Stock finish poll - The Firearms Forum

cpttango30 · 12-03-2012, 08:21 PM

So I just finished staining my stock for my 25-06. The action has been scrubbed clean of 50 or so years of grit and grime. The barrel is all polished up with 600 gr emery cloth. Now I need to finish the stock. I have a few options... As a note this is not a hunting rifle this is a target rifle that will see range use only.

Polyacrylic in a satin finish.

Oil polyurethane in semi-gloss.

Deft Spray Lacquer in semi gloss or gloss.

fleetwood1976 · 12-03-2012, 08:26 PM

i redid a model remington 788 with linseed oil and finished it off with tung oil. really brought out the grain and still looks just as good after 15 years. no gloss finish though.

cpttango30 · 12-03-2012, 08:32 PM

I want a durable finish that needs little to no upkeep. Linseed and tung oil are nasty and don't produce the kind of finish I am looking for.

ejkoechling · 12-03-2012, 08:40 PM

got any before and after pics??

woolleyworm · 12-03-2012, 08:48 PM

I would opt for the oil based poly. Take your time with it, light coats and sanding in between each coat. 5 or 6 coats should have it looking great. ( and a week + of time

)

bamajoey · 12-03-2012, 09:34 PM

I used a water based lacquer from Target Coating http://www.targetcoatings.com/shop/p...al-268-32.html It is very easy to apply, (cheap air brush from Harbor Freight) very durable, and easy to repair if you get it dinged up. I used the satin instead of the gloss.
I have finished two stocks with this method, and if the occasion arises, will use it again. As a matter of fact I am in the process of finishing two chess boards for Christmas presents with it.

[IMG]

[/IMG]

tango1niner · 12-04-2012, 06:57 AM

Bama, nice job on that stock.

Tru-oil gets my vote.
( I guess i'm just an old school fool, but it's ok, I've been this way a long time)

carver · 12-04-2012, 07:14 AM

I've used the Polycrylic form Minwax, on several projects, and loved the results! http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/...tective-finish

goofy · 12-04-2012, 02:37 PM

I use Tru-Oil for the stocks I redo.
Mike

Fast Forward · 12-04-2012, 05:26 PM

Read an article where a guy used automotive Clearcoat as a finish

CHW2021 · 12-05-2012, 08:09 AM

+1 for the tru oil finish, looks good, esay to apply and most importantly it is easy to repair. If you intend to shoot a rifle you will at some point scuff the finish; tung oil and tru oil are the easiest finishes to touch up that I have found.

cpttango30 · 12-05-2012, 09:17 AM

Never did like Tru oil. Just me never did like it.

I picked up some semi gloss polycrylic at Lowes last night. So far I got 3 coats with a light wet sanding in between to fill the pours of the wood. Should be done if 3 to 4 coats more.

I did the polycrylic because it doesn't stink washes up with water and works. I am doing this in the house while the wife is at work so it needs to be kept on the DL (Down Low). For some reason she doesn't like me doing this in the kitchen not sure why.....

myfriendis410 · 12-05-2012, 09:36 AM

One of the reasons to finish the stock is to reduce moisture changes to the wood. Fine Woodworking magazine did a test some years back where they tested a number of different finishes to see which one resisted moisture the best. In a nutshell; boiled linseed oil was the best, over marine epoxy, lacquer, poly, and conversion varnish.

Personally I think the best stock finish available is Tru-Oil. You can apply by hand, you can spray with an airbrush, you can steel wool it, you can polish it, etc. It's also infinitely repairable. Water based coatings are probably the worst for moisture prevention.

68c15 · 12-05-2012, 12:44 PM

another vote for tru-oil. I took my crusty looking win 94 back to beauty with it. 6 coats so far and I may do a few more this winter

cpttango30 · 12-05-2012, 06:17 PM

First this gun is not going to be a hunting gun it weighs in at 12.5# it is a bench gun. So moister control is far from my mind. It is in a safe with a golden rod and is more of a show piece than anything. That and the stock is 40+ years old at the youngest.

I have used try oil before and have never cared for it. I would be spray finishing this with lacquer if it wasn't December. That and I wanted to try something different. If I don't like it I will strip it and start over.

ejkoechling · 12-05-2012, 06:38 PM

Looking forward to seeing the finished product

cpttango30 · 12-05-2012, 07:27 PM

Here are a few shots of a Mossberg stock I did.

Here is how it looked when I got it.

oneoldsap · 12-05-2012, 10:46 PM

Spar urethane is the best for durability and unlike Polycrilic , it has UV inhibitors in it . Automotive clearcoat turns milky after a while and is a PITA to strip and redo . comes in Gloss and Satin too !

cpttango30 · 12-07-2012, 01:32 PM

OK not liking this paint on stuff at all. I am going to strip and start from scratch.

ozo · 12-07-2012, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpttango30

OK not liking this paint on stuff at all. I am going to strip and start from scratch.

I knew that was coming.....

cpttango30 · 12-07-2012, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozo

I knew that was coming.....

It looks good to a point. It gets tiny air bubbles in it and I have to sand them down. Well if I have to sand them down with 600 or 800 grit wet paper then I have to go buy rubbing compound or cutting compound.

I can fire up the heater and spray the darn thing in half the time and end up with a much better looking stock.

