Stock Scrubbing

SwedeSteve · 01-18-2008, 05:35 PM

I know this was posted b4, but can't seem to find it. This M91 stock is DIRTY/GREASY/NASTY!! What can I use to scrub it down and get rid of all this crapolla?

billy · 01-18-2008, 05:41 PM

mineral sprits or that stuff called GOOP hand cleaner.
jeeze buddy everyones got a pet method.
ive used oven cleaner to strip a stock of crappy finish.
then buffed it with 0000 steel wool and oiled it.

SwedeSteve · 01-18-2008, 06:29 PM

Mineral spirits and 0000? This one is BAAAD!
I remember the link by stock Doc. But I need something STRONG!

billy · 01-18-2008, 06:31 PM

yes very fine steel wool 0000 it has 4 zero's on the package

LiveToShoot · 01-18-2008, 06:36 PM

Thanks for the info...

My wife recently received an inheritance gift of an older rifle from her grandfather and the stock needs to be cleaned up.

SwedeSteve · 01-18-2008, 06:40 PM

Yes Billy Dear! I can read 4 zeros... I even have some. Its just that a lot of times you get some, shall we say, UNIQUE ideas from people!
I was looking for one of those!

Cyrano · 01-18-2008, 06:49 PM

Two suggestions.

First suggestion: Detail-strip the weapon and get everything off the stock. Run it through the dishwasher (you will probably have to take out the top rack) on the hottest cycle it has, with a regular dose of dishwashing detergent. When it's done, immediately remove it from the dishwasher and lightly sand it with 600 grit sandpaper, then wipe it down with a clean cloth and rub it down with Formby's Tung Oil Varnish. If desired, you can sand and repeat the Formby's. This will make it look like a lovely old antique that has been lovingly cared for.

Second suggestion. Get a big disposable roasting pan and soak the stock in mineral spirits, using a cup or something to pour the mineral spirits over the wood. Use a brass bristle brush to gently scrub the wood at first, then switch to a disposable nylon scrubbie pad, and then to a cloth soaked in mineral spirits (You may want to change out the mineral spirits partway through if the solvent starts looking nasty.) When you've gotten off as much guck as you can, dry the wood in the sun for a couple of hours. Then sand it with 400 grit wet or dry sandpaper, wipe it down with a cloth and reevaluate. You may want to scrub it some more with the mineral spirits. When you are satisfied, wipe it clean, sand it with 600 grit sandpaper until it is soft and smooth, and then use the Formby's Tung Oil Varnish on it.

Either method will bring about substantial improvement in the appearance of the stock.

okole · 01-18-2008, 07:00 PM

it's called patina, leave it alone.

Ricochet · 01-18-2008, 09:14 PM

If you're talking about an M91, now you're talking about something with collector value. Be careful not to mess it up. Any sort of stripping or harsh scrubbing will do that.

troy2000 · 01-18-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okole

it's called patina, leave it alone.

Patina is in the wood, where it's darkened over the years. It isn't the layer of crud on top of the finish...

I did a lot of remodeling on mountain cabins with tongue-and-groove knotty pine walls; they were usually finished in orange shellac and darkened over the years. Carefully removing the old finish with lacquer thinner and alcohol left the color in the wood, as long as I didn't sand through it.

SwedeSteve · 01-19-2008, 12:49 AM

Patina! This one has SH**ina ll over it! Thanks for the ideas guys! It appears someone started cleaning the buttstock and gave up! I hope to scrub the stock clean and rub her down in linseed oil. Thee is no finish on this stock! Just a heavy layer of crud!

marion57 · 01-19-2008, 07:49 AM

crud?? sounds like my omega special !!Had to use murphys soap on it to clean it up had a 1/4 inch of scrapeable crud on the stock and took about 4 oz of sand muck and dirt out of the bolt..To my surprise the bore cleaned up and its a good shooter

SwedeSteve · 01-19-2008, 08:11 AM

This one looks as bad as yours sounds marion!!

Dookiebutt · 01-19-2008, 08:33 AM

If you have a crappy shellac finish, no amount of rubbing with BLO and steelwool will help you. The shellac seals the finish, but does not really keep water out.

You either strip the finish or fix the finish. Try some denatured alcohol after you wipe it down with OMS. The DA will "melt" the shellac and make it re-adhere to itself. It will fix those crumbly, chipped areas real nice.

SwedeSteve · 01-19-2008, 08:45 AM

Well, I guess I'll find out. As I will get some time to work on her today.

tmfun · 01-20-2008, 10:07 PM

I just re finished my 91/30. Jasco paint stripper and about 10 minutes at the sink and i was at bare wood. 180 through 400 grit sand paper and it was a baby's ass. 3 coats of "Cabernet" Varathane stain and three coats of marine grade spar varnish and I now have a thing of beauty. I like it so much that the M44 is next but with tung oil instead of varnish cause I like the hand rubbed thing. Been too dark for pics but i will post em when I get em.

Dale · 01-20-2008, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwedeSteve

I know this was posted b4, but can't seem to find it. This M91 stock is DIRTY/GREASY/NASTY!! What can I use to scrub it down and get rid of all this crapolla?

Don't worry about marrying it..shoot it the way it is.

Wait...in Alaska you might want to marry it. LOL

I tried cleaning up a nasty girl once...she was still nasty!

marion57 · 01-21-2008, 01:08 AM

[quote]This one looks as bad as yours sounds marion!![/quotelook like this swede??

[/IMG]

gokuboy26 · 01-21-2008, 01:27 PM

I've heard the carpet cleaner "spot shot" works well for pullin grease/oil out of the wood... its in the blue can with the orange lid.

SwedeSteve · 01-21-2008, 03:35 PM

Marion- You have my rifle's twin!!!!! I've got most of the crud off now, but I still have a long way to go baby!!!!

