How to clean a dirty oily Garand stock?

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czscotia

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Hi MilsurpNutz,
I am thinking of cleaning or refinishing my Garand stock. It is super dark, not quite black, but dirty. Can it be cleaned, if so with what. Its a H&R 53 I think if that makes a difference.
I can tell the wood underneath is nice.
Thanks all
 
Avoid the oven cleaner and go with Circa 1850 Furniture stripper. It's much more gentle and has the same results, and it won't raise any fibres.

When that's all said and done, apply a bunch of coats of linseed or tung oil. Avoid sanding at all costs.
 
I go for more of a restoration approach.
1st-scrub with mineral spirits and 0000 steel wool, then wipe the gunk off with a rag. Do this working in small areas until it's cleaned. Once it's clean I apply a home-made coating solution, equal parts bees wax, boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits. (gently melt the wax first, then mix the other two) Apply a bit to an area, then buff out. 1, 2 or 3 coats, what ever you like.
 
Stay away from oven cleaners, dishwashers, showers/bathtubs and anything containing water.

First try mineral spirits applied with a synthetic grey fine abrasive pad.
If this doesn't clean it up to your satisfaction use Minwax Antique Refinisher, again applied with the synthetic pad.

When dry rub with pure tung oil or raw linseed oil to replicate a military finish. Make sure that excess oil is wiped off so that it doesn't congeal on top of the wood surface.

Dents can be steamed out and deep gouges can be filled with a mixture of carpenter's white glue and fine sawdust. Mix this to the consistency of peanut butter. Sand flush with the stock surface when dry. If you wish to stain the stock do this before applying tung/raw linseed oil. Leather stains work well as they are alcohol based and will penetrate any residual oils in the stock. I like the Fiebings brand-medium brown. This will impart a reddish hue to the stock.
 
spray with ammonia and all the dirt will come out as well as the old oil. Then you wash with hot water a few times. let dry for about three days in your furnace room in you house. Then add some finish and marine linseed oil...
 
Canadian tire brand heirloom furniture stripping gel. Cautions; wear gloves do it outside wear safety glasses. this stuff is very effective and I believe would burn your eyes right out of your head. That being said this is the best stuff I have ever used with just a plastic scraper and almost no pressure the crap just slides right off. happy work.
 
The above all work well to get the surface oils out.
For the deep oil if it is really saturated and dark - I find that heat and time works wonders.
Some I see, make up a box, foil lined with light bulbs (the old style LOL) and let the stock heat soak - the oil will bleed out or at least become more liquid and it allows you to wipe it up or have it wrapped in cloth or paper.
Brownells sells a powder product that you can apply and it aborbs the oils - I am sur ethat you can duplicate that as well.

I have just sat mine in the sun (in the summer) in a garbage bag to sweat out the oils.
 
Tried a spot with mineral spirits and steel wool. It definitly came up lighter, not really new looking though. But then maybe it would look odd being new color but still having all the scars it has in it.
 
Take the rifle apart and separate the wood bits. Turn on a space heater and sit in front with the rifle. Get some mineral spirits and rags.

take:
sweet and sour mix
Midori® melon liqueur
1/2 oz raspberry liqueur
1/2 oz Jagermeister® herbal liqueur
Add sweet and sour & Midori to a shaker w/ice, shake and strain. Layer in razzberry liqueur and jager. Razzberry should go to the bottom and jager should float on top. Works best in Martini glass.

Drink the beverage (### with an alligator) use the rags and mineral spirits to clean the wood. Use linseed oil to rehydrate the wood.
 
"I have just sat mine in the sun (in the summer) in a garbage bag to sweat out the oils. "

Yes. Garbage bag and sun. Put some kitty litter (new) in the bag and it will pick up the oil that sweats out of the stock.
 
5440fight said:
Take the rifle apart and separate the wood bits. Turn on a space heater and sit in front with the rifle. Get some mineral spirits and rags.

take:
sweet and sour mix
Midori® melon liqueur
1/2 oz raspberry liqueur
1/2 oz Jagermeister® herbal liqueur
Add sweet and sour & Midori to a shaker w/ice, shake and strain. Layer in razzberry liqueur and jager. Razzberry should go to the bottom and jager should float on top. Works best in Martini glass.

Drink the beverage (### with an alligator) use the rags and mineral spirits to clean the wood. Use linseed oil to rehydrate the wood.
Click to expand...

This ^:D

Just a note in general and not at anyone:

On solvent, in the army we got to degrease new C1A1's. We used diesel fuel. Mineral spirits are a close second. While lacquer thinner is fast, it can drive the oils deep into the wood.
If you have a real problem with an oily, use use "whiteing", or calium carbonate. Brownell's sells it, so do almost any hardware stores look in the
paint department. Mix together with odorless mineral spirits and paint it liberally on the stock. The mineral spirits pulls the oil/ grease up, and the whiteing absorbs it. Messy, but works.
 
5440fight said:
Take the rifle apart and separate the wood bits. Turn on a space heater and sit in front with the rifle. Get some mineral spirits and rags.

take:
sweet and sour mix
Midori® melon liqueur
1/2 oz raspberry liqueur
1/2 oz Jagermeister® herbal liqueur
Add sweet and sour & Midori to a shaker w/ice, shake and strain. Layer in razzberry liqueur and jager. Razzberry should go to the bottom and jager should float on top. Works best in Martini glass.

Drink the beverage (### with an alligator) use the rags and mineral spirits to clean the wood. Use linseed oil to rehydrate the wood.
Click to expand...

Nice Timing
 
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