Finishing off a laminate wood stock?

[mr00jimbo]

Bought a 10/22 with a boyd thumbhole "pepper" laminate stock but he said it's not finished...
is it hard to finish? Should I take the gun apart from the stock to do it, or should I just wipe the outside down and bob's your uncle? Any tips?

 

[303carbine]

laminate stocks

I would take the wood off the rifle and use 0000 steel wool on it till the grain smooths out. Go with the grain and take your time because it will look better and the end. Apply the oil by hand, I use only one finger and that assures me of not using too much. Let each coat dry about 12 hours and use steel wool in between coats.Be sure to remove all the dust from steel wooling. Do not go across the grain and don't use sandpaper, it scratches laminate very easily. If you want to see what the laminate stocks look like after 5 coats of Tru-Oil you can email me at deerslayer@shaw.ca and I will forward you some pics.

 

[Mauser98]

Don't use any thinners in the Tru-oil. Some thinners will react with the gray dye in the wood and cause the stock to turn green.

 

[mr00jimbo]

Thanks guys!!!
What are the best conditions for it to dry? I can let it dry overnight in my room I suppose but i don't want the fumes making me dizzy...alternatively I don't want to leave it too long unatteneded in the garage just in case it gets stolen (Vancouver for ya )

 

[303carbine]

The fumes are not that bad, I would leave it in a warm room and let each coat cure for about 12 hours.
Use the steel wool in between coats...................

 

[Kodiak Outpost]

Another option is paint. This is a pepper laminate with red candy and clear. It could also be done with just clear in high or low gloss.

 

[Splatter]

And DH did my pepper laminate too.

I think that the epoxy-type finishes are really the way to go, and if you want a matt rather than a gloss finish, that's easy to do too.

 

[mr00jimbo]

that red is gorgeous! What are the most popular colours to paint it in?

 

[Splatter]

that red is gorgeous!

Go to his website. I think the blue is much nicer.

 

[Kodiak Outpost]

Go to his website. I think the blue is much nicer.

haha, yeah, the blue is nice.

 

[sunray]

"...laminate stock..." Even laminates are just wood. Use the same products and techniques used on fine furniture. Definitely take the stock off to do any refinishing work.