Question about painting a stock

[moewadle]

I want to buy an inexpensive used .22 rifle...probably a Marlin or Glenfield semi-auto and paint the stock black as a "mini-project gun." Can anyone give me some directions as far as technique, type/brand of paint, how to seal the paint, etc.? I sort of like to do very simple, uncomplicated projects on guns of this type but have very little experience. I have only stripped and refinished two gun stocks and now want to try a painting project. Paint color will be black if that matters. (I saw one some time back on another forum and thought it looked great.) Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[nitetrane98]

I don't use a lot of spray can paint but if you have to, get the best you can. NAPA brand spray paints at your NAPA automotive store are the best I've ever used. Considerably higher than Krylon, Rustoleum etc but come with a vastly superior nozzle and better paint too. Much more solids in it.

A lot depends upon how you want the stock to look when you're done. If you intend to let the grain show through the paint the spray can might not work well for you as it can't be thinned. If you want to fill the grain then you can pile on the paint until it is filled and then wet/dry sand the paint down to smooth and put a coat of polyurethane clear over it in the finish you want, gloss, satin etc.

You shouldn't really need to seal the wood but if you want, a light coat of de-waxed shellac makes a good universal sealer. Hell, I guess Kilz would do.

I feel like I'm selling my soul here. I generally believe there is a special place in hell for those who paint wood stocks.

 

[moewadle]

Nitrane, thank you and

to remark about painting wood. Probably like you...I love wood. I really hate to buy a long gun without a WALNUT STOCK...but projects are fun. So, let me explain that I refinished two other non-walnut stocks and they were not that attractive with Birchwood Casey stain and sealants on. I saw a black-painted one on some forum and I thought it immensely handsome....rather like the black synthetic furniture that is now all the rage. I want to cover up the grain most likely but will see. I so very much appreciate your help and any others that people might still give me. But just to let you know....I am mostly old-school....long gun stocks should be American Walnut.

 

[nitetrane98]

Hey, I hear ya man, I was just kidding. There's no doubt about it, some wood is just.......wood. Nothing particularly pretty or even interesting about it. That's why it finds a home on cheaper guns. The best that can said for it is that it's dimensionally stable.

If you decide to fill the grain, be sure to allow about a week of curing and drying before you block sand it smooth. If you sand it as soon as it's dry enough it'll look OK and then shrink and show the grain. Sometimes that's a desired effect but it's hard to get it perfectly even over the whole gun.
Forgot to mention that while not as durable, lacquer is the most forgiving type of paint to work with. Because it will "bite" into the previous coat it makes it easier to fix a little run or sag. Or if you happen to sand through the paint you can touch it up. Often acrylic urethanes and such will leave a "ghost ring" between coats when you try to blend a boo boo because you can only get mechanical adhesion and not any chemical adhesion after it has dried.

 

[gb6491]

You might try one of those textured paint to conceal the grain. Here's a link to a guy's Mosin Nagant project; he uses a stone texture paint to cover imperfections in the stock he is using. I think a coat of black paint would have looked good over it.
I've also seen some wooden stocks that had fiberglass applied to them, followed by paint.
Regards,
Greg

 

[tractorshaft]

You can also try to "Ebonize" it. Visit your local "Woodcraft" store and they will hook you up with some analine dye. A few coats of that then a nice matte poly topcoat would be most appropriate for your project.

Remember the rules! Stain Wood
Paint Fiberglass or Plastic

The colors may change but the principles remain the same !