Finishing Laminate stock.

[Cal]

With things a little slow at work right now I spent the last couple days stripping and sanding down the laminate stock off of my .270. Now I'm wondering what kind of a finish to go with. True oil, polyurathane, or somthing else?

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Cal

With things a little slow at work right now I spent the last couple days stripping and sanding down the laminate stock off of my .270. Now I'm wondering what kind of a finish to go with. True oil, polyurathane, or somthing else?

I like Tru-Oil myself, or Lin Speed
Cat

[wind drift]

I'd go with polyurethane. I tried TruOil (many coats) but discovered that the abundant end-grain acted like straws eventually, allowing moisture penetration. The new poly finishes are so tough and and easy to work with.

[bat119]

I'm a Truoil fan myself for walnut stocks. I use Wipe on ploy (satin) for laminate because I found that Truoil darkens the wood on light colored stocks and exposes the end grain as previously mentioned.

[Redneck Renagade]

This might help

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fOhnr9AENLU

[Cal]

Originally Posted by bat119

I'm a Truoil fan myself for walnut stocks. I use Wipe on ploy (satin) for laminate because I found that Truoil darkens the wood on light colored stocks and exposes the end grain as previously mentioned.

Do you stain first? My wife thinks that I should stain it but to me it looks like it will be pretty close to its original color if I just finish it. After a light sanding it does look a little bit lighter, I guess I would rather have it a little darker than original, rather than lighter.

[bat119]

I just did a tiger laminate I had to shorten the stock an 1 1/2" for a recoil pad so I had a piece to experiment (I cut it into 3 pieces). I tried some light walnut stain and found the end grain really sucked up the stain becoming really dark the Truoil darkened the lighter wood and turned it sort of yellow so I went with the Poly wipe on with no stain. If you have a small piece try some stain and see what happens.

[DaleJ]

Originally Posted by Cal

With things a little slow at work right now I spent the last couple days stripping and sanding down the laminate stock off of my .270. Now I'm wondering what kind of a finish to go with. True oil, polyurathane, or somthing else?

If you can get all the oil sanded from stock, automotive clear coat gives a nice deep finish. You can leave it shiny or steel wool it to subdue the glitter.

[tchardy1972]

Originally Posted by DaleJ

If you can get all the oil sanded from stock, automotive clear coat gives a nice deep finish. You can leave it shiny or steel wool it to subdue the glitter.

What do you use to seal the wood before the clear coat?

[DaleJ]

Originally Posted by tchardy1972

What do you use to seal the wood before the clear coat?

Automotive clear coat is a good sealer.

[Wile E.]

I vote for "wipe on" satin polyurethane sanded lightly with a scotch brite pad between coats. It's a very easy and durable finish that custom furniture makers often use.

[Sealclubber]

I just redid a winchester ranger in 3006 and I used polyurethane sanded between coats. I put two heavy coats on and between coats let it sit for 24 hrs i front of a heater. Sanded all the rough spots out with 400 and put 3 more very thin coats on with a rag, just enough to wet the stock. For a gun that I was gonna restock I'm glad I got bored and picked up sand paper. There was a pretty gun under that gawdawful factory finish.

[1Heavyhitr]

You guys should post some pics