I recently received a Yugo M48 from Marstar and I need some advice on how to perfect the stock. There is nothing wrong with it, it is just a little rough. I don't wnat to stain it or anything like that, I just want to give it a nice protective coating. Also, I'm assuming that I would want to remove all of the cosmoline grease that seems to have soaked into the stock first. How would I go about doing that?
Smoothing out a stock
- Thread starter D-Rock
- Start date
"...remove all of the cosmoline..." Yep. Drop the whole thing into a container of Varsol(the Cdn. brand name for mineral spirits) for 24 hours. Then wipe off the excess gunk(not to be dumped down ANY drain), sand with fine sand paper and apply several coats of Boiled Linseed Oil(BLO) with a clean lint free cloth. BLO can be had in any paint supply shop. Crappy Tire or Home Depot will have it too.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I do not agree that soaking in solvent is always the best approach. I prefer to use scalding hot running water in the laundry sink. The heat softens the preservative on the surface. Brushing with a stiff brush removes that unwanted surface layer. Wipe with old towels or rags.
Sanding military stocks can remove important markings. I'm not talking about the kisses and bumps, but maker's marks and so-called cartouches. Sand a USGI Garand stock and you've turned a potential piece of trade currency into a piece of generic wood.
If you soak the wood in solvent, you will be removing whatever good oil there is underneath. Remember, the arsenal put these things away knowing some soldier would need it later on. Easily getting it back to service condition was their plan all along.
I have a 1 litre bottle of Boiled Linseed Oil, which I rub on cleaned stocks. It works well and is appropriate for almost all stocks.
Sanding military stocks can remove important markings. I'm not talking about the kisses and bumps, but maker's marks and so-called cartouches. Sand a USGI Garand stock and you've turned a potential piece of trade currency into a piece of generic wood.
If you soak the wood in solvent, you will be removing whatever good oil there is underneath. Remember, the arsenal put these things away knowing some soldier would need it later on. Easily getting it back to service condition was their plan all along.
I have a 1 litre bottle of Boiled Linseed Oil, which I rub on cleaned stocks. It works well and is appropriate for almost all stocks.
