How do I restore the K98 Stock??
- Thread starter Alfonso
- Start date
use 2/3 ammonia 1/3 hot water in a spray bottle and spray your stock. this takes out oil and grime. rinse with hot water. repeat--can use 100% ammonia if really grimey. Then use marine grade boiled lindseed oil--this goes into the grain of the stock leaves a flat military type finish. don't use wd40---just adds more oil to the wood.
If it's a Russian Capture and you want the gunk off it, go with Acetone or with Circa 1850 stripper. Both will remove any finish or shellac, but they will leave the patina (colouring) intact, and they won't mess with the grain.
Stay FAR away from any method involving copious amounts of water... it just isn't good to let soak into your stock. I'd also stay away from Easy Off oven cleaner as well.
I *believe* the 98 stocks were finished with boiled linseed oil, don't quote me on that. Add lots of thin coats for a nice finish.
Just to make sure, you ARE working with a solid wood stock, and not a laminate, right?
If the rifle isn't Russian Capture, does it *need* to be refinished?
Stay FAR away from any method involving copious amounts of water... it just isn't good to let soak into your stock. I'd also stay away from Easy Off oven cleaner as well.
I *believe* the 98 stocks were finished with boiled linseed oil, don't quote me on that. Add lots of thin coats for a nice finish.
Just to make sure, you ARE working with a solid wood stock, and not a laminate, right?
If the rifle isn't Russian Capture, does it *need* to be refinished?
As a cabinetmaker, I strip the finish with gelled industrial stripper. Canadian Tire's house brand will remove your skin. Mop the stock with the stripper. Wrap it in unprinted paper. Set for 15 minutes. Scrub with a coarse brush, natural bristle is preferrable, and wash with copious amounts of lacquer thinner. Ventilation is a must! Use methyl hydrate as a final wash. Do not use water or steam!You will lose all cartouches, as water causes the wood to swell and laminates to delaminate. Once dry, lightly sand with 400 grit paper to take down the fuzz. As a finish, I mix boiled linseed oil and tung oil in a 50/50 mix. Apply several treatments. After the last treatment, burnish the dried finish with the now hardened application rag. It's a lot of work but it's worth it!
NO TUNG OIL ON A LEE ENFIELD!!! This is NOT the US Army! The brits used only TWO oils on Enfields. Raw linseed at the factory and boiled linseed in the barracks.
On a K98k, Raw linseed to finnish and Ballistol to polish it.
On a K98k, Raw linseed to finnish and Ballistol to polish it.
+1 with Claven2's statement. From what I've read Tung oil supplies were all but nonexistent during WW2 as the main supplier was China & Asia where the tree was originally found. Some orchards were transplanted into the southern states, but even their military rifles just received a linseed finish at this time.
