Stock Refinish Too Dark....Help??

ironman · May 15, 2002, 05:08

Refinished the buttstock from my G1 kit last night using "gunplumbers" technique. Came out slick as glass but way too dark. I used minwax mahongony stain and truoil mix. Any suggestion for next attempt??

TJ · May 15, 2002, 08:33

Ironman,
After many years of refinishing furniture and gunstocks I too have run into the oops from time to time. Don't panic! All wood is different even if it came from the same tree. Moisture content, hardness, etc. will determine color shade and finish acceptance, but you probably knew this already

. To try to save the darkened wood try the following:
1. Soak the wood in the same carrier solvent as the Minwax stain, probably a mineral spirit mix. At least 12 hours.
2. Wipe dry and then let air dry for a day.
3. It should have lightened up. If not, try the following:
a. Soak or spray wood with a harsher solvent, ie carb cleaner, aerosolv, acetone, hexane, etc.
b. Wipe and air dry again. This should have worked! Back to the final finish!
4. You should have a very dry, lightened buttstock in your hand. Be careful! It will now accept stain even greater. Experiment using a mixture of your chosen stain diluted greatly by a clear Minwax, Watco, etc. finish(not polyurathane). Apply in small areas until you get the color you want. With some woods and old military grease stains just the clear may do.
5. Final finish as per Gunplumber.
6. Bang away.

TJ

LongGun · May 15, 2002, 09:02

For future reference. I skipped any stain and hand rubbed with BLO. Looks excellent and brings out the true color of the wood.

ironman · May 15, 2002, 10:17

I keep having to remind myself.....it's a project, I can go back and start over. I used the Oven Off method and it worked really good. The wood was nice and light, but as soon as the stain mixture hit, it just sucked it right up and then the stock was dark. This time I think I might just use truoil by it's self. Thanks for the input!

May 15, 2002, 05:08	#1
ironman Registered FALaholic #: 6308 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Alabama Posts: 82	Stock Refinish Too Dark....Help?? Refinished the buttstock from my G1 kit last night using "gunplumbers" technique. Came out slick as glass but way too dark. I used minwax mahongony stain and truoil mix. Any suggestion for next attempt??

May 15, 2002, 08:33	#2
TJ Registered FALaholic #: 379 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lyons, Co, USA Posts: 374	Ironman, After many years of refinishing furniture and gunstocks I too have run into the oops from time to time. Don't panic! All wood is different even if it came from the same tree. Moisture content, hardness, etc. will determine color shade and finish acceptance, but you probably knew this already . To try to save the darkened wood try the following: 1. Soak the wood in the same carrier solvent as the Minwax stain, probably a mineral spirit mix. At least 12 hours. 2. Wipe dry and then let air dry for a day. 3. It should have lightened up. If not, try the following: a. Soak or spray wood with a harsher solvent, ie carb cleaner, aerosolv, acetone, hexane, etc. b. Wipe and air dry again. This should have worked! Back to the final finish! 4. You should have a very dry, lightened buttstock in your hand. Be careful! It will now accept stain even greater. Experiment using a mixture of your chosen stain diluted greatly by a clear Minwax, Watco, etc. finish(not polyurathane). Apply in small areas until you get the color you want. With some woods and old military grease stains just the clear may do. 5. Final finish as per Gunplumber. 6. Bang away. TJ __________________ FAL's and Lotus Sevens are going to be the death of me.......AHHHH what a way to go!

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May 15, 2002, 09:02	#3
LongGun Registered FALaholic #: 5351 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Rockland County, NY Posts: 126	For future reference. I skipped any stain and hand rubbed with BLO. Looks excellent and brings out the true color of the wood.

May 15, 2002, 10:17	#4
ironman Registered FALaholic #: 6308 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Alabama Posts: 82	I keep having to remind myself.....it's a project, I can go back and start over. I used the Oven Off method and it worked really good. The wood was nice and light, but as soon as the stain mixture hit, it just sucked it right up and then the stock was dark. This time I think I might just use truoil by it's self. Thanks for the input!