Restoration Projects
Part of what I love about Relic firearms and Mosins is finding that old piece, covered in cosmoline and pocked full of dents and scratches. The seller looking at you in a weird way, wishing you would sit down that cheap heap and pick up one of the $500 dollar hunting rifles sitting next to it. You asking the price, looking dismayed when he quotes $100 or smiling if he goes cheaper. You then handling the piece, hoping not to get too much grease on you and agreeing to the purchase. Then comes the rush, trying to keep your speed under control as you drive home and once there spending the countless hours on the net trying to discover what your jewel is. Finally several more hours spent cleaning and carefully stripping your new piece. More hours sanding, and finally staining and finishing the piece. Then comes the true joy, the first day you get to shoot it <--- and only one inflicted, such as us, can understand this pleasure.
Guess what I'm driving at is I thought it might be neat if you all could throw some ideas at me on how to better this process. So far I've restored 5 of these beauties and I've manage to stumble my way through. With what I consider great success. But if any of you guys out there would have a better means to the end, I'd love to hear it.
I guess my first question is stain? Anyone have any ideas on what stain one can purchase that comes the closest to giving that classic Mosin finish? And as long as we are on the subject, if anyone has any ideas of what step to take next I'd love to hear. I've tried polyurethane, but have been told that this is not the best step to take.
rebelgas V.I.P MODERATOR
Posts: 433
(4/20/02 7:18 am) Reply
Re: Restoration Projects
Hey W M,..I dont normaly "sand" one down when I do a resto- project unless the furniture is in awful shape.
I just apply Oven cleaner to the wood, letting it "work" for an hour or so. After that get out an old tooth brush and a "scotchin pad" and rub the wood. The old stain and varnish will come off. I normally rinse it well in the shower. Work it real good down in the crannies and all to remove any residue that might bleed out.
Let the stock dry out for a day or so in the window,..it doesnt need direct sunlight,..just good warm heat.
Then after its dry,...I spray clorox bleach on to remove any dark area or stubborn stains. let the clorox dry completely!!.
Now the wood will have the fuzzies,..but thats what you want to stain with. Since Mosins came in several differant color,...from a dark to a light,..depending on the year made and at which arsenal,..its hard to get a 'One Size Fits All" color.
What I found works is to mix some light oak or light Maple with a small amount of dark mahogany. If the rifle was a darker color,..just use a little more mahogany,..light?..use less!
Wipe the stain on and allow it to penetrate the grain,...say 15 minuets,...then wipe it off. To light?.......reapply it and allow it to set longer.
When the color looks right to you,...dont sand!!!! Use #000 steel wool and just start rubbing the wood. Long strokes length wise with the grain. This will take some time so dont rush it here. When the wood feels slick and has a slight sheen to it you can then seal the stain.
Stay away from polyurethanes,..they dont look right. Acrylics can be used but you need to have a spray gun to apply it.
I use either Tung Oil,..Linseed oil,...or Benjamin Moores Oil Finnish. Wipe it on with a soft cotton cloth,..get a good even coat and let it dry for 2 days. Get some super fine #0000 steel wool and start rubbing again. After its slicky smooth,...put on another coat just like you did. It normaly takes about 4 to 5 coats to get it right.
When you have several rubbed out coats on,...take a good look at it,.....if ya see any trash in it,...remove it,...thin areas,....add more oil,....blah blah blah,......
If it looks good to ya,.then break out the old furniture polish and buff it a little bit. More or less depending on what level of shine ya want. Now all this will take about 2 weeks to do,...but will look great if ya take yer time.
Like I said it hard to perfect match a mosin but a little mixing of some stains will give a close representation,.....it will convince about 95% of the folks out there.
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Re: Restoration Projects
Sounds pretty good Rebelgas, I have alot of surplus rifle's.
And the infield rifle seem to have some kinda finish that keep seeping through the wood. seem to do that after treating it with chemicals that suppose of removed the protective oil in the wood.
rebelgas V.I.P MODERATOR
Posts: 434
(4/20/02 11:13 am) Reply
Re: Restoration Projects
TG ,I believe thats linseed oil. The Enfields were tank dipped at the factory,..and then hand applied bout 1 time a week in the field,......nasty stuff but protects the wood.
Friend of mine takes the stocks and heats them in an oven for a few hours to leech out the old oil. He sets it to 180 or 200 and slow bakes em . His wife raises cain,..but he does some purty Enfield and Garrand Stocks.
Word of caution,.....dont bake one in a gas oven,..the Boiled Linseed Oil is mighty flameable
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Re: Restoration Projects
Thanks guys. I appreciate it. Reason I sand is to work out alot of those nicks and scratches. Any idea what might help in these areas? I've been told you can bring out a ding with an iron, haven't tried it yet.
rebelgas V.I.P MODERATOR
Posts: 436
(4/21/02 9:16 am) Reply
Re: Restoration Projects
Warrior Mac,..here is what I do for the nicks and scratches;
Take some wood putty and mix in a little of your stain color to tint the putty,..then work it into the wood...
If it still looks a bit light,...take a furniture touch-up pen and dab a little color over it and let it dry,...dont wipe it away!
Then you can finish out the stock like you want.
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Yep you can steam out minor dents and such with a clothes iron and a warm wash cloth. Many swear by this,.....I find it doesnt work real good for me,..except for very small little dents.
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Also remember that any time you sand on a stock you run the risk of erasing the markings and cartouche.
If its real bad and no other stock is available,.....and ya just want a decent looking shooter,....You can always use automotive BONDO to fill the voids in the wood. The only problem with that is it wont have a "grain" in the patched area. You will have to sand the stock super smooth and apply a very dark stain to hide it. But when you rub out several coats of oil at the end,....it will give a deep glossy shine and finish that will be durable and attractive.......just not authentic.
I learned that tip from a friend of mine who restores antiques...
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seem to do that after treating it with chemicals that suppose of removed the protective oil in the wood.
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