Rem BDL Finish Question - The Firearms Forum

Buckshot · 03-06-2011, 11:58 PM

I inherited a Remington Mod. 700 BDL Varmint in .222 Remington. (With a Redfield 6400 20x scope no less!) Overall it is in excellent shape. But the clear gloss finish on the grip cap yellowed, dried up, and has flaked off. I managed to clean it all off without damaging the plastic cap, but now it's very dull looking. Anyone have any idea what the best stuff would be to recoat it to a gloss finish? Please note that removing the cap screws had no effect whatsoever on loosening the cap. I suspect it would be difficult or impossible to remove without risking damage to the cap, spacer or grip, so whatever you recommend will have to be something I can do with it in place. Thanks!

Helix_FR · 03-07-2011, 09:26 AM

The caps are often times glued on too. Using a sharp blade you can usually get a corner to break free. Once that happens, the rest goes easy. If your just finishing a small section and needing it to blend I would use tru oil.

Bindernut · 03-07-2011, 04:54 PM

The glossy finish used on the BDL, and ADL, is just a polyurethane varnish. The assembled stocks are spray finished after all the plastic cap hardware (grip & fore-end caps and the buttplate) is applied.
Like Helix said, they might be glued on before the final sanding so they can get blended down to the wood contour and should pop free if you can sneak a razor blade under the cap. If you use the blade to score the remaining finish right at the joint, it'll help minimize chipping any of the varnish off of the stock itself.

If you want to just finish it in place, just mask off the stock at the joint line. Vinyl automotive pinstriping tape works really good for masking around flexible areas like that...it's easier to stretch it into shape so you get a clean mask line.

To refinish the cap I would just use some clear spray paint, but I suppose you could use any good poly varnish too.

goofy · 03-08-2011, 05:39 AM

HELIX FR does tru oil work on plastic?.I have never used it on plastic it gives wood a great finish.....GOOFY

Helix_FR · 03-08-2011, 08:55 AM

No, Tru oil bonds to the grain of the wood and to itself. On plastic it peels right off. I would look to a automotive clear coat if you want that same look on plastic.

Buckshot · 03-09-2011, 01:08 AM

Thanks guys. I think I'm going to try to refinish it in place, masking off the rest. I'm going to find some kind of gloss polyurethane or similar finish that is safe for plastics. It's such a small area it shouldn't be a big deal. Be my luck I'll find the perfect stuff and it's only available by the gallon!

Bindernut · 03-09-2011, 09:48 AM

Just get a small rattle can of Dupli-Color brand automotive touch-up paint (the clearcoat stuff). It'll match up with the glossy factory varnish pretty well.
Use two or three thin coats so you don't fill in any detail on the cap and so it's not as prone to chip as if you slobber on a heavy coat with a brush or spray can.

03-06-2011, 11:58 PM	#1
Buckshot Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Southern AZ Posts: 918	Rem BDL Finish Question I inherited a Remington Mod. 700 BDL Varmint in .222 Remington. (With a Redfield 6400 20x scope no less!) Overall it is in excellent shape. But the clear gloss finish on the grip cap yellowed, dried up, and has flaked off. I managed to clean it all off without damaging the plastic cap, but now it's very dull looking. Anyone have any idea what the best stuff would be to recoat it to a gloss finish? Please note that removing the cap screws had no effect whatsoever on loosening the cap. I suspect it would be difficult or impossible to remove without risking damage to the cap, spacer or grip, so whatever you recommend will have to be something I can do with it in place. Thanks! __________________ United States of America - Born July 4th, 1776 - Killed by 50 million brain-dead zombies November 6th, 2012 Mack: Shame what this town's come to. Charley Waite: You could do something about it. Mack: What? We're freighters. Ralph here's a shopkeeper. Charley Waite: You're men, ain't you? Mack: I didn't raise my boys just to see 'em killed. Charley Waite: Well you may not know this, but there's things that gnaw at a man worse than dying. - Open Range MOLON LABE -->

03-07-2011, 09:26 AM	#2
Helix_FR TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 3,669	Re: Rem BDL Finish Question The caps are often times glued on too. Using a sharp blade you can usually get a corner to break free. Once that happens, the rest goes easy. If your just finishing a small section and needing it to blend I would use tru oil. __________________ Only cowards shoot with their eyes closed.... helixgunsmith.com

03-07-2011, 04:54 PM	#3
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,489	Re: Rem BDL Finish Question The glossy finish used on the BDL, and ADL, is just a polyurethane varnish. The assembled stocks are spray finished after all the plastic cap hardware (grip & fore-end caps and the buttplate) is applied. Like Helix said, they might be glued on before the final sanding so they can get blended down to the wood contour and should pop free if you can sneak a razor blade under the cap. If you use the blade to score the remaining finish right at the joint, it'll help minimize chipping any of the varnish off of the stock itself. If you want to just finish it in place, just mask off the stock at the joint line. Vinyl automotive pinstriping tape works really good for masking around flexible areas like that...it's easier to stretch it into shape so you get a clean mask line. To refinish the cap I would just use some clear spray paint, but I suppose you could use any good poly varnish too.

03-08-2011, 05:39 AM	#4
goofy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Contributor Posts: 2,063	Re: Rem BDL Finish Question HELIX FR does tru oil work on plastic?.I have never used it on plastic it gives wood a great finish.....GOOFY

03-08-2011, 08:55 AM	#5
Helix_FR TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 3,669	Re: Rem BDL Finish Question No, Tru oil bonds to the grain of the wood and to itself. On plastic it peels right off. I would look to a automotive clear coat if you want that same look on plastic. __________________ Only cowards shoot with their eyes closed.... helixgunsmith.com

03-09-2011, 01:08 AM	#6
Buckshot Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Southern AZ Posts: 918	Re: Rem BDL Finish Question Thanks guys. I think I'm going to try to refinish it in place, masking off the rest. I'm going to find some kind of gloss polyurethane or similar finish that is safe for plastics. It's such a small area it shouldn't be a big deal. Be my luck I'll find the perfect stuff and it's only available by the gallon! __________________ United States of America - Born July 4th, 1776 - Killed by 50 million brain-dead zombies November 6th, 2012 Mack: Shame what this town's come to. Charley Waite: You could do something about it. Mack: What? We're freighters. Ralph here's a shopkeeper. Charley Waite: You're men, ain't you? Mack: I didn't raise my boys just to see 'em killed. Charley Waite: Well you may not know this, but there's things that gnaw at a man worse than dying. - Open Range MOLON LABE

03-09-2011, 09:48 AM	#7
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,489	Re: Rem BDL Finish Question Just get a small rattle can of Dupli-Color brand automotive touch-up paint (the clearcoat stuff). It'll match up with the glossy factory varnish pretty well. Use two or three thin coats so you don't fill in any detail on the cap and so it's not as prone to chip as if you slobber on a heavy coat with a brush or spray can.