I placed an order for a new 686 6in deluxe and am curious as to what I should use to maintain the wood grips on it. From my understanding, they are either poly or laquer finish (correct me if I'm wrong) so using tung or linseed oil would be pointless. I like to clean my firearm after every use and want something to wipe the grips down with to keep em clean.



What do you guys do to maintain your poly coated grips?

I use Renaissance wax (Renwax) on both my revolvers and the wood grips to maintain them. The Renwax will protect the wood in your wood grips.

Agree. Renwax works on my knife handles that are wood very well.

Thanks for the input folks. I'm looking for something to use every time after the range. I would imagine that wax would build up if used that frequently.

Do you guys wipe down your grips with anything between wax applications? Maybe pledge or murphys oil soap?

Just wipe em with a damp rag.Renwax won't build up but do be aware that it can make them slippery.

Is there any benefit to using linseed or tung oil on poly finished grips?

Nope
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I have those same grips, I'm not really sure what the finish is but it doesn't seem to be a polly.

On their Web site Altamont recommends a light oil: "For most grips, buffing them lightly with a dry towel will do the trick. You can also use a light oil on the super woods and premium wood grips"

I've used a small amount of "Scott's Liquid Gold" furniture oil with good result.

Outters silicone rag works good

+1 for Ren wax

python grips adjust.jpg

Going to try it on my guitars next. Made my blued guns really shine too. First timer but very impressed.

Those Altamont mfg grips are an impregnated wood, and actually just need to be wiped off from time to time. I wouldn't put any finish on them.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I've used Ren Wax but as mentioned gives them a slippery feel. Since I use Ballistol to clean my guns I give the grips a good soaking and rub it in. It seems to work very well.

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Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

I use Howard feed-N-wax on my wood. A penetrating conditioner and wax. Don't think it would do much for the poly finish but I like to pop the stocks off now and again to check for rust or corrosion. Whilst off the Howard's is applied, let set a bit and buffed off to the unfinished backside of the stocks, seems to keep the wood from drying out.

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Impregnated with what? BLO? Tung?

Called s&w and the gentleman didn't really seem to know. He said to clean them with Break Free.

Resin.i.e.plastic.

Anybody have any experience with Formby's Lemon Oil treatment?

As mentioned, the Altamount grips are made from laminated wood, often called (dymondwood). The wood is laminated by impregnating it under high pressure and heat with a Phenolic resin. It penetrates into the wood cells/fiber and become part of the wood structure.

There are variations of laminated wood... Boyd's Gunstock uses a laminated wood material called Stratabond... and as the name implies, Fender guitar uses the material in neck and bodies and Martin guitar used it for necks.

What results is something that can be machined and worked like wood, but behaves like plastic when it comes to being completely resistant to absorbing anything.

Once that resin sets up, that is it, the grips are completely sealed. Putting any kind oil or cleaner wax just lays on the surface.

The one thing really nice about laminated grips and rifle stocks like that is when they get scratched, you can sand out the scratch, then smooth with progressively fine grit sandpaper to around 800 grit, and then they can be buffed them back to the original condition (if shinny) using a cloth and polishing paste. Otherwise, after polishing you lightly burnish it with 0000 steel wool and rub with a cotton cloth to give it a satin sheen.

Because it's what I have on hand, I use what I use on the clear coat of my car to remove scratches... Meguire's ScratchX® 2.0. You could even use Flitz sparingly too.

It may look like wood, but think plastic as far as care and maintenance is concerned.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

Hoppe's gun oil lightly on cloth.

I have them on a Talo edition 3" 686+

Altamont laminated wood with polyurethane finish.

Clean with damp sponge or rag. No oil or wax needed.

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2B1ASK1

..Murphies Oil Soap if the grips are dirty, along with a soft toothbrush? A collector friend told me this, but I've never used it myself.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I like Cory Care Products that are designed for fine musical instruments such as the wood on pianos, guitars and violins.

Cory Care Products

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