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wood maintenence

redbikerredbiker Member Posts: 117 ✭✭
edited April 2008 in Ask the Experts
Never thought about it much before this but what do most of you do to protect the wood stocks, forearms, etc? I have 2 wood stock rifles that look to be varnished, shellacked, whatever it is today, or was when they were built as they are older guns. My Savage 99 is uncoated but hasn't been out in weather since I don't target shoot in the rain. At least not if I can avoid it anyway. The Mossberg M500 I just bought has a beautiful wood stock and forearm and is also not coated, thank god. I hate seeing really pretty woods covered in varnish. That 99 looks like walnut to me, and the M500 looks to be maybe a maple with a darker stain? Anyway, a slick polish is obviously the wrong choice, like armor-all on a steering wheel. Tong Oil or Teak oil seem like good choices. Linseed oil will darken woods, don't want that. I've worked with wood a lot over the years so my thinking is treat them like fine furniture. I don't take my furniture outside much so the same treatment may not work.
As usual, any info, suggestions, advice, opinions, but no name calling is appreciated.

Myles
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Comments

  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Opinions are all over the map on this subject.

    Some folks will advocate just about any treatment you can think of. The curators at Springfield Armory National Museum believe that wood doesn't NEED to be moisturized, & they guns going back a couple of hundred years.

    New guns today have either an oil or polyurethane finish; the exact finish is usually kept secret by the manufacturer. Personally, I believe in just keeping gun stocks clean & dry, & store them where the humidity is around 40% to keep the wood from drying out. (A forced hot air furnace without a humidifier will ruin just about any wood.)

    Neal
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  • hslaterprycehslaterpryce Member Posts: 927 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I actually like an oil finish myself. And I like the Formby products. I have tried a "good wax" and the results are OK - checkering creates a lot of work and the results didn't warrant all that work - just OK. Again, me, I like an oil finish to preserve, protect and it looks good. Good luck with your decision!
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  • MIKE WISKEYMIKE WISKEY Member Posts: 10,046 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    "treat them like fine furniture. "... ALL GUNSTOCKS COME WITH SOME KIND OF FINISH ON THEM (GLOSS, OIL, WHATEVER), IF THEY DON'T NEED REFINISHING GIVE THEM A COAT OF PAIST WAX.
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  • mrbrucemrbruce Member Posts: 3,374
    edited November -1
    A plain old spray with Pledge will be good enough to keep them clean.
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  • gotstolefromgotstolefrom Member Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You haven't been splattered with all the 'best' products yet, but I'm sure it is coming....Doing a search of previous forum postings will put you onto some good advice too.

    I want to mention forearms, and them being prone to cracking at times due to the relatively thin woodwork. You will be surprized at how much of an oil product can soak into the grain of the wood 'from the back'. Even if you choose to finish the 'outside' with something else....remove the furniture and treat the inside with linseed or other oil product of choice. It can be a one-time thing that may 'save' your furniture.
    ENJOY !
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