Winter Project - starting early

[idahohunter8]

I have been wanting to build a really nice wood stock rifle based on a Winchester 70 action...Just can't stomach spending 3-5k to have someone build it.

So my counter to that was to find a new Winchester 70 Supergrade with nice wood and just take the factory finish off, re finish the wood to a nice hand rubbed tru oil finish and glass bed.

I picked up the rifle today and as you can see from the picks, the wood has some really good grains, flows, and just looks nice. Should really pop with a hand rubbed finish.

I have finished many bare stocks but never took the factory finish back on a rifle. Do you guys have any suggestions on the best way to do this? Is there a finish remover that can be rubbed on and take it off? I really don't want to have the sand the finish off as there is too much chance of disturbing the checking.

Thanks

 

[idahohunter8]

Also, does anyone know - is the ebony forend real wood or plastic?

 

[Rol_P]

That is a beautiful rifle as is. Anxious to see pic's when you finish.. I suggest that you call Turnbull Restoration and Manufacturing Co. (585) 412-2932 and explain your project and ask how best to carefully remove the factory finish. Look at their website, (just google the name) and you can see what they are capable of.

I stopped by their factory show room, without a prior call or appointment, a while back and was treated very cordially. Nice people.

Good luck with the project. Rol

 

[SJB358]

I would go to lowes or Home Depot and get some citrus furniture stripper. Very easy to apply, smells nice and will not hurt the wood or grain. Easy to clean up as well.

As for finish take a look at Waterlox as well. It's high quality wood finish oil.

That's a beautiful rifle right there.

Not sure about the forend but I bet it's plastic.

 

[Wyo7200]

Sounds like a cool project! I've used citristrip from lowes to remove paint and lacquer finishes. Also used formbys paint and poly remover, and formbys furniture refinisher. It helps to know what type of finish you're dealing with. Don't think the poly remover will do anything. The refinisher seems to just dissolve the old finish and meld it back onto the wood. If I remember right, it's a mix of several solvents.

I do think you'll have to sand regardless of what method you choose. The citristrip leaves traces in the grain and all the work over the grain may raise the fibers. Use a good masking tape over the checkering to protect it while sanding.

 

[FOTIS]

This from walmart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxcZ5GVe3Wo

And boiled linseed oil worked great for my Voere Titan 2!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te-7BX0cXL8

You tube is your friend

Here is my Voere

 

[idahohunter8]

Wanted to share some progress (This will be done a long way before winter - lol)

Used Citristrip to strip as much as I could then fully sanded down to bare wood with 220, then 320, then a smooth finish with 400. Raised the grains and smooth with 400 a couple times and then started with the tru oil. I do the sanded in method for the first 5-7 coats, then the next 5-7 by hand. These pics are after 2 rounds of sanded in method - this thing is going to pop when its done!

Side note - real ebony wood on the supergrade stocks!