Durable Clear Finish for gun stocks

[srjaynes]

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with the durability of both oil-based and water-borne finishes for gun stocks? 

What "clear" finishes stand up to the elements, handling, perspiration, etc.

I'm considering an oil-based spar varnish but am looking for feedback.

Steve J.
Portland, OR

[Smackey54]

I use 3 coats of Watco Danish oil on bare wood to "fill" the pores, wet sanding between coats, then top with 3 coats of Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil, buffing slightly with either 0000 steel wool or the white scotchbrite equivalent pads between coats. After final coat, you can buff with the same material to get a satin finish, or leave as is for a brighter finish.
Good luck.

The top two pictures below show my HW35 prior to refinishing. The bottom one shows the results of the clear finish I applied as described above.

[MustangMike]

i use the min wax poly stuff on my stock

the stain is min wax gunstock stain, after letting the poly coat sit for 24hrs i lightly buffed it with 0000 steel wool to reduce some of the shine

[DMikeM]

Wipe on oil types are the best. You can produce just about any type of finish you like if you have a little bit of knowledge. I use Tung oil. Three to four coats for a standard all around finish 5 to 10 coats for brilliant glossy finish. Nice thing is after some abuse you can just wipe down with paint thinner and apply more coats. If you like a satin finish put on several coats then buff lightly with 0000 steel wool and apply wood finishing wax. True Oil and Danish finishes will work the same way.

[Smackey54]

Before and after pics of my HW35 butt stock have been added to my original reply.

[Norm_m]

When refinishing a stock I always use a Tung Oil and True Oil combination. I start with 3 - 4 coats of tung oil which gives the stock a nice hard finish then I give it another 3 - 4 coats of Tru Oil for the finish I like best. Sanding with 0000 steel wool between coats. Hand rubbing tung oil into the wood will actually harden the pores of the wood better than any other oil finish. You can continue with tung oil to get the finish you like but I switch to Tru Oil as I seem to be able to get a little nicer gloss finish. I learnt this method from the gunsmith that works on my powder burners and whom am I to question a gunsmith that refinish high end double barrel shotguns that have values in the 10's of thousands of dollars.

Norm