30 remington cartridge. Its really cool, It has a rear peep sight and you can hit about anything with it. Its super accurate but hard to get bullets for. Thanks, - Brad

Thanks, I have another 81 in 300 Sav. They are nice guns and fun to shoot but the 35Rem kicks like an old Army mule.

03-02-2012, 03:36 PM	#1
Brad - Stevens 311 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 33	Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Hello everyone, Just wanted to share some pics of my first gun stock refinish job. Well it may not look like much to some, But this is one of my prized shotguns, My Stevens 311 12ga. When I first got it the original finish was toast. It was all faded and chipped everywere, So I decided to give it a little makeover. I apologize everyone for no before pics. When I took pics with my camera the peice of junk didn't save them to the card. It is my fault for not checking. But anyways I picked up a Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil refinish kit and got to work. I had no trouble at all removing the old finish with the stripper. I sanded the stock down with 120 and then 180. After wiping with a cloth I applied the walnut stain. I didn't dilute the stain any, I used it straight from the bottle. After letting it dry I buffed the stock and foregrip with 400 grit and moved to Tru-Oil. I ended up using 7 coats in total along with a sanding with 400 in between every coat. So here is the final product. I don't think it looks to bad for my first time. Let me know what you guys think! Enjoy the pics. - Brad Attached Images -->

03-02-2012, 04:05 PM	#2
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,666	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! wow beautiful job that's walnut thought it would have looked darker

03-02-2012, 04:39 PM	#3
Brad - Stevens 311 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 33	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Thanks BETH! Yeah I will admit I wanted it a little darker. But I am still happy with the results. I know now so when I do my next gun I will apply more stain. I have a couple more old relics that need some tlc. Thanks, - Brad

03-02-2012, 04:44 PM	#4
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,666	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Brad i like the color the way it is

03-02-2012, 05:09 PM	#5
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,666	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! this is the thread Jim can't see Carl

03-02-2012, 05:10 PM	#6
Woodnut Forum Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Diamondhead, MS Contributor Posts: 2,168	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Hey Now, that looks good. __________________ Carl Never doubt the beauty of wood. Carl’s Album www.cwgrips.com Web site Updated 01/01/2013 NRA Life Member

03-02-2012, 05:22 PM	#7
sting75ray Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,083	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Looks good. Here is my Rem 81 that I did this past summer. It has about a dozen coats of Tru-oil with 0000 steel wool in between each coat. Last edited by sting75ray; 03-02-2012 at 08:18 PM..

03-02-2012, 05:29 PM	#8
BlackEagle Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK Posts: 3,148	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Both guns look great. Well done both of you.

03-02-2012, 07:49 PM	#9
Munch V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Puyallup, WA. Posts: 317	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Those are both excellent looking restorations. I like the steel wool also. Has given me good results as well StingRay. Outstanding workmanship on both your parts, keep it up!

03-02-2012, 08:51 PM	#11
76Highboy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Meridian, Idaho Contributor Posts: 6,920	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Brad, I finally am able to see your pics. It was important to me because I am going to do a stock sometime this year. The wood turned out beautiful on that shotgun. Very nice and thanks for the pics. Jim

03-02-2012, 08:58 PM	#12
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,280	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Looks dang good. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

03-02-2012, 09:09 PM	#13
jyantkilr Former Guest Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: California Posts: 65	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! I like it, great job. The color is cool. I have the same model and will be finished with mine in a couple days. I used rosewood gel stain and I'm on the 4th coat of wiping varnish. Mine is almost the same color I think. I'll post when I'm done, we can compare colors. I was going to go over the rosewood with a walnut to darken it more but I like the color. Had the stain left over from my kitchen cabs.

03-02-2012, 10:15 PM	#14
Zane71464 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio NRA Member Contributor Posts: 5,350	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Awesome!!! (just put a recoil pad on one just like that Brad) Nice to both guns! __________________ Two Words; "Simple Man", song by Charlie Daniels sums up my thoughts on a "few things"!

03-02-2012, 10:55 PM	#15
Fast Forward Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chaska Minn Posts: 529	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Nice work Guys

03-02-2012, 11:03 PM	#16
Claudius Valarium V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Central Texas, AKA the Middle of Flyover Country Posts: 459	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Nice work. __________________ CV "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined." Patrick Henry, 1788

03-03-2012, 09:09 AM	#21
Brad - Stevens 311 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 33	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Thanks everyone for the awsome posts and warm welcoming. I hope to be spending more time on here! - Brad

03-03-2012, 10:18 AM	#22
agedhunter V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: northern mn Contributor Posts: 159	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Nice refinishing. I have a Ranger 12g that I believe is the same as the stevens 311. I need to find a set of barrels for. I won,t say what the person who gave it to me did to it. But she couldn,t read a tape measure. She is an orthopedic surgion

03-03-2012, 03:01 PM	#23
gun-nut Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: ohio Contributor Posts: 931	Re: Refinished my first shotgun! Pics! Very nice job! __________________ Don't retreat just reload.