Faulkner
04-30-2011, 06:32 PM
Thought I'd share some pictures on a recent M1 carbine project. Works with any wood USGI stock that needs cleaning and refinishing.
I've refinished several dozen USGI stocks using EZ Off with no ill effects.
Pictured below is a recent M1 carbine I worked on. It was in pretty rough shape, but it has lots of potential.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031481.jpg
I completely stripped it down so I could work on the stock while the metal parts were soaking in mineral spirits overnight.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031484.jpg
I have a soaking tray for the metal parts.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031492.jpg
I use the Heavy Duty EZ Off and spray it liberally on the stock and let it sit for no more than 20 minutes. While wearing rubber gloves I rinse the stock off with HOT water. Don't soak it, just rinse it off as quickly as possible. I immediately steam out any dents using the clothes iron and washcloth method. If the dent has broken the grain, it likly will not pull out, but otherwise the results are very good.
Once the dent removal process is complete hang the stock for drying, perferable outside so it can get a breeze. Let dry at least overnight.
Here is a picture after a complete stripping of the oil based finish and after it's dried overnight. The black walnut is back to basic wood.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031488.jpg
While the wood is drying I work on the barreled receiver and other metal parts. I use a brass brush and/or toothbrush with mineral spirits to get off the 50+ years of built up oil and grease and gunpowder residue.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031523.jpg
Once the stock is dry I buff it with 0000 steel wool. I never use sandpaper. Using a pair of my wife's discarded pantyhose, I run my hand over the stock and where ever the hose sticks will require a little more buffing with the steel wool. I prefer boiled lindseed oil (BLO) as my finish of choice and I prefer it over tung oil. Both BLO and tung oil was used on USGI stocks. (Some will say tung oil is a better moisture protectant than BLO . . . I propose that neither of them are very good at it, and since BLO looks better I prefer it). I mix the BLO 50/50 with mineral spirits. If you don't, the stock will never dry. I hand rub the BLO mix on the stock one coat at a time, letting dry 30 minutes or so between applications. Here is this stock with one coat of hand rubbed BLO applied.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031510.jpg
Each application will darken the stock. To get the desired shade will likely require multiple applications, but each stock is different. I have achieved the desired shade with as little as two applications and as many as 10 or more. The desired shade is subjective, but I usually compare it to one of the original finished USGI guns in my collection.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031526.jpg
This carbine project required 6 or 7 hand rubbed applications to get it to my satisfaction. Here is the finished product.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031530.jpg
I've refinished several dozen USGI stocks using EZ Off with no ill effects.
Pictured below is a recent M1 carbine I worked on. It was in pretty rough shape, but it has lots of potential.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031481.jpg
I completely stripped it down so I could work on the stock while the metal parts were soaking in mineral spirits overnight.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031484.jpg
I have a soaking tray for the metal parts.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031492.jpg
I use the Heavy Duty EZ Off and spray it liberally on the stock and let it sit for no more than 20 minutes. While wearing rubber gloves I rinse the stock off with HOT water. Don't soak it, just rinse it off as quickly as possible. I immediately steam out any dents using the clothes iron and washcloth method. If the dent has broken the grain, it likly will not pull out, but otherwise the results are very good.
Once the dent removal process is complete hang the stock for drying, perferable outside so it can get a breeze. Let dry at least overnight.
Here is a picture after a complete stripping of the oil based finish and after it's dried overnight. The black walnut is back to basic wood.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031488.jpg
While the wood is drying I work on the barreled receiver and other metal parts. I use a brass brush and/or toothbrush with mineral spirits to get off the 50+ years of built up oil and grease and gunpowder residue.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031523.jpg
Once the stock is dry I buff it with 0000 steel wool. I never use sandpaper. Using a pair of my wife's discarded pantyhose, I run my hand over the stock and where ever the hose sticks will require a little more buffing with the steel wool. I prefer boiled lindseed oil (BLO) as my finish of choice and I prefer it over tung oil. Both BLO and tung oil was used on USGI stocks. (Some will say tung oil is a better moisture protectant than BLO . . . I propose that neither of them are very good at it, and since BLO looks better I prefer it). I mix the BLO 50/50 with mineral spirits. If you don't, the stock will never dry. I hand rub the BLO mix on the stock one coat at a time, letting dry 30 minutes or so between applications. Here is this stock with one coat of hand rubbed BLO applied.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031510.jpg
Each application will darken the stock. To get the desired shade will likely require multiple applications, but each stock is different. I have achieved the desired shade with as little as two applications and as many as 10 or more. The desired shade is subjective, but I usually compare it to one of the original finished USGI guns in my collection.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031526.jpg
This carbine project required 6 or 7 hand rubbed applications to get it to my satisfaction. Here is the finished product.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/21869003/361031530.jpg