Refinishing checkered stock and forend

**hiflyf22** · July 21st, 2008, 03:23 AM

What would you guys suggest if I'd like to refinish my new 870? I was reading some things that say to sand everything down and redo everything. But my stock and forend are checkered. I'm going to take a guess and bet that it's going to suck trying to refinish all that. So... just slap some Tru-Oil on and call it a day?

**hiflyf22** · July 23rd, 2008, 03:14 PM

Unless this isn't the right board to post on. If so, can someone move so I can get a reply? Thanks, mgmt.

**normanvin** · July 23rd, 2008, 03:20 PM

I think it might look good if you mask yje checkering. Then sand everthing else. Then you could get a two tone look going on the stock.

**PA Rifleman** · July 23rd, 2008, 03:52 PM

If you must refinish it, it might be necessary to re-cut the checkering to remove the previous finish. The upshot of this is most modern production guns use pressed checkering to save money, and after you hand-checker it it will feel much sharper and precise.

I have a set of Dembart checkering tool (link) I use once in a while for checkering knife handles for the kids and also grips on various kit guns I've made over the years.