Removing gun oil from stock

[gazbev]

I have been inspired by posts on this forum to strip the varnish from my Lanber and oil the stock.

I kid you not I have spent probably close on twenty hours stripping the varnish clearing chequering and I have a clean stock ready for oiling, the only thing that spoils it is the oil that has soaked into the stock where the previous owner has stored it barrels up.

I have tried a bit of washing up liquid warm water damp rag and iron and it had made a difference but it isn't good enough,someone has suggested oil dry granuals?

Any ideas welcome.Cheers

[PhilR]

When I've done my stock I've heated the stock or forend with a hair dryer to sweat it out and wiped the surface oil off with kitchen towel roll. It takes time though. When I've done it I ensure the inletted surfaces have a liberal coating of grain sealer to prevent future ingress of gun oil.

[Imperfection]

Dont laugh,but i used Mr Muscle kitchen cleaner on my 70 year old K98 rifle when i wanted to refinish it.

[welshwarrior]

Whiting or acetone

[Andy H]

Soak in acetone for a week or so changing it after 3-4 days and then leave to dry.

[subsonicnat]

As I have said before, Lighter Fluid, raise the grain and oil with it, very lightly SCRAPE with one sided razor, do not remove WOOD there is no need. it takes time but will get 95% of it out, it will look as good as new.

[rtaylor]

Not sure about oil that has soaked in from the action, but I have just redone the stock on my rifle, which I had stained and oiled after removing the varnish. I then decided I wanted to remove the stain and oil and start again.

 

I used a heat gun/hair dryer and gently warmed the stock and then used a soft brass brush (the bristles are well rounded) to scrub the oil off, worked a treat. Then just sanded it down a bit to get the stain off.

 

It might be worth trying to heat it out then scrub/scrape the surface with a brush/blade.

[hunterdave]

how did you clear your checkering ?

[welshwarrior]

Toothbrush and acetone works well I just go over it all with a single line chequering tool.

[hunterdave]

does anyone know of a rearly good guide to striping and refinishing a stock , ive been inspired !!!

[gazbev]

Ok I tried a bit of mr muscle and it lifted over 50% of it,I left a small piece of rag with it on and will look later.I don't think it will shift the darker stuff so will try acetone tomorrow

Edited July 18, 2013 by gazbev

[rtaylor]

The heat seemed to make it turn into something between sticky and powdery. I know that sounds like opposites but it all seemed to come of in clumps when I scrubbed it. I wouldn't use a new brass brush as it might scratch the wood, but the dulled down one I used worked well. Wire wool would probably work but I find it clogs up quite quickly.

[rtaylor]

does anyone know of a rearly good guide to striping and refinishing a stock , ive been inspired !!!

There is a good guide to re doing a stock, pinned in the Craft and DIY section. If you want to stain the stock after you have stripped the varnish off, I use Van Dyke crystal, which are water soluble so you can add more or less water depending on how dark you want it.

[gazbev]

I bought ccl gun re finishing kit, a friend of mine used tru oil it was ok just wanted to try something different,will post the pics.

By the way the mr muscle has bleached the stock a little

[gazbev]

Rtaylor, that stock looks stunning what oil did you finish with?

[demonwolf444]

I couldnt get hold of any acetone as i didnt really know where to start. I filled a pint glass with white spirit and knew it was working when the white spirit turned from white to yellow to orange over about a week with the stock stood up in it.

[subsonicnat]

ACETONE is Nail Polish remover guys:

[rtaylor]

Thanks Gazbev. I did that one with just boiled linseed oil, I usually use Tung oil but ran out. Linseed takes a bit longer to soak in but the finish is still good.

 

It always helps to have a nice bit of wood underneath but I'm really please with how it ended up.

 

You might need to use a light wood stain to get it back to the same colour as the rest.

Edited July 19, 2013 by rtaylor

[straightshooter1]

lol lots of good ideas on here but what works best for me if it's only light oil ingress then the hair dryer jobby is good.

 

if slightly heavier wrap the wood with kitchen towel and elastic bands and microwave it. NOW VERY IMPORTANT only a few seconds at a time works really well and gets really deep down oil out just keep repeating till you are happy, but impossible with a rifle lol!

 

last but no means least if its the area lets say that the action meets the wood which it usually is, and is really bad soak it in methelated spirits not overnight but an hour or so but check on it regular basis this really degreases the worst parts ever.

 

or a combination of all three. These are the only methods I use.

Edited July 19, 2013 by straightshooter1

[welshwarrior]

Acetone works the same as meths and in the same way.

[Hornet 6]

To do a decent job you need a hot vapour degreasing tank, just dip and lift, allow to cool and back in again, keep going till oil is gone.

Doesn't take long and doesn't damage the stock, most sizeable engineering firms will have one, getting to use it is the problem, unless you work there.

 

Neil.

[gazbev]

Tried the hair dyer and tissue and it works.90% off now and I'm happy with that,too scared to use chemicals.

Just to put someone right,nail varnish remover is acetone but with an oil based moisturiser so no good for this job.

I'm using cci stock finish and its started to look nice