Re: Polly Wana Crack Her (1903 stock)

feeds@kickapps.com (Cabinetman) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:42:32 PST

The Behlen products are available online and at Woodcraft stores everywhere. Just do a Google search for "Behlen" and you'll find the "solarlux" dyes along with their "15 minute stain". Both are color only with the stain being much heavier and more opaque. The dyes simply disappear.

Rome

Re: Polly Wana Crack Her (1903 stock)

feeds@kickapps.com (Rotor) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:20:21 PST

Thanks Rome. Especially for you great work on this forum. Coming here really made me start getting serious about the techniques and materials I was using (or not using).

I sing about dye's to whomever will listen. There are still misguided souls out there ruining what would be great stock's with finishes that were designed for house painters. though I am pretty comfortable dealing with overlap now, I will keep an eye out for Behlen / Mohawk dye. What outlets do you see this in?

I did not attempt to sharpen the grasping grooves. It would have been too invasive for this project.

Re: Polly Wana Crack Her (1903 stock)

feeds@kickapps.com (Cabinetman) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 07:42:58 PST

Very nice save. You've shown why I suggest using dyes. You can't tell they are in the wood as they don't obscure the wood at all. And, they can be controlled. You can apply multiple "coats" until you get the depth you want. Too deep? Simply wipe with denatured alcohol.

BTW, the "overlap" issue you encountered can also be mitigated by using some DA on a clean rag on those areas. The trick, however, is to work on long strokes so you avoid as much overlap as possible. Alcohol based dyes can do that but the amount of overlap depends on the brand of dye you use. The Behlen (Mohawk's retail brand) uses a proprietary material very similar to DA but with something in it that retards the drying of the carrier for a few extra minutes just to the overlap doesn't become an issue.

Looks great!

Rome

Re: Polly Wana Crack Her (1903 stock)

feeds@kickapps.com (Rotor) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 05:58:16 PST

It's at most hardware stores.

I use it most often because it is relatively fume free and safe for indoors. Still need gloves though.

JR

Re: Polly Wana Crack Her (1903 stock)

feeds@kickapps.com (gil) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:25:33 PST

great save!
we all have seen,and most have bought at least one shiney riflestock. where do you find citristrip?
thanks
gil

Re: Polly Wana Crack Her (1903 stock)

feeds@kickapps.com (Rotor) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:57:55 PST

Dennis Jenkins1 wrote:
What is worse is that some people like the poly. I guess that means there will be no shortage of future stocks to stocks to reverse.

Dennis Jenkins

I can only hope.

Re: Polly Wana Crack Her (1903 stock)

feeds@kickapps.com (Dennis Jenkins1) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:07:09 PST

What is worse is that some people like the poly. I guess that means there will be no shortage of future stocks to stocks to reverse.

Dennis Jenkins

Re: Polly Wana Crack Her (1903 stock)

feeds@kickapps.com (Mountain Doctor) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:16:01 PST

Nice work! I bet a stock as nice as your finished product would go for $150+. Good save. Thanks for the pictures too.

I did the same thing, on a much smaller scale. I de-bedlinered a lower forestock for an AK. I needed one and the local store had it in the bargin bin for $5. All I have is the 'After' picture. I'm too OCD to get a 'Before' picture, I just get right to work!

Re: Polly Wana Crack Her (1903 stock)

feeds@kickapps.com (Rotor) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:54:11 PST

Well, It's done.

After getting all the Polyurethane ( and whatever was left of the old finish) off. I let it dry for a couple of days. The stock was pretty white and the water test indicated it was not going to darken too much. Kind of the shade of amber it had under the Poly. I really wanted to go for a dark vintage look so I brought out the Vanderhave's Mil stock dye kit. They are alcohol dyes in several shades.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=7677&st=vanderhave&s=

Re: Polly Wana Crack Her (1903 stock)

feeds@kickapps.com (Rotor) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:14:58 PST

OK I have some progress here.

Using CitriStrip in stages I just worked my way from the nose to the butt. Some heavy deposits took a couple applications. Lifting the softened poly with a bronze bristle tooth brush was much more precise and effective on the stock contours than a scraper. The brush is just stiff enough to get in cross bolt crevices and oddly contoured inlets. When it clogs up just rinse it out and go back at it. Working the stock in stages allows you to have good control of the work.

After lifting the softened stripper with the brush I picked up the remaining slurry with paper towels and acetone. This quickly revealed any spots to double back over.

There was layer of dust in the action inletting...

Re: Polly Wana Crack Her (1903 stock)

feeds@kickapps.com (Cabinetman) — Fri, 30 May 2008 17:58:52 PST

We'll be watching for progress. That's some thick Polyurethane on there for sure! I'll bet you'll end up with a very nice piece. You can "resharpen" the edges of the grips with the appropriate tools, btw. There are special scrapers made just for that purpose. Most good supply houses sell them for cheap, too.

Keep us posted!

Rome

Polly Wana Crack Her (1903 stock)

feeds@kickapps.com (Rotor) — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:49:10 PST

Well this is pretty sad. It's a 1903, 2 bolt grasping groove stock that has been carefully preserved in Polyurethane. I picked it up at a gunshow. I had heard a couple of the usual C&R bird dogs bitching about the "wrecked 03 stock" at the corner table. I saw it a few minutes later.

...