Advice Needed For Getting My Stock Redid

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I impulse bought another Mosin rifle that has really nice matching metal but the stock was a disaster. I fell into a really nice stripped replacement stock that is perfect. No repairs, gouges, dings, splices, nada. It appears to have been sanded but my receiver and parts drop in perfectly.

I would appreciate any tips on a way to refinish this stock with a durable and easy to apply finish. I am a complete klutz in all things wood, and I would also be open to paying another member who is expertish (ha!) in refinishing stocks.

Here are some pics, and please chime in! I salvaged all the metal from the old stock, including the recoil lug and metal shims in the trigger / magwell. I unfortunately broke the rear band spring so I am looking to buy a replacement if anyone has one.

Thanks!

[Cody805]

I would start by googling how to steam out dents in wood. You can make that piece of Russian lumber almost ding free with a household iron! YouTube is your friend!

[jpscoot_21]

Birchwood-Casey stock oil. Just rub it on. As many coats as you want till it is the right color.

[NOTABIKER]

PM sent

[highpower]

Do it right. Buy some garnet shellac and finish the stock correctly. Oil finishes are nice and all that, but they look wrong on a Mosin. I have recently begun using shellac on stock finishing and I really like the way it comes out.

This is a Birch stock on an AK that I did a couple of months ago. Since then I have gotten better at it.

[Bainter1212]

Bobby I don't know if you remember, but I practically gave away a 91/30 for $100 awhile back.
I had refinished the stock on that rifle and it came out real nice. I liked the natural blonde color, so I elected not to stain it.

I stripped off the remains of the old finish using citristrip. Citristrip is incredibly easy to use.
Then I sanded it a bit until it felt smooth, and used Formby's tung oil finish on it.
That Formbys stuff is available at any Ace hardware and easy to use as well. You can choose glossy or non. Basically a quick drying oil type finish with some other varnish type stuff in it. It came out nice.

Anyhow.....show us the finished product once you get it done.

Good luck!

[musketjon]

Bobby,
My stocks were as white as yours after cleaning with MEK and 4-0 steel wool. I bought some Bullseye Amber colored shellac at the local Ace Hardware store. Here they are after a single coat of the shellac. No stain was involved.
Jon

[Bobby Ricigliano]

The variety of responses above are what make the CG C&R crowd awesome. Nothing to steam out really, and I am glad the sanding job did not result in the buttstock protruding over the edge.

The seller was local to So. Cal but not on Calguns. If you are reading this, thanks again for the deal!

[Bobby Ricigliano]

By the way, the only reason I waded back into the Mosin pool was a
compelling deal for a Tula 91/30 (43 or 44, IIRC).

Doubled down after that with a hard to find all matching T53. Pics to come!

[Vlad 11]

Id say shellac. Doing one coat is beginner level difficulty.

Take off the nose piece and string through the hole. Hang it from a rafter in garage.

Apply shellac nose to buttend quickly, keeping a wet edge. Brush in one direction.Shellac dries pretty fast so you have to work quick.

If you totally bonk, a 10 minute wipe down with denatured alcohol will take off the shellac and you can try again

[GunnyUSMC]

Here are links to three of my stock finishes.

Finnish Pine Tar Finish

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=137&t=85350

How to do an Aged Oil Finish

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=137&t=73332

How to do a Three Step Stain Finish

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=137&t=83923

[zhyla]

Id say shellac. Doing one coat is beginner level difficulty.

Alternative: lay down shellac using the "french polish" technique. It sounds really hard, and it's intimidating because that's the technique used to finish high end violins, but it's surprisingly easy and was designed as a fast way to build up a shellac finish. All you need is shellac, denatured alcohol, olive oil, and an old tshirt. I won't go into the details, but you basically mix up the shellac, wad up some fabric, put a little alcohol and oil on the wad, add some shellac to the pad, and then wipe on in little circles like you're the Karate Kid. The alcohol melts and reflows the shellac as you go so there's no worry about a "wet edge".

[Bobby Ricigliano]

If you replied with refinishing advice, and your technique took more than one sentence, you are above my pay grade. In any case I still appreciate it!!

[Cincinnatus]

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tried+and+true+wood+finish

Used on the hand-made muskets & rifles from the Colonial Williamsburg gunsmithing shop. Awesome stuff, easy as hell to use. Sand first, small amount on lint-free cloth, rub in. Simple, easy, excellent results.

[Cato]

I would appreciate any tips on a way to refinish this stock with a durable and easy to apply finish. I am a complete klutz in all things wood, and I would also be open to paying another member who is expertish (ha!) in refinishing stocks.

Dude, it ain't hard. Don't be a noob and try to pay someone to do it. Do it yourself!


A very easy way to do it is with Tung Oil. Get a small can at Home Depot/Lowes/OSH. Take an old t-shirt and rub on a VERY thin layer of tung oil (just enough that the wood looks "wet") and let sit outside in the sun. After 24 hours, polish it with a paper towel. Repeat if you have the patience. That's all you need. After 5-10 applications, it will look like fine furniture. 3 coats will be a nice natural look.