SKS Stock, My Refinishing and Repair Project

M

M_User

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
Location
SW Ontario
So for the past 3 weeks I've been working on getting my SKS into a nice restored state. The project took quite I long time but finally I can post my project up here.

When I first started this project I didn't expect it to be so much work, next time I'll document more.

When I bought my SKS the stock was in terrible shape. It had been sanded down to the varnish and in some spots sanded right down to the grain.

So I managed to sand all of the remaining varnish off the stock.

IMG_2.jpg


IMG_3.jpg


IMG_5.jpg


The dark marks in the wood are actually cosmoline or some sort of oil soaked into the wood. After 3 days of letting it sitting in the sun I got fed up with the stuff just flowing out and used brake cleaner to get rid of all it.

After all that hard work I noticed that the stock was splitting near the nose cap. So I had to drill a hole and put a bolt and nut through the area effected by the split. Pain in the ass.

IMG_6.jpg


Finally, I put 2 coats of oil based redwood stain on the stock. Then 3 coats of varnish with a satin finish. Sanded the varnish down again to get rid of the bumps and runs and put a final coat on after and got left with this:

IMG_7.jpg


And here is some poor quality shots with the gun back together.

IMG_8.jpg


IMG_9.jpg


I wouldn't recommend this to anyone else unless you have woodworking experience(or a lot of free time), it was a lot of work.

And now to go shooting with my nice looking SKS :D
 
Last edited:
That black in the wood is pine tar, If you leave it in it makes the gun look original. You should try using stripper its allot easier and cheap. I like the gel stuff but it burns on skin. Here is one of mine redone leaving the black spots alone.

 
Looks nice, I opted for the laminate stock, used gel stripper and Tung Oil 6 coats.

My son disliked the smell of the stock before.

 
I think your SKS turned out great...
I am in the same boat with a second SKS I purchased that had most of the varnish sanded off.
I also plan to strip the remaining varnish and sand it down to a smoother finish. I figure anything will be better then it's current state.

And the smell of the stock is reason enough to do something with it.

End of the day it's just a shooter. It can only look better.
 
CanadianBaconPancakes said:
That black in the wood is pine tar, If you leave it in it makes the gun look original. You should try using stripper its allot easier and cheap. I like the gel stuff but it burns on skin. Here is one of mine redone leaving the black spots alone.
Click to expand...

It still has black spots in the wood but the wood doesn't 'sweat' and smell like oil anymore which is nice. I think it was gun oil or cosmo that was soaked into the wood that was causing the issue.

I think your SKS turned out great...
I am in the same boat with a second SKS I purchased that had most of the varnish sanded off.
I also plan to strip the remaining varnish and sand it down to a smoother finish. I figure anything will be better then it's current state.
Click to expand...

Is the stock mismatched? I feel like they sand down the wood stocks if they are mismatched but I'm not sure. I had a little coating left before I sanded everything down especially in the fore-grip area.


Now to oil mine up and take it to the range. :)
 
Robert Nicholson said:
Three great looking SKS! ^^ Nice job, M_User. I wonder if CanadianBaconPancakes would sell that 1950 transitional?:confused:
Click to expand...

Its my one SKS gem I will probably die with :p Probably the only one I wouldn't sell. I love the etched receiver cover and the 1949 features. I find it neat because no one expects a 1950 to have an etched receiver and 1949 parts. One day I want to score a 1949, hopefully with luck at regular sks price.

Funny story how I got it, I was at wholesale sports during a sale and complained to the gun counter manager about the low quality of "super grades"... He told me to hold on and came out with the 1950 transitional. Of course I bought it :D
 
CanadianBaconPancakes said:
Its my one SKS gem I will probably die with :p Probably the only one I wouldn't sell. I love the etched receiver cover and the 1949 features. I find it neat because no one expects a 1950 to have an etched receiver and 1949 parts. One day I want to score a 1949, hopefully with luck at regular sks price.

Funny story how I got it, I was at wholesale sports during a sale and complained to the gun counter manager about the low quality of "super grades"... He told me to hold on and came out with the 1950 transitional. Of course I bought it :D
Click to expand...

Good on you! That is a very handsome rifle and you put a lot of effort into it. I check out every SKS I see, looking for interesting features like yours has.:d
 
M_User said:
Is the stock mismatched? I feel like they sand down the wood stocks if they are mismatched but I'm not sure. I had a little coating left before I sanded everything down especially in the fore-grip area.


Now to oil mine up and take it to the range. :)
Click to expand...

Yes the stock is mismatched and the numbers are almost sanded out. I expect by the time I finish the numbers will be gone totally.
All other numbers but the shell cover match otherwise.

I am also looking forward to shooting this SKS once complete.

Have fun at the range...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom