Winchester Super Grade walnut refinish UPDATE 11/8 : Finished

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Winchester Super Grade walnut refinish UPDATE 11/8 : Finished

Posted: 8/7/2017 1:14:45 PM EDT

I picked up a Winchester Super Grade that I really like, but am a bit disappointed in the finish. I found some flaws in the sunlight over the weekend I'm not happy about, so in typical "me" fashion, I'm going to try my hand at refinishing before ordering a walnut from Boyd's.

I prefer not to send the rifle back because to be honest, I have zero faith in most workers to do anything right these days. If they gave a damn it wouldn't be like this in the first place. If you want it done right, you've got to do it yourself...

So why not take the opportunity to try and learn something, it's the kind of project I typically enjoy anyway. And I am experienced at finishing wood trim, so not a total noobie.

I'll bet there's a good looking piece of Walnut under all that shit.

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Posted: 8/7/2017 1:15:32 PM EDT

[#1]

I ordered the stuff today, so I'll update this as I go.

As it sits now.

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Posted: 8/7/2017 1:18:59 PM EDT

[#2]

World's Best Oil Finish
Courtesy of dfariswheel on The High Road

I did this on a 67 year old shotgun earlier this year. It's absolutely beautiful and has held up nicely. I'll put some pics up later.

Posted: 8/13/2017 2:35:02 PM EDT

[#3]

Had a bit of a mishap with stripper on the plastic forend tip, but I think It'll be okay. If all else fails I'll learn how to re-tip a stock.

Stripping and scraping.

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Halfway through sanding.

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First coat of Pilkington golden brown finish.

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Posted: 8/13/2017 2:37:02 PM EDT

[#4]

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Posted: 8/14/2017 7:36:48 AM EDT

[#5]

Boy that stock has some nice figure. Looking forward to seeing it finished!

Posted: 8/14/2017 7:45:24 AM EDT

[#6]

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Quoted:
Boy that stock has some nice figure. Looking forward to seeing it finished!

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Thanks, that's why I can't understand why there was so much shit on it. They went out of their way to cover it up.

Posted: 8/14/2017 7:49:48 AM EDT

[#7]

It had no tackiness late last night so I went ahead and put another coat on. I'm bare hand rubbing it in, mixed 1/3,2/3 finish and mineral spirits. Pretty therapeutic to feel the grain this way, been stressful at work lately.

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Posted: 8/14/2017 7:53:54 AM EDT

[#8]

Tagged. The rifle... Not you

Posted: 8/15/2017 9:40:06 PM EDT

[#9]

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Quoted:
Tagged. The rifle... Not you

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Haha, hopefully.

Posted: 8/15/2017 9:43:32 PM EDT

[#10]

Four coats in, starting to get a slight sheen going and darkening a bit more without hiding the figure.

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Posted: 8/16/2017 7:50:37 AM EDT

[#11]

Please keep posting pics, that looks like an exceptional piece of wood!

Posted: 8/18/2017 6:11:25 PM EDT

[#12]

Friday has arrived. More wet sanding with the finish, it's starting to not soak anymore of it in.

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Posted: 8/18/2017 6:26:11 PM EDT

[#13]

With flash, I'm on coat 7.

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Posted: 8/22/2017 11:06:19 AM EDT

[#14]

Looks fantastic, good job.

Posted: 8/22/2017 6:31:28 PM EDT

[#15]

Looking good!!

Posted: 8/22/2017 6:41:47 PM EDT

[#16]

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Quoted:
Friday has arrived. More wet sanding with the finish, it's starting to not soak anymore of it in.

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/196304/IMG_6228-283834.JPG

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/196304/IMG_6230-283836.JPG

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Probably one of the few times you can with a straight face say you are drinking a nice bourbon and hand rubbing oil into your wood.

I hand rubbed some PTO into some of my old M1 Garand stocks and amazing what oil can do to bring out the figure in walnut.

Posted: 8/22/2017 10:10:13 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:

Probably one of the few times you can with a straight face say you are drinking a nice bourbon and hand rubbing oil into your wood.

I hand rubbed some PTO into some of my old M1 Garand stocks and amazing what oil can do to bring out the figure in walnut.

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Absolutely, I may have to take it up as hobby. Stock finishing too.

Posted: 8/22/2017 10:12:00 PM EDT

[#18]

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Quoted:
Looks fantastic, good job.

