My HW Needs Help..

[airnutz]

Hello guys!

I recently acquired a HW 55s and I have to admit I was burned on the deal.  The gun shoots very strong, but the bluing is done, and rust is starting to set in.  So far, so good.

But, the beechwood stock is shot.  It looked OK on the outside, but after some light sanding to renew the wood, I can see clearly that mold has at some time set in and apparently, so far, quite deep.  The areas where skin touches are especially bad and quite black.  This black mold is terrible and I have never experienced anything like this before.  I think the stock has to be fired and ridden of soon.

Does anyone know a treatment, or better yet, which other stock might fit a 55s system?

[Calmark]

Hi Robert,

I'm sorry to hear your HW55 stock has extensive mold by the sound of it.  I don't personally know what to do to fix the problem.  But I say keep the stock, as its from a vintage gun and probably can't be replaced!  There is likely some solution to fixing the mold problem if you think about it long enough and keep looking for an answer.  I know there are skilled wood-workers out there who could probably transform that old stock and make it look a lot better. 

Don't give up on that HW55, even though it has given you problems.  I want to see you restore it to good-shooting form at a minimum.  I think once you do that, you will want to restore it to its former good looks too.  Sorry I can't help more, but keep at it and get that old gun restored!

[ac12]

I would suggest a chlorine bleach solution, to kill any mold spores.  But that might bleach the color of the stock.  Then again, given the condition of the stock, that might be OK especially if you are going to stain it anyway.

But best to check with a skilled woodworker.
You might try calling furniture refinishing places.

[Kailua]

I can feel you pain. But the main thing that the gun shoots like it supposed to.  I hope the mold problem can be fixed.  I know Jomax is used for mold and mildew for prepping before house painting.  As for the metal finish there good paints out there.  I was watching American Guns and they use Cera Kote on thier firearms.  There is a guy with a post in the GTA that has been using it also.  Read a PB forum that a guy painted his gun with engine high heat spray can paint with ceramic.  Then oven baked it.

[airnutz]

Thanks guys, I've in the meantime gotten rid of the moldy, rusty old thing.  A buddy knows the full story, and he wanted it, so I did the re-bluing, here pic #1.

But better yet, we traded, and I got this....pic #2.  Mint condition, Walther LG 55.

[Calmark]

It sounds like you solved your problem with a perfect outcome.  You just got a fantastic new Walther out of the deal and your friend got your hot-shooting HW55 that you did a nice job on restoring the barrel blue.  Your friend really did you a nice favor!  I really like that Walther you got. 

[airnutz]

I would suggest a chlorine bleach solution, to kill any mold spores.  But that might bleach the color of the stock.  Then again, given the condition of the stock, that might be OK especially if you are going to stain it anyway.

But best to check with a skilled woodworker.

Bingo!

I met my Buddy today as I took a look at the spring in the HW 55s.  I informed him of this Chlorine Tip.  I was thinking along the lines of visiting a swimming pool center for chlorine tablets.  My buddy says, "hey stupid....just use Clorox".  So, I saturated the wood with Clorox using a small paintbrush, and within five minutes about 60% of the mold had vanished.  Another couple of coats, and then a lot for overnight, and this morning 95% of the mold was gone.!!!  The little bit of rest mold will soon vanish, I'm sure.  We can save the stock, as we are not sure if the one we can get from an online shop will even fit.  $80 is a lot to risk.

What a wonderful tip, thanks ac12.

I can feel you pain. But the main thing that the gun shoots like it supposed to.  I hope the mold problem can be fixed.  I know Jomax is used for mold and mildew for prepping before house painting.  As for the metal finish there good paints out there.  I was watching American Guns and they use Cera Kote on thier firearms.  There is a guy with a post in the GTA that has been using it also.  Read a PB forum that a guy painted his gun with engine high heat spray can paint with ceramic.  Then oven baked it.

Hmmm, are you saying ceramic coating (powder coating) like used on auto parts (exhaust manifolds and such?).  Wow, that is an idea.  Even after re-bluing, the system tube does not look too good as it was rustier than it looked.  We aren't finished with this gun yet.

Thanks guys, we do want to save this piece.