Getting Cosmoline out of wood stocks - Finished

[phishisgroovin]

I was told by a friend to stuff my Rifle Stock and upper hand guard in a heavy duty lawn trash bag, throw it in the sun, keep it in my truck in bright hot weather to sweat out the cosmoline.
Spray off the goo with Crud Kutter and wash in soapy water & repeat as necessary.

This will safely and effectively remove the waxy cosmoline, grime.

on regular everyday stuff it works great also.

I did a test spray on a bit of the stock and it ate all the cosmoline in seconds to a bright grain.
Soesnt harm wood at all. Just make sure to wash it thoroughly with Dawn & Water after cleaning each time.

I will post before & after as soon as i wipe the stock & wash it off later tonight. this stuff is phenominal.

Heres the before photo.

[phishisgroovin]

WOW!

this was wrapped in a garbage bag after being saturated wit hthe Crud Kutter for an hour.
Then taken outside and removed from the bags. Sprayed again & wiped down.

Taken back to the tub and rinsed in scalding water then wiped & air dried.

Heck, maybe one more heat box treatment and this will be ready for Danish oil for my Natural finish on the turkish walnut wood.

[ICEMAN]

Wow, what a change, looks like a great way to de-gunk it. Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Gobble]

I bet a rag wet with Laquer thinner would work great as well

[HawkenBob]

Looks like it worked really good. I have a 71 BAR that Im restoring. I need to strip the rear stock of its original finish. I think you sanded your previous rifle's finish off. But how do you remove the varnish from the checkering on the stocks? Do you think crud cutter would work for that?

[phishisgroovin]

I bet a rag wet with Laquer thinner would work great as well

nope, didnt touch it.
the before photo is after L-T

[phishisgroovin]

Looks like it worked really good. I have a 71 BAR that Im restoring. I need to strip the rear stock of its original finish. I think you sanded your previous rifle's finish off. But how do you remove the varnish from the checkering on the stocks? Do you think crud cutter would work for that?

no, use a natural stripper like Citri strip and a toothbrush. may take a few tries.

[phishisgroovin]

After all the heat and water a small area behind the front band raised and cracked on this stock.
I had to let the wood dry completely before attempting my repairs.

Today i went to K-Mart and got me some two part epoxy 5 minute stuff.
Mixed it per instructions and set the wood back in its place.

Got out the Monofilament fishing line (heavy stuff) and started wrapping it around the wood until it was nice and tight, got my already tied in a loop small piece out and placed it in the wraps then continued to tie around that too. when my hands got good and tired (60-70 wraps total) i strung the last of the fishing line through that loop and pulled it through all the other wraps i just made. set the rifle down, wet a paper towel with Mineral spirits and wiped off the excess epoxy from the outer fishing line.
I only did this lightly too so i didnt screw up any epoxy in the wood as i wanted it to hold for another 100 years.

after the 6 minute epoxy set up in 15 minutes i removed the fishing line Vice and lightly wiped off the excess epoxy from the outer wood again. then set it down and i will work on it tomorrow evening after it sits 24 hours.

I will lightly sand the wood and apply my first coat of Danish oil tomorrow.

[ICEMAN]

Do you think the crack was already there, or the extra moisture from the recent stripping process....?

[phishisgroovin]

Do you think the crack was already there, or the extra moisture from the recent stripping process....?

it was sorta already there, when removing the front ring it needs to be tapped with a dowel and hammer to make it move forward over the retention spring.
it also collects alot of moisture there if you let it.

for a stock that is made in 1903, its held up excellent and i was surprised that it was the only repair i was going to have to make.
The mix of heat and water also raises wood, so that may have done it also. not too sure.

Another way to remove the Cosmoline is use heat lamps in a box big enough to hold the bare stock, then just put the wood in there and let it get 155 degrees and get hot. cosmoline works itself out on its own also, then every 30 mins or so wipe it clean with Crud Kutter on a rag or dowse the wood with it (WEARING RUBBER GLOVES!) and let it sit 5 minutes then wipe off and Bathe it in soapy hot water on a rag. then rinse. Avoiding the stock from soaking too much water in as possible. Water warps wood if it gets too wet and then dries.

[HawkenBob]

So it sounds like your useing the wet towel and iron trick to get dents and such out? I plan to do this too. I hear ya gotta keep going over it with sand paper as the grain raises too.

I want that "Browning" grade 3 finish. So Im planning to spray a "clear" of somesorts.

Any recommendation for a super, high gloss finish? Can you spray car clear over an oiled stock? I've heard the car style clear is very durable on gun stocks. And I have experience spaying that sort of stuff.

[phishisgroovin]

Do some research on Danish oil. it will give you a glass finish. then you can steel wool it down and get a satin finish.
It will be a better option as you can always rub mineral spirits on it some time down the road and another coat of Danish oil and you will be done again.
Cant reall go wrong this way. you can stain wood before using the danish also.

[phishisgroovin]

read this: http://www.realmilkpaint.com/oil.html
and this: http://www.jouster.com/Bulletin/TUNG.htm
and this: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?p=474255

but mostly read up on this member called Candyman, his wood working on old rifle stocks is supreme: http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=83&p=420560
before putting any finish or anything at all on it.

[phishisgroovin]

I made some more progress on it. (actually i am done now. but i will go in steps.

Friday i took some pics of it before the sun went away outside.
During the week i started applying the Danish oil and prepping it for the hard stinky stuff.

last friday after work i started applying (in 15 min intervals) a thinned out 2 parts verathane to one part mineral spirits. it worked excellent!
I then applied 5 coats of thick standard verathane and let it fully cure while going up nnorth to Fishseekers.

Today i wet sanded the stock removing all the bubbles i couldnt avoid making and cleaned it up with mineral spirits and let it air dry for final coat.

I cant wait to reasseble it and see what the old girl looks like now.
i sure like my finished product. wish i had more time and guns to play with.

[phishisgroovin]

stock and handguard together.

[phishisgroovin]

another pic.

[snagglepants]

looks great!

[phishisgroovin]

here she is put together with all her comrades