Refinishing A Rifle Stock

[4506517]

So I am trying to refinish an old rifle stock. It is off a Chinese SKS. I have sanded it a million times. Went coarse to medium to fine, then wiped with a tack cloth. First coat took 6 days to dry. Gave it a light sanding coarse to medium to fine and finished with 0000 steel wool. Second coat still isn't dry 2 days later and like the first coat, it comes right off with the easiest touch. I've refinished furnture numerous times using this method, and it always turned out great.

Suggestions?

 

[arjay]

What finish are you using?

 

[2152hq]

Finish taking a long time to dry,,giving the appearance of drying but rubbing off with a slight touch is usually oil/grease contaminated wood,,or a type of wood that's naturally oily to begin with.
Both are very possible with a Chinese SKS stock.
Heavy grease contamination (not necessarily cosmoline, but common bearing grease) with Military Surplus stocks,,particularly post war/cold war is common .

 

[4506517]

I am using Minwax™ Polyshades polyurethane and stain in one. I had a friend recommend sanding it down and using a spray on oven cleaner to decrease it. He also thought the wood was oil contaminated. I am wondering if I should sand it down and use a prestain treatmeant first. One of my buddies recommended using brake cleaner after I sanded it down, but I don't think I'll go that route.

 

[Rule3]

Most probably you did not get all the Cosmoline out of the wood.

Time to start over, sorry.

Use a commercial finish stripper to remove what you have put on. Now soak the wood with mineral spirits (paint thinner).

Next you need to use a form of heat. A good way is to place a damp towel over the wood and heat it with a clothes iron use a piece of aluminum foil between the iron and the cloth and go over the stock. It will suck the oil out of the pores. Keep doing this until the rag or cloth is clean. Wipe it again with mineral spirits.

Use a oil finish like Tru Oil. Several coats.

Been there done that, no t shirt.

 

[4506517]

Wow! Rule 3 that's one of the best looking SKS stocks I've ever seen! About how long total did that take?

 

[LVSteve]

This is why collectors don't refinish rifle stocks.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I have had good luck with Howard's Restor-a-finish that you can get at Home Depot or Lowes. It will dissolve the existing finish without taking out the original patina. Since you have sanded the stock, there is no patina. It comes in different stains, so you may be able to add some color back to the wood. The tru-oil is great if you want a finish on top of the wood. I prefer Tung Oil that penetrates and seals the wood. I apply it with a white scotch pad and wipe off the excess after applying. It can take several applications to seal the wood. If you then want a deeper finish, apply the tru-oil after sealing the wood with Tung oil. I like a more satin finish, so I apply a paste wax as the last coat.

This is a Mosin-Nagant that I refinished as described above. Click for full image.

 

[wbraswell]

I have a Norinco SKS that I got new. The wood on the gas tube looks like it was dipped in varnish, and then put on the rifle. What will strip that stuff?

 

[Rule3]

Wow! Rule 3 that's one of the best looking SKS stocks I've ever seen! About how long total did that take?

Thanks!

I chipped away at it over a few days, probably only 4-5 hours actual time.

DON'T forget to punch out the bolt pin to remove the firing pin and clean it out, No matter how much you soak or spray there is still that damn Cosmoline in there and if the pin sticks it will slam fire!!

SKS Porn

Bayonet removed from the Norinco, that thing will put your eye out!

 

[RightArm]

I've never used a polyurathane and stain in one. Seems like that would take a long time to set. I don't think it would work at all in Houston humidity.

 

[Rule3]

I never have either. On furniture or gun stocks. If I stain , I stain, and then top coat. Most new polys will dry in 2 hours and fully cure in a few days.

 

[arjay]

I used it when it came out.It puts a colored layer on top of the wood.I still prefer tung oil.

 

[Rule3]

I have a Norinco SKS that I got new. The wood on the gas tube looks like it was dipped in varnish, and then put on the rifle. What will strip that stuff?

You don't like the varnish? Some of the original finishes are nice.

I use Crown Tuff Strip (spray clings, liquid for rubbing with a stripper pad or fine steel wool) Lowes or Homer depot, Wally Wart it's all the same toxic stuff. Not as good as the old days though Forget the "Green" citrus based junk.

Take the wood OFF (it's tight but twists off the metal part)or it may strip the metal.

 

[4506517]

Rule 3 and LouisianaJoe, those are some nice looking rifles! Kinda funny 'cause I have a Mosin Nagant I'm thinking about doing. I guess I'll have to hit Lowes or Depot and get some stripper. Back to square 1........

 

[LouisianaJoe]

DON'T forget to punch out the bolt pin to remove the firing pin and clean it out, No matter how much you soak or spray there is still that damn Cosmoline in there and if the pin sticks it will slam fire!!

If you take the bolt apart, getting the spring back in is a challenge. I made a jig out a piece of copper pipe to guide the spring back into the bolt.

 

[rburg]

What kind of wood did the Chicoms use?

 

[Rule3]

Chu Wood, light and rot resistant.

For redoing rifles go to surplus rifles, it's a forum.So I will not post a linky

Also a Goggle search of removing Cosmoline will turn up a million plus ways to do so. Some folks wrap the wood in black plastic bags and leave in the sun and all kinds of creative stuff. Oven Cleaner and others

SKS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[sheepdawg]

With 38 years in the paint business I feel the main reasons for paint drying slow is someone tried to put 5 coats worth on something with 1 coat. Since it took so long to dry but eventually did this would be my first guess. Contamination of the substrate, such as cosmoline or gun oil, would be second. Things usually dry to a tacky finish if at all when contamination is the problem. If your second coat is just tacky you should be able to remove it by wiping it down with a liberal dose of lacquer thinner a few times then using paint thinner or better yet VM&P Naptha when you get back to the wood.

Survivor's SKS Boards is the go to place for SKS knowledge and using their search button should reward you. The master of refinishing stocks over there is a guy named Galahad, anything he posts should be read. They also have hundreds of posts on cosmoline removal.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

Another good source of SKS info:

http://www.yooperj.com/SKS.htm
http://www.yooperj.com/SKS-24.htm