View Poll Results: Stock Finish
Polyacrylic satin	1	8.33%
Oil Polyurathane Semi-Gloss	7	58.33%
Deft Lacquer Gloss	2	16.67%
Deft Lacquer in semi-gloss/ Other...	2	16.67%
Voters: 12. You may not vote on this poll

12-03-2012, 08:21 PM	#1
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Stock finish poll So I just finished staining my stock for my 25-06. The action has been scrubbed clean of 50 or so years of grit and grime. The barrel is all polished up with 600 gr emery cloth. Now I need to finish the stock. I have a few options... As a note this is not a hunting rifle this is a target rifle that will see range use only. Polyacrylic in a satin finish. Oil polyurethane in semi-gloss. Deft Spray Lacquer in semi gloss or gloss. --> Last edited by cpttango30; 12-03-2012 at 08:24 PM..

12-03-2012, 08:26 PM	#2
fleetwood1976 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Southern Indiana Contributor Posts: 1,333	Re: Stock finish poll i redid a model remington 788 with linseed oil and finished it off with tung oil. really brought out the grain and still looks just as good after 15 years. no gloss finish though.

12-03-2012, 08:32 PM	#3
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: Stock finish poll I want a durable finish that needs little to no upkeep. Linseed and tung oil are nasty and don't produce the kind of finish I am looking for.

12-03-2012, 08:40 PM	#4
ejkoechling Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 553	Re: Stock finish poll got any before and after pics??

12-03-2012, 08:48 PM	#5
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,883	Re: Stock finish poll I would opt for the oil based poly. Take your time with it, light coats and sanding in between each coat. 5 or 6 coats should have it looking great. ( and a week + of time ) __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

12-03-2012, 09:34 PM	#6
bamajoey Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pensacola Contributor Posts: 1,257	Re: Stock finish poll I used a water based lacquer from Target Coating http://www.targetcoatings.com/shop/p...al-268-32.html It is very easy to apply, (cheap air brush from Harbor Freight) very durable, and easy to repair if you get it dinged up. I used the satin instead of the gloss. I have finished two stocks with this method, and if the occasion arises, will use it again. As a matter of fact I am in the process of finishing two chess boards for Christmas presents with it. [IMG][/IMG]

12-04-2012, 06:57 AM	#7
tango1niner V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: rural upstate NY Posts: 60	Re: Stock finish poll Bama, nice job on that stock. Tru-oil gets my vote. ( I guess i'm just an old school fool, but it's ok, I've been this way a long time)

12-04-2012, 07:14 AM	#8
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,246	Re: Stock finish poll I've used the Polycrylic form Minwax, on several projects, and loved the results! http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/...tective-finish __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

12-04-2012, 02:37 PM	#9
goofy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Contributor Posts: 2,019	Re: Stock finish poll I use Tru-Oil for the stocks I redo. Mike

12-04-2012, 05:26 PM	#10
Fast Forward Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chaska Minn Posts: 529	Re: Stock finish poll Read an article where a guy used automotive Clearcoat as a finish

12-05-2012, 08:09 AM	#11
CHW2021 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 467	Re: Stock finish poll +1 for the tru oil finish, looks good, esay to apply and most importantly it is easy to repair. If you intend to shoot a rifle you will at some point scuff the finish; tung oil and tru oil are the easiest finishes to touch up that I have found.

12-05-2012, 09:17 AM	#12
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: Stock finish poll Never did like Tru oil. Just me never did like it. I picked up some semi gloss polycrylic at Lowes last night. So far I got 3 coats with a light wet sanding in between to fill the pours of the wood. Should be done if 3 to 4 coats more. I did the polycrylic because it doesn't stink washes up with water and works. I am doing this in the house while the wife is at work so it needs to be kept on the DL (Down Low). For some reason she doesn't like me doing this in the kitchen not sure why.....

12-05-2012, 09:36 AM	#13
myfriendis410 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Lompoc California Posts: 542	Re: Stock finish poll One of the reasons to finish the stock is to reduce moisture changes to the wood. Fine Woodworking magazine did a test some years back where they tested a number of different finishes to see which one resisted moisture the best. In a nutshell; boiled linseed oil was the best, over marine epoxy, lacquer, poly, and conversion varnish. Personally I think the best stock finish available is Tru-Oil. You can apply by hand, you can spray with an airbrush, you can steel wool it, you can polish it, etc. It's also infinitely repairable. Water based coatings are probably the worst for moisture prevention. __________________ Life's too short to shoot an ugly gun.....

12-05-2012, 12:44 PM	#14
68c15 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 2,057	Re: Stock finish poll another vote for tru-oil. I took my crusty looking win 94 back to beauty with it. 6 coats so far and I may do a few more this winter __________________ I'll go defenseless when our leaders do the same

12-05-2012, 06:17 PM	#15
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: Stock finish poll First this gun is not going to be a hunting gun it weighs in at 12.5# it is a bench gun. So moister control is far from my mind. It is in a safe with a golden rod and is more of a show piece than anything. That and the stock is 40+ years old at the youngest. I have used try oil before and have never cared for it. I would be spray finishing this with lacquer if it wasn't December. That and I wanted to try something different. If I don't like it I will strip it and start over.

12-05-2012, 06:38 PM	#16
ejkoechling Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 553	Re: Stock finish poll Looking forward to seeing the finished product

12-05-2012, 07:27 PM	#17
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: Stock finish poll Here are a few shots of a Mossberg stock I did. Here is how it looked when I got it.

12-05-2012, 10:46 PM	#18
oneoldsap V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 102	Re: Stock finish poll Spar urethane is the best for durability and unlike Polycrilic , it has UV inhibitors in it . Automotive clearcoat turns milky after a while and is a PITA to strip and redo . comes in Gloss and Satin too !

12-07-2012, 01:32 PM	#19
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: Stock finish poll OK not liking this paint on stuff at all. I am going to strip and start from scratch.