01-18-2008, 05:35 PM	#1
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,370 Images: 1	Stock Scrubbing I know this was posted b4, but can't seem to find it. This M91 stock is DIRTY/GREASY/NASTY!! What can I use to scrub it down and get rid of all this crapolla? __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

01-18-2008, 05:41 PM	#2
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 12,138 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 146	mineral sprits or that stuff called GOOP hand cleaner. jeeze buddy everyones got a pet method. ive used oven cleaner to strip a stock of crappy finish. then buffed it with 0000 steel wool and oiled it. __________________

01-18-2008, 06:29 PM	#3
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,370 Images: 1	Mineral spirits and 0000? This one is BAAAD! I remember the link by stock Doc. But I need something STRONG! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers Last edited by SwedeSteve; 01-18-2008 at 06:33 PM.

01-18-2008, 06:31 PM	#4
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 12,138 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 146	yes very fine steel wool 0000 it has 4 zero's on the package __________________

01-18-2008, 06:36 PM	#5
LiveToShoot Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest USA Posts: 2,071	Thanks for the info... My wife recently received an inheritance gift of an older rifle from her grandfather and the stock needs to be cleaned up. __________________ "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it." -Unknown

01-18-2008, 06:40 PM	#6
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,370 Images: 1	Yes Billy Dear! I can read 4 zeros... I even have some. Its just that a lot of times you get some, shall we say, UNIQUE ideas from people! I was looking for one of those! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers Last edited by SwedeSteve; 01-18-2008 at 06:45 PM.

01-18-2008, 06:49 PM	#7
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2,356	Two suggestions. First suggestion: Detail-strip the weapon and get everything off the stock. Run it through the dishwasher (you will probably have to take out the top rack) on the hottest cycle it has, with a regular dose of dishwashing detergent. When it's done, immediately remove it from the dishwasher and lightly sand it with 600 grit sandpaper, then wipe it down with a clean cloth and rub it down with Formby's Tung Oil Varnish. If desired, you can sand and repeat the Formby's. This will make it look like a lovely old antique that has been lovingly cared for. Second suggestion. Get a big disposable roasting pan and soak the stock in mineral spirits, using a cup or something to pour the mineral spirits over the wood. Use a brass bristle brush to gently scrub the wood at first, then switch to a disposable nylon scrubbie pad, and then to a cloth soaked in mineral spirits (You may want to change out the mineral spirits partway through if the solvent starts looking nasty.) When you've gotten off as much guck as you can, dry the wood in the sun for a couple of hours. Then sand it with 400 grit wet or dry sandpaper, wipe it down with a cloth and reevaluate. You may want to scrub it some more with the mineral spirits. When you are satisfied, wipe it clean, sand it with 600 grit sandpaper until it is soft and smooth, and then use the Formby's Tung Oil Varnish on it. Either method will bring about substantial improvement in the appearance of the stock.

01-18-2008, 07:00 PM	#8
okole Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NW Montana Posts: 61	it's called patina, leave it alone.

01-18-2008, 09:14 PM	#9
Ricochet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 166	If you're talking about an M91, now you're talking about something with collector value. Be careful not to mess it up. Any sort of stripping or harsh scrubbing will do that. __________________ "A cheerful heart is good medicine."

01-19-2008, 12:49 AM	#11
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,370 Images: 1	Patina! This one has SH**ina ll over it! Thanks for the ideas guys! It appears someone started cleaning the buttstock and gave up! I hope to scrub the stock clean and rub her down in linseed oil. Thee is no finish on this stock! Just a heavy layer of crud! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

01-19-2008, 07:49 AM	#12
marion57 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,882	crud?? sounds like my omega special !!Had to use murphys soap on it to clean it up had a 1/4 inch of scrapeable crud on the stock and took about 4 oz of sand muck and dirt out of the bolt..To my surprise the bore cleaned up and its a good shooter

01-19-2008, 08:11 AM	#13
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,370 Images: 1	This one looks as bad as yours sounds marion!! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

01-19-2008, 08:33 AM	#14
Dookiebutt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: America's North Coast Posts: 1,163	If you have a crappy shellac finish, no amount of rubbing with BLO and steelwool will help you. The shellac seals the finish, but does not really keep water out. You either strip the finish or fix the finish. Try some denatured alcohol after you wipe it down with OMS. The DA will "melt" the shellac and make it re-adhere to itself. It will fix those crumbly, chipped areas real nice.

01-19-2008, 08:45 AM	#15
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,370 Images: 1	Well, I guess I'll find out. As I will get some time to work on her today. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

01-20-2008, 10:07 PM	#16
tmfun Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 69	I just re finished my 91/30. Jasco paint stripper and about 10 minutes at the sink and i was at bare wood. 180 through 400 grit sand paper and it was a baby's ass. 3 coats of "Cabernet" Varathane stain and three coats of marine grade spar varnish and I now have a thing of beauty. I like it so much that the M44 is next but with tung oil instead of varnish cause I like the hand rubbed thing. Been too dark for pics but i will post em when I get em.

01-21-2008, 01:08 AM	#18
marion57 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,882	[quote]This one looks as bad as yours sounds marion!![/quotelook like this swede??[/IMG] Last edited by marion57; 01-21-2008 at 01:11 AM. Reason: post pic

01-21-2008, 01:27 PM	#19
gokuboy26 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 93	I've heard the carpet cleaner "spot shot" works well for pullin grease/oil out of the wood... its in the blue can with the orange lid.

01-21-2008, 03:35 PM	#20
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,370 Images: 1	Marion- You have my rifle's twin!!!!! I've got most of the crud off now, but I still have a long way to go baby!!!! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers