Wood Refinishes

fleabus101 · #1 08-29-2020, 06:23 AM

In the interest of having a interesting thread this
weekend I thought I mention a wood finish I've used
for many yrs tinting wood colors.
By accident long ago my wife bought some old english
dark furniture polish for the house. Noticing it one day
helping polish tables for wife it had a nice color and helped cover furn. scratches. Hmmm.
At the time I was collecting military Mauser rifles. Still have several. Then I was concocting wood mixes usually
oil based to refinish the Mauser wood. To make the story shorter I mixed the Old English Dark Polish and Tru-oil and still use that til this day to help on gun wood type finishes.
The drying times are longer. I usually placed the stocks (rifle or pistol) under some incandecant bulbs(lamps) to help speed up drying time.
This old combination has lasted thru time til this day.
Just sharing this and to get a mix or formula you use
these days. Some Mauser pics included for an
old refinish using this formula.
Appreciate you joining in this weekend thread.!
Best
Randy.

mikerjf · #2 08-29-2020, 09:26 AM

Nice! Long-time guitar builder and have made a few sets of grips, typically use plain ol' clear laquer, but have gotten interested in oil finishes and will have to try your mix.

James K · #3 08-29-2020, 09:52 AM

Looks nice. I like to make western style grips and recently used the Tru Oil.
Like it better than the Min Wax or other lacquers. Even stripped an old cane that had beautiful knotted wood under black paint. The Tru Oil really brought out the grain.
Nice to know it mixes with a dark polish. Have to give it a try.

chief38 · #4 08-29-2020, 10:34 AM

From here it looks terrific - probably better than when it was issued!

chief38 · #5 08-29-2020, 11:22 AM

I have always used 100% pure Tung Oil (Hopes brand). After stripping off the old worn finish and getting the wood super smooth, I rub in 10 - 12 coats waiting 24 hours between and use 0000 steel wool every so lightly prior to the next coat. Over the past 40 years this has worked out quite well for me and if and when the finish gets "tired' all I need to do is a light steel wool rub down and add 2 -3 new coats.

What I like about the Tung Oil is it never peels, chips or cracks and unlike some Linseed oils, it dries quickly and completely. PLUS..... it is non toxic!

fleabus101 · #6 08-29-2020, 11:36 AM

Well
Ya know theres a age old arguement bout these things.
Dont touch or I say "enhance " appearances. People get downright unhinged about refinishes. My bottom line
come downs to this mindset : I'm not going have a " drug down a gravel road" look to preserve MY guns look.
I'm not gonna have "no ugly gun"!! I dont have enuf money
to have "classes" of guns. Its my habit to always buy the best guns I can metal/finish condition wise. I try to stay on the "to ea his own" line of things while not mistating orig vs refinished
areas meaning Transparancy is what Im supporting.
This finish works fine to make nice wood look better to me. Heres a exc set of grips with a finger dab of tru-oil and dark old english mixed finish. Pics below..

Benchrest1 · #7 08-30-2020, 12:13 AM

Tried and True linseed oil.

fleabus101 · #8 08-30-2020, 07:00 AM

Benchrest1
Love the smell of the Linseed oil.
I have 2 bottles of it on my table/desk.
One reg linseed and one sunbleached linseed oil that
doesnt have the darker color of reg linseed oil.
I am a big fan of a old time gunsmith/gunmaker
Sterling Davenport who used linseed oil a lot
on his custom rifles. An old world craftsman.
We are lucky to have a few here including
Curtis Harlow who is in that old world craftsman
genre/generation.
Makes me remember the country song.
Who's gonna fill their shoes..
Randy..

Igiveup · #9 08-30-2020, 10:59 PM

Like cheif38, I use pure Tung oil for any of my custom rifle stocks. It takes a lot of coats, but I like the finish. I bought a pint can several years ago and have hardly put a dent in it. There are Tung oil mixes, like Formsby Tung oil, it has a dryer in it, like a varnish, that looks ok for a finish.