Howto finish a Lee Enfield Stock

D

Duncan71

Regular
Rating - 100%
178   0   2
Location
Calgary AB
Hey all,

Now Ive heard lots and lots about re finishing a stock, but I found a bare, never had anything put on it stock for a No4. What would would they have used at the Long Branch plant to finish the wood? If its just a matter of rubbing boiled linseed oil on it where does a guy find that in Calgary? Ive checked RONA and Home Depot so far.

Thanks guys!
 
Duncan71;You should ship the stock to me in Ontario {I'll pay the shipping costs} and I'll refinish it for you! If it doesn't turn out just right....Well, then I'll see how it looks on my rifle...sound fair? :p
All kidding aside I would wax it or tung oil...minwax has some great product. come to think about it if it were mine{and if we do the shipping thing it will be} I'd tung oil several coats then wax several on top. I don't know what Longbranch used, but you can bet that there is several far superior products nowadays than was available in the 1940's One last question.Where did you find it?IS THERE ANOTHER?And how much did you pay? If you don't mind......hang on....that was 3 final questions:D
 
Canadian Tire should have BLO- that's where I got mine. I believe raw oil was the old way but it's a pain to work with as far as I'm concerned. The stocks that I did were also raw wood- never on a rifle, so it was thin coat after thin coat after thin coat, until I got the finish I wanted.

IMG_0019resized.jpg
 
Duncan71, if you're trying to restore an Enfield stock to collector status, you must use the same process that was used when the firearm was made.
In the Enfield's case, that means using linseed oil. Usually, the current linseed oil is double-boiled but the original flaxseed oil wasn't.
Apart from being easier to use, there's no problem with getting the authentic look once the linseed oil has polymerized.
Sure, there are better and more modern finishes but your Enfield's collector value will depreciate if you apply them instead.
Just one caveat: dispose of your linseed oil soaked rags in a metal container with water in it. Oil-soaked rags can catch fire if left in a heap.
PP.
 
if youre patient, PRLO is a nice way to spend some time with your rifle every night. True Value usually has BLO with their wood finish/stripper section. please go with linseed oil, anything else just wouldnt be right. tung oil, wax and all that stuff is for sporting rifles
 
Duncan71, if you're trying to restore an Enfield stock to collector status, you must use the same process that was used when the firearm was made.
Click to expand...

Not to sound like a jerk, but what kind of collector status or value, does a rifle have without its orginal stock? If its just a replacement stock then he can put whatever he wants on, whether it's a finish similar to the original version or something else, definitely going to look good ....but won't add value I wouldnt think?
 
spray it with bedliner then.

spray the whole thing why not.

BLO at HD and crap tire is not actually boiled... it has a chemical additive... Lee Valley has the pure stuff.
 
"...original flax seed oil..." That is raw linseed oil. Raw linseed oil doesn't dry.
Tung oil, properly rubbed in, doesn't need any wax.
"...where does a guy find..." The paint department of any hardware shop. Including RONA and Home Depot.
 
skirsons said:
spray it with bedliner then.

spray the whole thing why not.

BLO at HD and crap tire is not actually boiled... it has a chemical additive... Lee Valley has the pure stuff.
Click to expand...

Actually I did find in the paint section pure BLO at Canadian Tire. It's in the paint thinner section though, not with the other wood finishing products. At some point one guy looked for that product's MSDS sheet and sure enough, it's the right stuff. If the kid helping you says "yes, this danish oil is the same thing" then politely say "no, it's not." Skirsons' advice is important. The BLO mixed with additives makes it dry too fast. Good for furniture at home if you want varnish-like look, but that's not what Lee Enfield rifles should look like.

But if you have a Lee Valley store near you, their BLO is pretty good. Smells great, even. I'd compare both in the same way I'd compare pure olive oil, and really good pure olive oil. :)
 
A good indication of what youre buying is warning labels on the packaging. Linseed oil is a natural product and an edible oil but only in pure form. If the container has any poisonous warnings then its not pure stuff.
 
fwiw, the minwax stuff is not tung oil, in spite of the name. Look closer and you'll see it's "tung oil finish".
 
As it was explained to me,Tung oil or linseed oil is used to hydrate and protect the wood after it's dry.Then a furniture wax is applied as it has better uv protection, better rain,snow,water protection than oil alone. the wax can be applied on top of itself whenever needed with out having to strip off the old finish. And no, the wax doesn't put a shine on the stock like say, car wax for paint or boot wax for leather does. It leaves a nice clean and flat finish w/oiled wood look. Just my .02:D
 
I find it weird that they call it Danish oil. I think I have a can here, I'll check.

The Danish oil I was refering to in an earleir post is what's found at large hardware stores (like the Circa 1850 brand) and when you smell it, it gives you a headache.

Lou
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom