Boiled linseed finish dull, best way to purty it up?

[conan32120]

Like title says I've done a stock refinish, I went down to bare wood stained it and soaked in 5 coats of BOL. Now the stocks dry again and has a dull finish. Should I varnish it, carnuba wax it or what? Rifle is just an old marlin 995 that only has plinking duty but I'd still like it to be purty. Suggestions?

 

[Roverguy]

If you just want a little bit of gloss, Birchwood Casey stock sheen and conditioner will do it. So will some Pledge for that matter.

 

[usaral63]

If you want an authentic LO finish then just keep on keepin' on! Very small amount rubbed into the stock till you hand is hot! Keep that up till that wood will not accept any more. The classic old finish takes time and repeated application to gain that soft glow. Yeah, you can quick finish with BC and other products, but those finishes are not the same animal.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Birchwood Casey True-Oil has a nice sheen to it when used as a top-coat.

 

[Laphroaig]

Like title says I've done a stock refinish, I went down to bare wood stained it and soaked in 5 coats of BOL. Now the stocks dry again and has a dull finish. Should I varnish it, carnuba wax it or what? Rifle is just an old marlin 995 that only has plinking duty but I'd still like it to be purty. Suggestions?

Are you steel wooling between coats? I just finished my dad's M88 stock with BLO and just hand rubbed the last coat. It turned out semi glossy, kinda purty.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I built my 1903 25-06 around the early 80s. Used a never barreled Springfield action, Douglas barrel, etc. The late Jack Bayuk did all the metalwork and I did the stock.

I found a French walnut blank and took it to the Trinidad State Junior College gunsmithing school and had the instructor, a Mr. Shulen, machine and bed the stock. I did the rest of the woodwork, Schnabel forend and European style comb. Then I used a product named Linspeed (which I don't believe is available anymore) to finish the stock. Many many hours of handrubbing and then rottenstone polishing to a nice low sheen.

I am quite proud of the results.

If I have a pic on file on this site, I'll post it.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

This is a pic from a couple years ago. There is nicer figure on the opposite side.

 

[conan32120]

There's just something special about polished wood and steel in this current world of plastic

 

[carbine85]

Try a polishing cloth and buff it like a pair of shoes

 

[GRIZ22]

I always had success by scrubbing it down with steel wool between coats. Resulted in a nice sheen like a matte finish.

 

[gwpercle]

I like the way a nice Wax job looks on an oiled stock ... adds just enough sheen , wax feeds the wood and adds some protection . Any good brand of paste wax made for wood furniture or wood floors .
I've used Howards Feed & Wax - Wood Polish , Min-Wax Paste Finishing Wax and even good old S.C. Johnsons Fine Wood Paste Wax (still comes in that big yellow can ) !
Gary

 

[shoebox1.1]

Thegunstockdoctor wax. That’s was I use. “Tom’s 1/3 wax” I believe is the name. It’s the real deal

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

Kiwi paste shoe polish, just like you’re doing up your dress shoes. You can also use it to adjust the color if it isn’t just right. I used some on a Yugo Mauser because the wood looked like some kind of laminate. The shoe polish blended it pretty good.

 

[shoebox1.1]

This is a yugo Mauser that I put in plastic bag inside my car in 150F heat one summer. Got all the cosmoline out and did 4 coats of the toms 1/3 mix on. Had an original natural look to it but with some sheen. I swear by the stuff

 

[Bruce D Pease]

Wow … Linspeed a name from the past… gunny got ta at a lcpl(not me) that uses it on his M1 Sto I cuz he thought blo was too time consuming. Gunny made him steel wool it off and BLO it.

 

[sign216]

Are you steel wooling between coats? I just finished my dad's M88 stock with BLO and just hand rubbed the last coat. It turned out semi glossy, kinda purty.

Laphroaig and Griz22,
When I've steel wooled between coats, with xtra-fine wool on a tung oil application, it knocks back the shine, making it matte. I think the poster is looking to go the other way, to produce more shine.

Edit: I think I misread your posts, you are telling him not to steel wool, right?

 

[Laphroaig]

That's what I'm suggesting he try.

 

[hso]

soaked in 5 coats of BOL. Now the stocks dry again and has a dull finish.

Keep adding BLO and keep rubbing. It will get there and be more satisfying than any shortcut you take.