what kind of finish for S&W grips ?
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I think these usually had a semi-gloss lacquer finish, which is different from what Tru-Oil will do. VM or one of the other stock experts should chime in at any time now...
firearmsunlimited
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Contrary to popular opinion S&W sprayed a color tinted lacquer, the color of which was changed periodically. Attempting to touch up chips in a lacquer finish requires expert flow out and blending. If you want a professional job that will not devalue your gun you may want to touch base with VM here on the forum. He does very nice hand gun stocks restorations and repairs.
Grips
Tru -oil does touch up the lacquer finish and blends in just fine. I tried it last evening , with great results.
You do not have to strip the finish off and start over , if you only have minor scuffs on the grips to get rid of.
One thing you want to do is apply two or three very,very, light coats , with four hours in between, rather than one heavy,
and don't sand or steel wool in between. This is of course if you want the high finish , as I did. If you want a satin
finish, then you have to steel wool. A furniture man told me you don't have to steel wool for the purpose of making the second coat
stick better , for just that little bit.
Thanks for all your input.
Tru -oil does touch up the lacquer finish and blends in just fine. I tried it last evening , with great results.
You do not have to strip the finish off and start over , if you only have minor scuffs on the grips to get rid of.
One thing you want to do is apply two or three very,very, light coats , with four hours in between, rather than one heavy,
and don't sand or steel wool in between. This is of course if you want the high finish , as I did. If you want a satin
finish, then you have to steel wool. A furniture man told me you don't have to steel wool for the purpose of making the second coat
stick better , for just that little bit.
Thanks for all your input.
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I carry my M60 Chief Special (usually in front pocket, so grips wear) on a regular basis and I usually refinish my grips once a year. Sounds like a lot of work, but with my method it is quite easy.
Go over the grips (stocks) with 0000 extra fine steel wool to smooth out the existing finish and open up the pores a bit. If you have any chips now is the time to lightly sand them smooth. Try not to remove any checkering, restoring that is another step!
I use Minwax stain of the appropriate color (matching original color) and let dry over night. Apply another stain coating if darkening is required and let dry over night once again.
For the final finish I have come to like Tung Oil. 100% Tung Oil, NOT a blend. I usually apply 4 hand rubbed coats (I use "Hopes" brand) using my 0000 steel wool very lightly between coatings. Let each coat dry over night. After the 4th coat I am now back in business! If at sometime I want to do a quick touch up all you need so is to apply an additional coat of Tung Oil (takes 5 minutes), let dry and your good to go.
I never liked lacquer finished grips on a carry gun because they usually peel off or wear off in layers which requires a complete stripping before refinishing. If you carry a gun with wooden grips on any regular basis, the finish will wear off in short order. My method works very well, lasts a long time, and a quick touch up restores them back to like new with out going through the entire process all over again.
By the way, have a "spare" set of grips on hand to install on the gun while going through the refinishing process so you can carry while the originals are being restored.
Regards,
chief38
Go over the grips (stocks) with 0000 extra fine steel wool to smooth out the existing finish and open up the pores a bit. If you have any chips now is the time to lightly sand them smooth. Try not to remove any checkering, restoring that is another step!
I use Minwax stain of the appropriate color (matching original color) and let dry over night. Apply another stain coating if darkening is required and let dry over night once again.
For the final finish I have come to like Tung Oil. 100% Tung Oil, NOT a blend. I usually apply 4 hand rubbed coats (I use "Hopes" brand) using my 0000 steel wool very lightly between coatings. Let each coat dry over night. After the 4th coat I am now back in business! If at sometime I want to do a quick touch up all you need so is to apply an additional coat of Tung Oil (takes 5 minutes), let dry and your good to go.
I never liked lacquer finished grips on a carry gun because they usually peel off or wear off in layers which requires a complete stripping before refinishing. If you carry a gun with wooden grips on any regular basis, the finish will wear off in short order. My method works very well, lasts a long time, and a quick touch up restores them back to like new with out going through the entire process all over again.
By the way, have a "spare" set of grips on hand to install on the gun while going through the refinishing process so you can carry while the originals are being restored.
Regards,
chief38
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