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Quoted:
Looks fantastic, good job.

Quoted:
Looking good!!

Thanks guys. It's curing glossy at the moment, then I'll sand it back down and oil it.

Posted: 8/23/2017 10:40:49 PM EDT

[#19]

Cured enough for another round of sanding tonight, first 320 grit, then 00 steel wool.

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You can see the cured finish/slurry in the pores and the surface feels like silk.

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First coat of hand rubbed oil, wiped with t-shirt after about 10 minutes.

*If you look closely, you can just make out a glass once full of whiskey, still wet from only moments before...*

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Posted: 8/23/2017 10:46:54 PM EDT

[#20]

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Posted: 8/23/2017 11:17:50 PM EDT

[#21]

Looks great OP I might dig through the safe and find a wood piece to redo

Do you mind taking a picture showing the entire stock?

Posted: 8/23/2017 11:22:54 PM EDT

[#22]

I usually mask off the checkering and finish separately with a thinner oil like fretboard oil to lleave a darker, flatter finish. I've had problems with excess build in the valleys. Also, although it is too late on this one, before applying finish, sand to 400 grit, I blow out the pores and rub in bone black with a paper towel to really bring out the pores. But don't get it into the checkering unless you want black checkering, look at Doug Turnbull's site, in the Winchester gallery.

Eta: looking great for the first time. I wish my first one looked that good.

Posted: 8/24/2017 5:45:34 AM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
I usually mask off the checkering and finish separately with a thinner oil like fretboard oil to lleave a darker, flatter finish. I've had problems with excess build in the valleys. Also, although it is too late on this one, before applying finish, sand to 400 grit, I blow out the pores and rub in bone black with a paper towel to really bring out the pores. But don't get it into the checkering unless you want black checkering, look at Doug Turnbull's site, in the Winchester gallery.

Eta: looking great for the first time. I wish my first one looked that good.

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Sounds great, I'm thinking I'll redo my 10/22 french walnut stock sometime soon. Overall I have 9 coats of finish on if I counted right, but the checkering has 3 that were blotted with the shirt.

Posted: 8/24/2017 5:46:19 AM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
Looks great OP I might dig through the safe and find a wood piece to redo

Do you mind taking a picture showing the entire stock?

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I'll get one this evening if I don't forget.

Posted: 8/27/2017 10:06:16 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
I'll get one this evening if I don't forget.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
Looks great OP I might dig through the safe and find a wood piece to redo

Do you mind taking a picture showing the entire stock?

I'll get one this evening if I don't forget.

Shit, I apologize, went down to work on it and remembered your request.

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Posted: 8/27/2017 10:07:54 PM EDT

[#26]

I polished it with some 600 grit and then rottenstone tonight. Cleaned it up and rubbed in another coat of oil.

Posted: 8/28/2017 7:06:14 AM EDT

[#27]

Looks much nicer than the original. Good job op

Posted: 11/8/2017 5:51:13 PM EDT

[#28]

Finally cured and ready for whitetail.

Posted: 11/8/2017 6:23:23 PM EDT

[#29]

Outstanding job. Beautiful rifle.

Posted: 11/8/2017 7:43:11 PM EDT

[#30]

Bravo!

Posted: 11/8/2017 11:18:21 PM EDT

[#31]

Wow, that turned out very nicely. I would be proud to go hunting with a rifle that fine. Something I could pass down to my kids one day.

Posted: 11/9/2017 2:38:51 AM EDT

[#32]

Beautiful

Excellent job

Posted: 11/9/2017 3:51:13 AM EDT

[#33]

Wow, OP. Beautiful work!

Posted: 11/19/2017 12:37:48 AM EDT

[#34]

Great work.

Posted: 11/19/2017 8:29:04 AM EDT

[#35]

Thanks guys, I’m certainly happy with the results. Took it out to re-zero it the other day and it only needed one click left.

Posted: 12/2/2017 12:33:15 PM EDT

[#36]

That looks great. As a lot of people have done, the AR craze has driven me to fudd guns. I've refinished a few stocks this year and would not mind making a hobby of it.

It really is pretty relaxing to work on wood. Its amazing what a little time will do to a stock. Unfortunately, I'm not very patient and that has bitten me a few times.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Winchester Super Grade walnut refinish UPDATE 11/8 : Finished

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