2lumpy
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 8,259
ÏI picked up an old Remington 550-P .22 rifle at a pawn shop back in February. I spent April, May and June searching out and purchasing numerous missing parts for it. I actually had to buy the pep sight from 4 different people. All together, I had to buy from 7 different individuals, to get all the missing bits and pieces. So with the exception of one more screw for the front sight, I have all the parts. Now it's time to clean up the stock. I’m not worried about ruining the original finish because I will never sell it. It will go to a grand child someday, so I just want to clean it up……. It’s a gooey mess, as you can see.
I used a good citric paint remover to removed the sticky varnish. Washed it down with paint remove cleaner and followed that with a light wash of acetone. Sanded most of the dings and scratches out with 180 grit sandpaper. It cleaned up fairly well, with a few deep dings that I will sweat out with a steam iron and a wet wash cloth. It will end up having the grain raised with a damp cloth, dried and lightly sanded with a 1500 sandpaper.
Here’s my question, In did the original sanding with 180 grit, then when over with 220 grit. Came clean and looked pretty good. I set it on my table saw bed, in my uninsulated shop, it’s get well over a 100 degrees in there during the day. I got busy and it set there for an about a week…… I got back to today. As you can see, old oil that has soaked into the walnut over the last 75-80 years, has leached to the surface of the walnut around where the previous owner most likely used oil to lubricate the action parts of the rifle.
I want to pull as much of that old oil back out of the stock before I put a new finish on it. I’m expecting it will take numerous treatments to draw all of it out.
I’ve watch numerous YouTube videos on various different methods and chemicals to apply to accomplish the task but I’m a simple guy, certainly not a chemist nor a proficient gun refinisher. I’m pretty much simplistic and I’m hoping someone here on the Campfire has a reasonably simple solution you would be willing to share.
Thank you for any suggestions.
I used a good citric paint remover to removed the sticky varnish. Washed it down with paint remove cleaner and followed that with a light wash of acetone. Sanded most of the dings and scratches out with 180 grit sandpaper. It cleaned up fairly well, with a few deep dings that I will sweat out with a steam iron and a wet wash cloth. It will end up having the grain raised with a damp cloth, dried and lightly sanded with a 1500 sandpaper.
Here’s my question, In did the original sanding with 180 grit, then when over with 220 grit. Came clean and looked pretty good. I set it on my table saw bed, in my uninsulated shop, it’s get well over a 100 degrees in there during the day. I got busy and it set there for an about a week…… I got back to today. As you can see, old oil that has soaked into the walnut over the last 75-80 years, has leached to the surface of the walnut around where the previous owner most likely used oil to lubricate the action parts of the rifle.
I want to pull as much of that old oil back out of the stock before I put a new finish on it. I’m expecting it will take numerous treatments to draw all of it out.
I’ve watch numerous YouTube videos on various different methods and chemicals to apply to accomplish the task but I’m a simple guy, certainly not a chemist nor a proficient gun refinisher. I’m pretty much simplistic and I’m hoping someone here on the Campfire has a reasonably simple solution you would be willing to share.
Thank you for any suggestions.
