Thread: Stock stripping

I’ve built what some would consider high end custom stocks, and I’m going to give you a different perspective.
I’ve seen a lot of gunstocks ruined in the refinishing process due to people using mechanical methods of varnish/oil/finish removal. Parts of the stock that are supposed to be straight become wonky, and stock ‘features’ become rounded off if you’re not careful and know what you’re doing.
Use paint stripper and any scraping very carefully. Research about raising wood grain- this is a critical step before applying finish. Then research about sanding in a finish. I would strongly recommend NOT using boiled linseed oil- as it takes forever to dry and tends to yellow with age. Many people use truoil, but I’ve yet to see a really classy example. I use a home made brew of equal parts: Pure Tung oil, vegetable turpentine, spar varnish and boiled linseed oil.

It’s a far bigger job than you think if you want to go it really well. Patience is a virtue here