cooey model 60 stock refinishing

I,ve used a piece of broken glass as a scraper, held at about 75 degress and scrape towards you, a little stripper and a toothbrush works well on checkering. A light sanding to smooth it all out, stain to your favorite wood tone and apply multiple coats of tru-oil until you get the finish you are looking for.
 
If you use a chemical stripper you end up removing the stock sealer and have to re-apply it all.
If you just put varnish on it it'll get sucked into the pore's of the wood (the front of the stock, pistol grip section and the front of the comb)and remain high on other section's where it wont be absorbed as readily.
 
I use a few different types of steel wool on my Cooey stocks. Use the rougher one first to remove the bulk, then use a finer pad to smoothen it out. I dont bother with the checkered or detailed grips, I actually find it looks kind'uv awesome with the two tone effect. Once it feels and looks good, apply rubbing alcohol with a clean rag to clean all the fine dust off the stock and to prepare it for the final finish.

You can use a stain at this time, though in my opinion, I don't recommend it as I believe stain is for chairs and ottomans.... but I digress... I then apply a spray on clear varathane. Make sure to not over do it as the varathane will run, and leave the finish uneven. If more coats are desired, allow a couple of hours to dry before applying next coat. Takes about an hour to strip and finish an entire stock, then let dry fully for 1-2 days.

In the meantime clean all the steel of the gun with steel wool as well (if it has rust spots), and then apply oil. I don't bother with bluing as I believe it gives it an "experienced" look. ;)

Have finished many of my Cooeys and other farmers rifles and haven't had a complaint yet. Kind of a fun job to do.

This is the only type of rifle stock I refinish in this manner though. All my milsurps get delicately cleaned with a bit of "Scrubbing Bubbles" and a lil' hot water, alcoholed and dried, then get a few coats of tung oil. Tried this method on a Cooey stock once, but it just doesn't look all that good.

Cheers!
 
+1 on the varathane, just sand it down using finer sandpaper as you go until you're happy with it,wipe it down damp cloth, let dry for a bit,then paint,I used a honey blond....., forget the whole name of it,but looks sharp,

Also like Desert Fox said about the steel parts,But I went a step ferther and sanded them down to,lift the steel in the white,
 
Sanding and wood stocks should not be in the same paragraph. Use a spray on finish remover and very fine steel wool to strip it. I like the two tone stocks also so I preserved the checkering. The rest is blonde. Used only Tru-Oil and after dry...Min wax paste wax.
 
You must remember that these are $25 Cooey's we are talking about here.

It's not like I am suggesting you take a belt sander to an all matching bnz 4 "single rune" kriegsmodell K98 here. Take all those nasty lil' birds and numbers off that stock... ;)

I suggest the sanding because most Cooey's I get my hands on have been sitting in the milk parlor or behind the barn door for 20 years, and have taken a severe beating....

I mean, I am a farmer too, but damn it sickens me the way some people treat their firearms...

To sand or not to sand. That is the question! :)
 
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