Rookie stock finisher here.....

[Gun Geezer]

Working on a stock refinishing job. My first. Read lots of threads to become an expert! But somehow after stripping and sanding I managed to get some wood dust down into the pressed checkering. I did not spot it till it had dried. It is apparently mixed with either the thinner or remover and I'm having heck getting it out. Mostly just cannot get the very bottom of the "pit".

Multiple attempts with a tooth brush & thinner got some out. Using sewing needle and "picking" it out has been more successful. But there is still some small stuff I cannot get out.

Tried duck tape, trying to press down into the checkering. Nope. Tried to buy some Silly Putty today to attempt the same idea, but could not find any.

Thought about taking it to a car wash and blasting it out followed with a thorough drying, but I'm a bit unsure of this idea.

Any other thoughts before I totally ruin this stock?

 

[rcmodel]

Put the quarters back in the cookie jar where you found them.
And STAY away from the car wash!

It is powerful enough to take the checkering off the checkering if you get 2" to close once!


Try a dry .22 or .243 cal bronze bore brush.
(NO SOVENT, thinner, or anything else)

Used judicially, carefully, and in the same direction as the lines in the checkering.

Might even help to squish it in a vice first so you have fewer bristles dragging on the top of the diamonds.

rc

 

[788Ham]

OR, just get a bronze brush, like you'd clean a gun part with, "gently" brush following the cut lines until you remove all the dust. Use this brush dry ! Go slow, no need to hurry the job.

 

[lathedog]

Worst case you can strip the stock again, just like you did before. I've stripped a stock a second time when I wasn't happy with the results.

 

[Gun Geezer]

Brushes don't work. The softer brushes don't get down into the pit very well and the harder (bronze) ones tend to scratch.

I had already re-stripped the pressed checkering. Nice idea, though!

I'm thinking that some of the really small stuff (I've the bigger chunks out) don't want to come out I may just stain them a tad and see if they disappear. If so, I'll go into the oil phase.

I'll let you know and maybe followup with pics if I'm not TOO embarrassed by the result!

 

[rcmodel]

Oh!

I just see now you said Pressed Checkering in the first post.

That's a game-changer all right!

Strip it and start over!

rc

 

[Gun Master]

Rifle and Shotgun Stock Finishes

I used to refinish some of my gun stocks, more than a couple of decades ago. Back then I used marine or gymnasium varnish, but later used boiled linseed oil. I never tried tung oil, but wished I'd given it a try.

A few years ago, I considered trying polyurethane, but was informed it was toxic and dangerous to be exposed to. That scared me off.

Right now, I think I might try tung oil.

What do you think the best choices of finishes are ?

 

[Gun Master]

Stock Finishes

Please see above. Any ideas anyone ?

 

[rcmodel]

You can't go very far wrong with Birchwood-Casey Tru-Oil.

rc

 

[Zeke/PA]

I 've been using Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil for years with excellent results.
I found that removing the old finish by SANDING rather than a "remover" , the "grain" need not be bridged again. The instructions on the bottle are easy to follow .

 

[Gun Master]

Stock Finish Advise

Thanks Guys !