Stock finishing Journey

[DFBrews]

Found a new semi Inletted trap stock for my over under. I have lots of sanding to do to get it buttery smooth. And the final inletting will be a challenge as well. I am hung up on stock finishing I want the deep almost looking into the wood type finish of the high end guns.

Reading the internets I am mainly confused. Anyone have a favorite stock finish technique? Tru oil looks promising linseed alone won't give me the depth and gloss I am looking for.

Also looking for advise filling the grain I have watched many videos and read a lot of articles and have not came to a conclusion on which to do yet.


the stock I picked up

[BPTactical]

Sorry, but nothing has the warmth and depth of hand rubbed linseed oil.
Sand down to a 600 grit finish and vacuum it clean. Take a lightly dampened rag and wipe the stock. Hold it over a burner on the stove (dont scorch it) to raise the grain. Sand again with the 600. Repeat as needed to eliminate any "whiskers". Don't use steel wool yet.
Thin the first 3-4 coats 50/50 with turpentine and slop them on heavy, these will act as pentrating/sealer coats.
When these coats have set, "bone" the stock. Take a spoon, polished piece of hardwood or bone and burnish the stock with a drop or two of linseed oil.
This will make it hard as a rock and smooth as glass.
Now you start the hard and time consuming part, rubbin her in. Put a few drops of linseed on the stock and use the heel of your hand to rub it in. Rub it fast and hard, you want the heat to build up while you work the oil in.
Let each coat dry well and once you have 4-5 coats on it then you can use 4/0 steel wool between coats.
With enough coats you won't need a sealer.

The old mantra on linseed finishes: Once a day for a month, once a month for a year, once a year after that.

[DFBrews]

Hoping you would chime in Burt. I am pulling the gun apart soon to do the inletting and bedding first. I can see why a custom stock is in the 3k range now. Betting I have 100 man hours into it by the time I am done.


with the BLO I don't want any plastizers or dryers like Japan drier in it? And potter field does his linseed in a drying cabinet with our climate is it needed?