My SMLE looks like it could use some lovin'. She's a bubba in a set of DP Wood and I've read here that the best way to give it attention is it just rub on some BLO and any dirt will come off on the rag. I assume I have to take the rifle out of the stock, right?
Bonehead BLO Question
- Thread starter slicknick
- Start date
Yes, you should keep BLO off of the metal. You don't need to take off the stock if you are just going for looks, but if you want the BLO to get to the internals, you'll need to take off the stock and refinish the inside as well.
BLO isn't a great cleaner. Try some "Circa 1850" stripper from Canadian Tire or Home Depot. It won't strip the patina or damage the wood in any way, but it will remove the crud and anything else that shouldn't be on the stock with just one or two applications.
Apply a few coats of BLO, giving ample time to dry in-between, and voilla...
BLO isn't a great cleaner. Try some "Circa 1850" stripper from Canadian Tire or Home Depot. It won't strip the patina or damage the wood in any way, but it will remove the crud and anything else that shouldn't be on the stock with just one or two applications.
Apply a few coats of BLO, giving ample time to dry in-between, and voilla...
Keep in mind that the circa 1850 will strip the stock down some, so if you're just looking to darken the stock that's not going to be the result. Here's an example of what it can do:http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220975
It's easy to take the rifle apart, easier access to the wood, a lot easier to work, and you'll find lots of dirt / sand / mice nests here and there, you'll be able to clean the sear spring, etc. Just make sure you remove the forend before you turn the butt bolt (if you need to remove the butt). I would use mineral spirits to clean off the dirt. Stripper will strip some finish off (potentially all of it). So I'd use stripper only if a total refurb of the wood is your intention.
Once cleaned, the stock can be recoated with very this coats of BLO.
Lou
Once cleaned, the stock can be recoated with very this coats of BLO.
Lou
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fat tony
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I have some Tru - oil, they reccomend rubbing the derned stuff on their with your bare fingers, it this okay? Also I got a gallon of BLO from Kents last year, I heard you can get a wallpaper pan and cut the BLO with turpentine and soak your stocks in it, and wipe off the excess after letting it sit in there, it seems that there are as many different opinions on using BLO as there are people that have it in their basement. . .
Dirt will come off in the rag. The idea here is to clean the stock WITHOUT using a cleaning agent, which no matter how gentle, will damage the old original finish. The dirt that comes off on the BLO soaked rag is the only acceptable amount of "cleaning" IMHO.
I have to agree with you skirsons, but I'd add that you'd need the pure BLO, not the usual one found in hardware stores that have additives to dry faster - I'd worry that it'd get sticky and wouldn't work as intended in that context. But the pure stuff, for sure - it takes days to dry, so I wouldn't worry there!
Lou
Lou
Turpentine/BLO mixture is to allow it to soak in deeper when re-finishing wood. I would not use it if you are not stripping it, just stick with the BLO in that case. On my BSA which was stripped I used 50/50, 60/40 (BLO/turpentine), 80/20 and 95+/5- (whatever percentage of turp that was still in the bowl as I just kept adding BLO) for the last 4 coats. I have been happy with Murphy's oil soap for my antique furniture, and have used it on my Lithy with no hesitation and was pleased with the results.
1917 Lithgow mkIII
1918 BSA mkIII*
1917 Lithgow mkIII
1918 BSA mkIII*
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Apparently even if you buy "Boiled" Linseed Oil that is labelled as such from Home Depot it isn't really boiled - just chemicals added. I would like someone to point out a hobby store brand whose label explicitly indicates that it is actually boiled and not "boiled" like the Depot stuff.
