Refinished my sks para

Zephri · 07-09-2008, 08:56 PM

Well all I can say is it looks pretty much the same (except the finish dosen't look like spit now)

I'll take better pics tomorrow in the daylight.

marion57 · 07-09-2008, 11:09 PM

I like it!!!
but I always wanted a para

sean46953 · 07-10-2008, 12:19 AM

Looks very nice. Nice and smooth finish on her! Just one question....What makes the Para different? Just never knew...

Zephri · 07-10-2008, 12:32 AM

It has a 16.5 barrel and a shorter bayonet rather than a 20.5 inch barrel and standard 12 inch bayonet. In other words it's a super short carbine supposedly a paratrooper carbine, but that was purely marketing by Norinco to American firearms buyers.

Btw: there hard to find at gunshows with their bayo-lugs not cut off or not raped by bubba.

marion57 · 07-10-2008, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zephri

It has a 16.5 barrel and a shorter bayonet rather than a 20.5 inch barrel and standard 12 inch bayonet. In other words it's a super short carbine supposedly a paratrooper carbine, but that was purely marketing by Norinco to American firearms buyers.

Btw: there hard to find at gunshows with their bayo-lugs not cut off or not raped by bubba.

I found one at a pawn shop but refused to pay what he was wanting for it

Zephri · 07-10-2008, 01:38 AM

what was he wanting for it?

marion57 · 07-10-2008, 02:02 AM

he wanted 250 for it andit wasnt in really good shape around here they go for around 200

Zephri · 07-10-2008, 02:24 AM

Must've been in pretty bad cond. of course around Indiana sks's (non yugo) generally go for 300 + or -.

res45 · 07-10-2008, 09:47 AM

Just curious what did you do to get the stock and handguard finish removed and what type of finish did you put back on it, I like the color.

Jersey Jailer · 07-10-2008, 10:03 AM

res45,
I don't know what zephri used, I use Easy off Oven cleaner. I seems to be the best for getting the oils out of the wood. I also use a citrus based gel I get from Home Depot, can't remember it's name though. It looks to have been refinished with Tung Oil or Linseed Oil. I use both Boiled Linseed cut with mineral spirits 1:2 putting
3 to 4 coats, "sanding" wit a scotch-brite pad in between coats, letting it dry for 24 hours between coats then a couple of coats of tung oil, 24 hours between coats and lightly going over with the scotch brite pad.

zephri, nice job looks good here.

Zephri · 07-10-2008, 12:44 PM

Ok got the outside pictures.

For stripping the finish I used Klean-Strip and a plastic bristled brush then wash excess off with hot water in a bathtub. This stripper is extremely harsh stuff so I would recommend gloves when stripping it. Sanded it with 150 grit sandpaper as the stock was "Hairy".

For the finish I used minwax Red mahogany stain and a few coats of tung oil which I sanded down (once dry of course) to a dull finish with 600 grit sand paper and 0000 steel wool, I'm lazy so I didn't bother getting the finish super perfect this gives it more of a "surplusey" look.

SwedeSteve · 07-10-2008, 03:33 PM

You did a great job !! Congrats, that's a beauty.

marion57 · 07-10-2008, 04:59 PM

Looks great to me !!!

Laufer · 07-22-2008, 02:31 AM

Well done Zephri. You have a good-looking, tough little 'rifle babe'.

I went out to shoot my Norinco today and the second round into the Kroger melon killed it for sure: using only iron sights at 30 feet!

Don't know about y'all, but am still keeping one or two areas here protected from floating fruit.
Somebody's got to do it.

Rave · 07-25-2008, 03:47 PM

Has anyone tried alcohol before anything else?
Many SKS's were finished with shellac,very easy to remove with alcohol.
Before you get in to it,try some on a spot,if it is'nt shellac it won't do anything,if it does then you can easily clean the finish off.

07-09-2008, 08:56 PM	#1
Zephri Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN. "The city where nothing happens." Posts: 1,021 Trader Rating: (1)	Refinished my sks para Well all I can say is it looks pretty much the same (except the finish dosen't look like spit now) I'll take better pics tomorrow in the daylight. __________________ "All rifles need a sharp pointy object on the end!" http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l195/zephri/

07-09-2008, 11:09 PM	#2
marion57 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,659 Trader Rating: (0)	I like it!!! but I always wanted a para __________________ You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead fingers!(Charlton Heston)

07-10-2008, 12:19 AM	#3
sean46953 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Marion, Indiana Posts: 355 Trader Rating: (0)	Looks very nice. Nice and smooth finish on her! Just one question....What makes the Para different? Just never knew... __________________ http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...00_0535100.jpgSean M. Hartman

