Stock finish

[ar15jules]

I am in the middle of filling dings and sanding an old Mini-14 stock. I want a "military" type finish. What are some products that you guys have used and had luck with? Thanks in advance.
Jules

[Nate7667]

I like a flat finish to all my wood stocks, hate gloss.
For my taste, Boiled Linseed Oil or my favorite, Tung Oil

-sand down to 200-400 grit
-wipe with damp cloth and let dry
-sand with 600 to smooth out raised grain
-oil to you hearts content, following instructions of course
-when happy with the amount of oil, steel wool to take any gloss off that may have showed up. this will also smooth out any raised grain from the oil.
You can steel wool in between coats of oil as well.

If you are staining for color, just remember to more you sand and smooth the grain the less stain will penetrate.

[ar15jules]

I may try the tung oil route. How "dark" can I get it?
Jules

[762xIan]

I have been using the Linseed oil route myself on my military stuff.

Linseed oil by itself is clear, so I have a "special mix" I made up with some reddish and dark brown OIL BASE stain. Lots of applications and soakings, then going over with 0000 steel wool, comes out pretty nice.

It replicates the military look like you see on Garands and 03's pretty good.

No matter how you decide to do it, don't rush it, a good finish takes time. Don't go crazy with sandpaper (I rarely ever use sandpaper) you can't put wood back on that you sanded off.

Post pics if you can...

[Enfielder]

http://www.chestnutridge.com/images/inv/MAWAL1.asp

Brownell's has it.

[ar15jules]

The stock was in terrible shape when I picked it up...for free I might add. I no longer have a mini-14. A friend of mine has one with the factory folding stock, so I told him I would give it to him when I was done. I recently had surgery and am going to probably be off of work for the remainder of the week. Sitting in the garage this afternoon with the door open and sanding made me feel "normal" having been on the couch since Thursday. I had to fill many dings, gouges etc... I am down to about a 180 grit finish and am probably going to stop there. I am debating using tung oil as of now. I want something I can pick up locally, so ordering from Brownell's or Midway is out of the question. (I'm bored this week remember) I have had some friends use tung oil with success in the past. I will take some pics along the way, and hopefully a final pic when my buddy mounts his barreled action in it.
Thanks Guys,
Jules

[ar15jules]

I just spoke to my buddy. He said he wants the stock to be dark. It is a very light Ruger Mini-14 stock, which I am assuming is beech. I am going to use a base coat of a walnut Minwax stain to darken it up then finish with multiple coats of tung oil. Thoughts?
Jules

[ar15jules]

Well, I completed the prep work and just rubbed on the stain. I have tinkered with a few beater stocks in the past, and the same thing has happened to me every time. This stock was well used. I prepped with sandpaper. Is there anyway to remove what I can only assume to be "human oil" from the grip area of the stock? Every effort I have made always leaves that area much darker during staining. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Jules

[Nate7667]

I have heard of guys refinishing old oily AK stock sets by soaking them in some bleach to cut the grease/oil from the prior finish. Also using a hair dryer to pull some of the oil to the surface.
I have never tried either method. Just things i've found on the intraweb.

[ar15jules]

Thanks, Nate!
Jules