picked up a timbersmith stock set in the ugliest black color. just doesnt look right at all. great fit, and workmanship, just the color is nasty.

looks like this:



any chance of refinishing this to a dark red or brown stain?

what would be best way to do this? sand it, or strip it with chemicals?

is it even worth doing? or will it end up looking worse? i have no idea what type of finish they use on their stock sets.

or, would i be better of posting a want to trade thread in the EE for an already finished russian red stock set? i am leary of this option, as this set fits perfectly.

Take the stock off and spray it down with paint remover, I just use the cheap stuff in the spray can. Let it sit a few min and wipe it off with steel wool. Let it dry good and sand it lightly since this will raise the grain. What I do next is soak it over night in 75% water 25% Clorox then dry and sand again. Then finish it anyway you want.

paint remover? like aircraft stipper?

if i soak it in a water/bleach mixture, wont it bloat and warp? do you just let it float in the water/bleach mixture, or submerge it, and weigh it down submerged?

Standard bleach is not strong enough to do the job fast enough to limit any problems with water soak.

Go to a swimming pool supply and buy some powdered pool bleach.
Mix that with hot water to a totally saturated solution.
This is WAY stronger than laundry bleach so wear gloves and eye protection.  (No BS, be careful).

Much depends on WHAT the stain in the wood is.  Various stains or dyes require different methods.
Here's some good info on lightening wood.

http://antiquerestorers.com/Articles/jeff/using_wood_bleach.htm

The water and Clorox is plenty strong enough. I've done three AKs in the last month and all came out of the water white and clean just by soaking over night. The stripper I used was just the cheap stuff in a can from Walmart. Was a gold colored can but can't recall the name.

Sell it and out the money towards something you really like.

i would, but the fit of this set is so perfect on the intended rifle.