07-10-2008, 12:32 AM	#4
Zephri Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN. "The city where nothing happens." Posts: 1,021 Trader Rating: (1)	It has a 16.5 barrel and a shorter bayonet rather than a 20.5 inch barrel and standard 12 inch bayonet. In other words it's a super short carbine supposedly a paratrooper carbine, but that was purely marketing by Norinco to American firearms buyers. Btw: there hard to find at gunshows with their bayo-lugs not cut off or not raped by bubba. __________________ "All rifles need a sharp pointy object on the end!" http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l195/zephri/ Last edited by Zephri; 07-10-2008 at 12:34 AM.

07-10-2008, 01:38 AM	#6
Zephri Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN. "The city where nothing happens." Posts: 1,021 Trader Rating: (1)	what was he wanting for it? __________________ "All rifles need a sharp pointy object on the end!" http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l195/zephri/

07-10-2008, 02:02 AM	#7
marion57 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,659 Trader Rating: (0)	he wanted 250 for it andit wasnt in really good shape around here they go for around 200 __________________ You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead fingers!(Charlton Heston)

07-10-2008, 02:24 AM	#8
Zephri Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN. "The city where nothing happens." Posts: 1,021 Trader Rating: (1)	Must've been in pretty bad cond. of course around Indiana sks's (non yugo) generally go for 300 + or -. __________________ "All rifles need a sharp pointy object on the end!" http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l195/zephri/ Last edited by Zephri; 07-10-2008 at 02:27 AM.

07-10-2008, 09:47 AM	#9
res45 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 256 Trader Rating: (0)	Just curious what did you do to get the stock and handguard finish removed and what type of finish did you put back on it, I like the color.

07-10-2008, 10:03 AM	#10
Jersey Jailer Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: SOUTH Jersey Posts: 444 Trader Rating: (0)	res45, I don't know what zephri used, I use Easy off Oven cleaner. I seems to be the best for getting the oils out of the wood. I also use a citrus based gel I get from Home Depot, can't remember it's name though. It looks to have been refinished with Tung Oil or Linseed Oil. I use both Boiled Linseed cut with mineral spirits 1:2 putting 3 to 4 coats, "sanding" wit a scotch-brite pad in between coats, letting it dry for 24 hours between coats then a couple of coats of tung oil, 24 hours between coats and lightly going over with the scotch brite pad. zephri, nice job looks good here. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Austrailian Shepherds are like potato chips... You can't have just one

07-10-2008, 12:44 PM	#11
Zephri Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN. "The city where nothing happens." Posts: 1,021 Trader Rating: (1)	Ok got the outside pictures. For stripping the finish I used Klean-Strip and a plastic bristled brush then wash excess off with hot water in a bathtub. This stripper is extremely harsh stuff so I would recommend gloves when stripping it. Sanded it with 150 grit sandpaper as the stock was "Hairy". For the finish I used minwax Red mahogany stain and a few coats of tung oil which I sanded down (once dry of course) to a dull finish with 600 grit sand paper and 0000 steel wool, I'm lazy so I didn't bother getting the finish super perfect this gives it more of a "surplusey" look. __________________ "All rifles need a sharp pointy object on the end!" http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l195/zephri/ Last edited by Zephri; 07-10-2008 at 12:54 PM.

07-10-2008, 03:33 PM	#12
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 8,868 Trader Rating: (0)	You did a great job !! Congrats, that's a beauty. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

07-10-2008, 04:59 PM	#13
marion57 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,659 Trader Rating: (0)	Looks great to me !!! __________________ You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead fingers!(Charlton Heston)

07-22-2008, 02:31 AM	#14
Laufer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Down south. Posts: 105 Trader Rating: (0)	Well done Zephri. You have a good-looking, tough little 'rifle babe'. I went out to shoot my Norinco today and the second round into the Kroger melon killed it for sure: using only iron sights at 30 feet! Don't know about y'all, but am still keeping one or two areas here protected from floating fruit. Somebody's got to do it. Last edited by Laufer; 07-22-2008 at 02:33 AM.

07-25-2008, 03:47 PM	#15
Rave Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 6,734 Trader Rating: (0)	Has anyone tried alcohol before anything else? Many SKS's were finished with shellac,very easy to remove with alcohol. Before you get in to it,try some on a spot,if it is'nt shellac it won't do anything,if it does then you can easily clean the finish off. __________________ USAF '62-'66 .