Just a little cleanup

[GunnyUSMC]

Just a little cleanup is what I was asked to do on these two shotgun stock sets. They are from some old prison shotguns that a friend of mine picked up. I don’t remember the model.
I was asked to just clean them up so that they would look good with the new park finishes that the guns were getting.
I decided to strip and clean the stocks and then apply a BLO finish.
This is what I started with. Someone had already started on them and the one on the left was a mess.


I started off with stripping with Klean Strip stripper.
I can no longer find The Tilex cleaner that I like to use so, I got some Purple Power and deluded it for cleaning to remove the old oil in the wood.


The butt stock on the left was heavily oil soaked in the wrist area so I did a denatured alcohol soak to clean it up. I just put the wrist area in a ziplock bag and then taped it up. I let it sit over night then let it dry.


After the oil was all cleaned up, I Boned the stocks to get them smooth.

The only thing I did different on the BLO finish was a scrub coat on the second application of BLO. Basically all a scrub coat is, wetting some 0000 steel wool with BLO and rubbing down the stock.
I did the scrub coat because there were a few rough spots from where someone had scraped the stocks before I got them.

Here they are after I applied some Tom’s 1/3 Mix. It’s been raining and I wasn’t able to take pics outside.
The first set is the one on the left in the first pics.




For more deals on cleanup and applying the BLO, you can find the info in these two post.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/restoring-a-no4-mk1-enfield.825379/

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/a-little-road-trip-to-the-cmp-south-store.835226/

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

What is your method for cleaning up the grooves on the fore end pieces? I found those to be a real pain in the kiester.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

What is your method for cleaning up the grooves on the fore end pieces? I found those to be a real pain in the kiester.

Just use a nylon brush when stripping and cleaning.

 

[LoonWulf]

once again, great work Gunny! those came out really nice without looking "new"....an effect I have a hard time pulling off.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

once again, great work Gunny! those came out really nice without looking "new"....an effect I have a hard time pulling off.

I like to call it the BTDT look, Been There, Done That.
It’s just basically cleaning the stock and then Boning the surface to get it smooth. No sanding is done. Remember that patina on wood is the aged surface. As long as you don’t sand you will have the patina that gives you that aged look.
There are ways to add an aged look to a stock that is new, or sanded. It involves playing with stains and dyes and can get messy.

 

[bikerdoc]

Beautiful work! You got the skills!

 

[LoonWulf]

I like to call it the BTDT look, Been There, Done That.
It’s just basically cleaning the stock and then Boning the surface to get it smooth. No sanding is done. Remember that patina on wood is the aged surface. As long as you don’t sand you will have the patina that gives you that aged look.
There are ways to add an aged look to a stock that is new, or sanded. It involves playing with stains and dyes and can get messy.

Thanks Gunny, every time u post stuff like this I learn something.
For some reason I always just assumed sanding was a requirement.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Thanks Guuny, every time u post stuff like this I learn something.
For some reason I always just assumed sanding was a requirement.

Back in 2007, when I first started posting about stock work, I was shocked at how many people used sandpaper to remove the finish from gun stocks. There’s a time and place for sandpaper. Like when you want that fancy smooth finish. But when you’re cleaning up an old rifle with a worn finish it you make the wood all pretty and don’t refinish the metal, you just end up with a pig in a prom dress.

Boning has been used for a long time to smoothen wood. The name Boning comes from the fact that a real bone was used back in the day. Rib bones were very popular for boning. I have been using Ash wood dowels that I cut from old pool cues.
I did a write up on Boning a few years back that I need to look for, and post it again.

 

[bikerdoc]

I'm looking forward to reading that!

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

Hey question!

Is Tom’s 1/3 mix still available anymore?

 

[Blue68f100]

Just a little cleanup is what I was asked to do on these two shotgun stock sets. They are from some old prison shotguns that a friend of mine picked up. I don’t remember the model.
I was asked to just clean them up so that they would look good with the new park finishes that the guns were getting.
I decided to strip and clean the stocks and then apply a BLO finish.
This is what I started with. Someone had already started on them and the one on the left was a mess.
View attachment 911127 View attachment 911128

I started off with stripping with Klean Strip stripper.
I can no longer find The Tilex cleaner that I like to use so, I got some Purple Power and deluded it for cleaning to remove the old oil in the wood.
View attachment 911129 View attachment 911130

The butt stock on the left was heavily oil soaked in the wrist area so I did a denatured alcohol soak to clean it up. I just put the wrist area in a ziplock bag and then taped it up. I let it sit over night then let it dry.
View attachment 911131 View attachment 911134

After the oil was all cleaned up, I Boned the stocks to get them smooth.

The only thing I did different on the BLO finish was a scrub coat on the second application of BLO. Basically all a scrub coat is, wetting some 0000 steel wool with BLO and rubbing down the stock.
I did the scrub coat because there were a few rough spots from where someone had scraped the stocks before I got them.

Here they are after I applied some Tom’s 1/3 Mix. It’s been raining and I wasn’t able to take pics outside.
The first set is the one on the left in the first pics.
View attachment 911132 View attachment 911133

View attachment 911135 View attachment 911136

For more deals on cleanup and applying the BLO, you can find the info in these two post.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/restoring-a-no4-mk1-enfield.825379/

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/a-little-road-trip-to-the-cmp-south-store.835226/

Gunny USMC,

You have some mad wood working/repair skills. Always learning something every time you post a project.

I had the impression that you needed to sand at one point and you just prove it's not necessary required depending on your goals.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Hey question!

Is Tom’s 1/3 mix still available anymore?

Yes it is. Give Tom a call and tell him that I said hi.

Lee
AKA: GunnyUSMC/Candyman
http://thegunstockdoctor.com/

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Gunny USMC,

You have some mad wood working/repair skills. Always learning something every time you post a project.

I had the impression that you needed to sand at one point and you just prove it's not necessary required depending on your goals.

I learned a lot the basics from some old Gunsmiths and from reading a bunch. I had to teach myself a good bit when it came to repairing military stocks. I just try to pass on what I’ve learned over the years.

 

[FROGO207]

And we on here do really appreciate it Gunny.

A bit off topic: after using steam to raise a dent can you just bone the area or will you need to sand the area. I have a couple old crowbars that I am going to practice on this summer if the weather ever changes for the better.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

And we on here do really appreciate it Gunny.

A bit off topic: after using steam to raise a dent can you just bone the area or will you need to sand the area. I have a couple old crowbars that I am going to practice on this summer if the weather ever changes for the better.

Boning will flatten the raised grain to the point that it smooth. You can see in this pic, the difference where the hand guard was bonded

 

[bikerdoc]

Boning will flatten the raised grain to the point that it smooth. You can see in this pic, the difference where the hand guard was bonded
View attachment 911704

Are you flaunting your stash of toilet paper?

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Are you flaunting your stash of toilet paper?

I’m rich, what can I say.

 

[Scooter22]

IDK....... That looks like a HD double wide roll of TP. (aka Paper Towels) Nice job keeping them looking original. I never tought of the Alky soak in a bag. Good idea.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I really enjoy these threads, @GunnyUSMC

Awesome work!

 

[Coyote3855]

Great work, thanks for sharing.