chinese sks stock refinish prep

[otter]

Before everyone jumps on me, I DID search "sks stock dishwahser" and came up with bupkus, so here goes:

I have one of the Marstar Chi-Military sks's and have decided to refinish the stock: strip, sand all rough spots nice and smooth and use tung oil for finishing.

Will the "whatever" wood stand up to a cycle or two in the dishwasher or am I getting a can of stripper?

 

[polaris]

and what exactly should the dishwasher cycle do to your chinese stock?

 

[otter]

and what exactly should the dishwasher cycle do to your chinese stock?

take the elbow grease aspect out of stripping the finish? I'm worried about cracking.

 

[Satain]

It's not about working Harder...

 

[otter]

Right-O, I guess old school it is.

On that note, I guess I'm masking anything metal on the gas tube when I do the cover, correct?

 

[Satain]

Try not to get to much on your metal part's and I recomend using the blue expensive 3M tape.

 

[Ftaview]

The items I used for the removal of the old finish, this included the furniture stripper as mentioned but in a spray can, blue latex gloves, rags, steel wool #0000

 

[CanadianAR]

I recently restained a chinese stock, if your going to use a chemical stripper, I suggest taking the handguard off of the gas tube. Just get a small punch and tap the pin out.
Way easier.

 

[otter]

I recently restained a chinese stock, if your going to use a chemical stripper, I suggest taking the handguard off of the gas tube. Just get a small punch and tap the pin out.
Way easier.

good tip. thanks

 

[otter]

good tip. thanks

what finish did you use and what success did you have?

 

[Ftaview]

here ya go

sprayed with a varathane sealer, and rubbed lightly with 0000 steel wool to take the gloss down a bit, and smooth out any bumps

 

[CanadianAR]

Mine turned out pretty good. I still should steel wool it as its a bit glossy but looks decent. I will post pics tomorrow from the computer.

 

[otter]

wow! that Chinese stock looks at lot nicer than mine! Kidding. Nice Laminate.

 

[oneone]

otter, did your marstar chinese wood come looking like sh*t as well? It's sad, I cannot even let myself not refinish it, the wood is in desperate need of refining!

 

[otter]

otter, did your marstar chinese wood come looking like sh*t as well? It's sad, I cannot even let myself not refinish it, the wood is in desperate need of refining!

I think someone said it here once about the Chi M14 stocks: "looks like retarded beavers did it". Same goes for my sks.

Mechanically, I'm sure she's sound and robust, the cosmetics leave something to be desired. But hey, 200 bucks for unused mil-spec? Can't go wrong with dat.

 

[jimbo14]

Definitely avoid the dishwasher! That's a good way to ruin wood.

 

[supernova]

otter, did your marstar chinese wood come looking like sh*t as well? It's sad, I cannot even let myself not refinish it, the wood is in desperate need of refining!

I think this batch is a little worse than older batches. I had bought a factory 306 last year that was actually not bad on the outside, there wasnt a mark on it and the machining and bluing were Russian quality. These new factory 625s are not built to that same standard IMO. Curtton noted in his sticky that there were many factories with varying QC standards. Luckily the stocks have enough meat to be sanded smooth if need be.

 

[polaris]

I did two SKS's so far, and they turned out beautiful.

All you need is 0000 steel wool and 99% rubbing alcohol to remove the shellack.

Then refinish with several coats of True oil, don't forget to buff between coats (let dry for one day) with 0000 steel wool.