Surplus style refinish

[CanadianBaconPancakes]

Took allot of testing to get this, I think this is my favourite try. Used BLO and Amber shelac ( waxed ) with tung oil finnish ontop. Not everything sticks to waxed shelac but I found something that did after spending time looking at MSDS sheets.

 

[VanIsleCam]

Man it looks good and do you have some other angle pics? love what you put into it.

 

[enefgee]

Wow, that's a fancy finish - you'll need to get the metal Colt Royal blued now.

 

[StrelokM38]

Can you go through the process you used to refinish it? I have a 1950's SKS with a stock that has seen much better days. I would like to clean it up.

Thanks!

 

[biker_boy]

Well done.

 

[EL34/6L6]

Well, done. Too shiny and polished for me though. SKS should look used. Like a jeep, or a hammer.

 

[Robert Nicholson]

Is that your 1950 with 1949 features? It is looking great.

 

[Sh0ckw4v3]

That definitely looks like a 1950 bayonet.

 

[Geraldo]

What's the purpose of putting tung oil on top of shellac?

 

[CanadianBaconPancakes]

What's the purpose of putting tung oil on top of shellac?

tung oil Finnish, basically its a oil mixed with a lacquer. You buff it so it gets a semi gloss and brings out more depth to the black and darks. Not really military but honestly if gives more of a marble look to the Finnish and brings out all the work with the BLO and shellac.

 

[CanadianBaconPancakes]

Can you go through the process you used to refinish it? I have a 1950's SKS with a stock that has seen much better days. I would like to clean it up.

Thanks!

I used a GEL stripper till only the shellac came off ( left the black pine tar ), used nutralizer just in case, followed by a quick rinse with cold water to pop the grain, let it dry , Started to use BLO for 2 weeks ( once a day just a small amount applied with steel wool and wiped after 30 min ), Amber shelac -3 coats sanded with 2000 grit, then 3 coats of " tung oil finnish " wet sanded every coat but the last with 2000 grit. really really buff in ur last coat of finnish cause you want it smooth when it dries. It should feel as smooth as glass when done and dry.

 

[Robert Nicholson]

tung oil Finnish, basically its a oil mixed with a lacquer. You buff it so it gets a semi gloss and brings out more depth to the black and darks. Not really military but honestly if gives more of a marble look to the Finnish and brings out all the work with the BLO and shellac.

It looks great. I think this is your 1950 because the shadow cast by the gas block is square rather than angled. That makes at least three 1949 features for this gun.

 

[CanadianBaconPancakes]

It looks great. I think this is your 1950 because the shadow cast by the gas block is square rather than angled. That makes at least three 1949 features for this gun.

yup it is the 1950

 

[Geraldo]

tung oil Finnish, basically its a oil mixed with a lacquer. You buff it so it gets a semi gloss and brings out more depth to the black and darks. Not really military but honestly if gives more of a marble look to the Finnish and brings out all the work with the BLO and shellac.

Thanks for the info!

I wonder if the french polish process on the shellac could yield similar results? I do expect that lacquer will be more durable than shellac...and french polishing might be more work.

I really dig the colors on your stock, and your whole process sure makes that stock look really rich.