Gun Cleaning Advice

[ExSCA]

ShootClay massive - need your advice a little...

I've just given my gun a good clean after yesterdays soaking in the rain - ejectors out (thanks Bob), everything cleaned, lightly greased etc. but I need some advice for the stock, which looks a bit 'dull' after two soakings in the week. My stock has a matte finish, is not varnished/shiny, but it looks dull after the rain. Any advice on the best thing to use to bring it back to life, do I need a special polish/oil - or could I give it a light touch of Mister Sheen?

Thanks in advance team...

 

[jinxy72]

if its an oiled finish then it will be a coat of linseed oil (buy the boiled stuff) … just a light coat … you find some who oil their stocks too much and wonder why it goes all sticky on a hot day's shooting … too much will seep back out when it gets hot . I wouldn't do anything until the wood has dried out too … don't want to risk trapping any moisture and wont take long. .. don't force dry as it could crack. … you may find once its dry then it will just buff up. i got advised by a good gunsmith don't oil ur stock more than 1-2 times a year …unless it gets an excessive soaking

 

[EdSolomons]

I have a spare container or some proper stock oil Matt- if you are going to Northampton next weekend for the English and British all round I can give it you then. Also got this star shot mallarkey on- worth a trip I'd say.

 

[optima]

ccl conditioning oil,brings it back to it,s best, but like said already let it dry out naturally first

 

[jinxy72]

oh one thing i forgot matt .. the more u oil a stock the darker it goes so expect a colour change over time though linseed oil is more of a neutral colour as this is the base of 99% of stock oils .. some stock oils have colorants added so bare in mind . if ed's used the oil then look at his stock :.:

 

[40UP]

Oil's tricky to get right Matt. My stocker says beeswax [as in furniture] but must be pure and contain NO silcone.

 

[Westward]

You need to know whether it's oil finish or poly because using oil on top of poly is worse than useless. My 686E woodwork was a poly finish originally and with that you can use almost anything you have lying around. In the past I've used car polish because I dislike the smell of Pledge, but plain, unadultered beeswax is fine too.

If yours is oil then I would advise against boiled linseed unless you like really dark wood. Pure linseed does a superb job but takes ages to fully polymerize. The best linseed oil is part polymerized, which means it cures quicker, and is available from art shops in little bottles for very little money. This stuff doesn't darken with age and cures in 3-4 days.

There is some art to oiled stocks, especially if the gun's in weekly use. Everyone has their own favourite tools, techniques and products but there's a lot of info out there on the www.

 

[40UP]

Friday

Saturday never been wetter

Monday ^_^ couldn't find where the hell I put the beeswax so wiped down with Legia green spray for wood

 

[Jeremy Baker]

I use Walnut oil.

Warmed on the palms and massaged into the stock and fore end.

Looks stunning when finished and smells good too.

 

[ExSCA]

Allergic to nuts, so that seriously isn't a good idea! Westward - how can I tell? Shall I photograph and get ShootClay opinions?

 

[EdSolomons]

Photograph your nuts? Id rather you didnt....

 

[ExSCA]

I'd need a wide angle lens.

 

[Hamster]

I'd need a wide angle lens.

Not to mention three hands.

 

[Jeremy Baker]

I'd be allergic to those nuts too.

 

[Westward]

Matt it's your site so if you want to post pictures of your wood.......