RIA M5 Update: Toothpick edition

[johnthomas]

Saturday morning I stopped by 7-11 for an apple fritter and a lottery ticket. I won 200 dollars off of a 5 buck ticket. I went to Big5 after dinner. The M5 was on sale for 209.00. I had to take the test for the FSC. 269.00 total out the door, in 10 day. I own several shotguns, I just wanted it. After seeing your furniture........I'm thinking.

[Steve_In_29]

Saturday morning I stopped by 7-11 for an apple fritter and a lottery ticket. I won 200 dollars off of a 5 buck ticket. I went to Big5 after dinner. The M5 was on sale for 209.00. I had to take the test for the FSC. 269.00 total out the door, in 10 day. I own several shotguns, I just wanted it. After seeing your furniture........I'm thinking.

Congrats on the double win.

[johnthomas]

OP, who painted your tool box? That could become a staple for high end boxes. A gun related paint job would look cool.

[aghauler]

Big 5 has the nickel plated M5 with bbl shroud on sale this week

[johnthomas]

Big 5 has the nickel plated M5 with bbl shroud on sale this week

I went to Big5 after dinner. The M5 was on sale for 209.00

[aghauler]

I went to Big5 after dinner. The M5 was on sale for 209.00

Yep, seems like a decent price.

[Anubis Laughed]

Nice job on the refinish, that wood looks sharp!

[Revhendo]

Sorry for not getting back sooner. It's a phone thing.

Nice job! I just put that exact model in jail on Wednesday! Your version looks a lot better!

Any tips on the stock refinishing? Off to Numrich.

John

Forgot to ask: what products did you use to strip the finish and what finish did you use?

This was my first attempt at refinishing a stock. When I ordered from Numrich I wasn't sure what to expect. What I received were what appeared to be surplus (used?) parts. For the record, order the 6" forend. The bigger one doesn't fit. (Don't ask how I know, just trust me.) I got my furniture before I actually had the weapon in hand, so I had time to play. It does take time by the way.

I used a paint and varnish remover from Jasco. It works, but I would really recommend a product called Citristrip. The two pieces seem to be different types of wood. The forends are walnut, but I am not sure about the stock. Now I ended up sanding on the stock more than I probably should've, but you would have to look hard to see where. (The main reason I recommend the Citristrip). I used Min-Wax Gunstock for my first go around on the stain and ended up with two pieces in different colors. The buttstock was a lot redder in color.



I found that using a Sedona Red on the forend seemed to balance it a bit better, but not quite. I ended up using the Sedona on the butstock and was going Red Oak on the forend when I discovered the 8" forend doesn't fit the M5. (Remember the "not asking how I know" part?)
I finished the stock with Birchwood Casey Tru-oil. I applied about 5 coats and sanding it down with 0000 steal wool and cleaning with mineral spirits in-between.

I used the 6" forend as delivered. It looked really nice, even though it doesn't quite match. If I am really annoyed, I can always take it off and try to get it to closer.

OP, who painted your tool box? That could become a staple for high end boxes. A gun related paint job would look cool.

I gotta confess, I bought the box at Ace Hardware a couple of Christmas's back. They did have a pretty good selection at the time. I don't recall if there was a gun themed one.

http://www.acehardware.com/family/index.jsp?fbn=Brands%7cSAINTY+INTERNATIONAL&fbc=1&fr=StorePrice%2fACE%2f00002501%2f00005000&f=PAD%2fBrands%2fSAINTY+INTERNATIONAL&lmdn=Brand&categoryId=2629228&cp=2568443.2568450.2628082

[Revhendo]

Oh, I should mention the nut on the action slide for the forend.
I haven't figured out how to remove the action slide and neither the barrel or magazine are removable. To get the nut off of the slide, I used a Remington nut tool and cut the corners off so it would clear the barrel when you turn it.

[jfwlb]

Thanks for the reply! I will use your tips! I almost ordered the 8" fore end but couldn't get anyone to answer the phone. Glad that happened now.

I think I will use citristrip, and then maybe try some BLO(boiled linseed oil) and see the what the color is.

Thanks!

John

[stilly]

Looks nice.

Is that a jeweled bolt? Do they come like that. Sorry if this was already addressed, I did not read.

[Jet Setter]

The wood classes it up. Nice.

[NightHawk]

I like the Mopar lunchbox!

[deadcoyote]

Looks nice.

Is that a jeweled bolt? Do they come like that. Sorry if this was already addressed, I did not read.

The M5's come with the jeweled bolt. I had a Winchester 1300 that came that way too, not really important just throwing that out there.

[3006mv]

Here's my savage. Sorry no before pics