Adding texture to a fiberglass stock

[stickhunter]

I have a fiberglass B&C stock from a Remington 700TI that is in need of refinishing --- the previous owner repainted the stock, and in the process, sanded down most of the texture.

I've stripped the paint, used some body filler to repair some dings/scrapes, and I'm now getting ready to paint the stock. I'd like to DIY, so I'll probably use one of the Arma-Coat 2-part paint/spray kits. What I'm uncertain about is the best way add some texture to the stock. I'd like to have the texture similar to what was previously applied uniformly to all parts of the stock, similar to what's shown in this picture:

Any advice on how to achieve this type of finish? Durability/resistance to chipping and not adding too much weight are considerations.

 

[bcsteve]

I've seen tutorial on the net where you tape out the area where you want the texture, apply some epoxy and using the flat part of a popcycle stick on the epoxy once its starts setting, create texture. Kind of like a stucco ceiling but not as pointy.

 

[stickhunter]

I've seen tutorial on the net where you tape out the area where you want the texture, apply some epoxy and using the flat part of a popcycle stick on the epoxy once its starts setting, create texture. Kind of like a stucco ceiling but not as pointy.

I think you might be referring to this DIY: http://www.rdprecision.net/diy.html

The finish in the last picture looks a little too aggressive for what I'm trying to achieve, and would work best to specific areas of the stock. From the looks of the picture I posted, the texture seems to be the result of spraying/splattering the paint.

 

[bcsteve]

That exactly what I was trying to describe.

 

[elimsprint]

Try some spray can bedliner. You can do the whole stock, I just did a Savage tupperware, or just tape out the areas you want to texture. Practice a bit, the texture gets rougher as you hold the can further away.

 

[chappy]

go to a lordco and ask for ueropean texture spray. comes in an rattle can. you can spray fine to clumpy texture. let it dry well and colour over. if its durable enough for auto rocker pnls it good for stocks. i have textured many this way. won't chip or peel and feels good.

 

[Gatehouse]

Webbing paint will add texture, too. But a different pattern.

 

[deerfarmer]

I've done a similar project as you're working on before using an HLVP sprayer. I had luck getting some texture by dropping the air pressure way down --- basically get it so it is just kind of spitting on the stock. Results were similar to your picture. I also used arma-coat which I purchased off a dealer on here ... he was super helpful in answering any questions I had about finishing.

 

[stickhunter]

go to a lordco and ask for ueropean texture spray. comes in an rattle can. you can spray fine to clumpy texture. let it dry well and colour over. if its durable enough for auto rocker pnls it good for stocks. i have textured many this way. won't chip or peel and feels good.

I actually have a spray can of European texture spray from a truck repair... if the can is still good, I'll do an experiment. Ideally, I want a sparse enough spray pattern that only the lumps are adhered to the stock rather than a full coating.

re: HVLP --- I read this evening about this technique. I have one of the Lee Valley high pressure sprayers, but it might be worth trying out some different orifices and pressures:

This might be crazy, but I even wonder if using a straw to blow across a plate of paint might create the effect. I'm also wondering if anything needs to be done to the paint e.g., does it need to set for a bit to thicken so as not to flatten and disperse too much on the surface.

One of these days I should invest in a proper spray gun as I have a lot of projects that could benefit. In the meantime, I think some tests might be in order.

Webbing paint will add texture, too. But a different pattern.

I've seen some really nice examples of paint jobs using Krylon webbing paint --- my concern is about its durability. I wonder, perhaps, if webbing paint with a topcoat of Arma-coat might produce a nice effect.

 

[c-fbmi]

There is a paint from a spray can called wrinkle paint, I have used it a lot and really like the texture over the entire stock. Just follow the directions on the can, I've done rifle stocks, big block Chevy valve covers, timing covers..............it looks good and gives texture. You can kinda see it here on my 300 Wby...

 

[762shooter]

Try some spray can bedliner. You can do the whole stock, I just did a Savage tupperware, or just tape out the areas you want to texture. Practice a bit, the texture gets rougher as you hold the can further away.

Yeah, I've done that on wood stocks but see no reason it wouldn't work on fibreglass. I used Canadian Tire Trunk paint. You hold the can back about 2 feet and hit the button in short bursts so the paint clumps up on its way to the stock. It dries quite hard but still slightly resilient. Practice on a piece of 2 x 4, its not hard to get a good effect.

 

[elimsprint]

Yeah, I've done that on wood stocks but see no reason it wouldn't work on fibreglass. I used Canadian Tire Trunk paint. You hold the can back about 2 feet and hit the button in short bursts so the paint clumps up on its way to the stock. It dries quite hard but still slightly resilient. Practice on a piece of 2 x 4, its not hard to get a good effect.

I found that the CT trunk paint gets soft if you get any bug spray on it whereas the bed-liner is resistant to everything that I've managed to get on it, so far at least. The only problem is you had better want a black stock as paint doesn't stick to it very well at all.