135 Vortex QE .22 Stock refinishing (progress pics)

[Jadocs]

Decided to make a new thread since I was mixing topics in my last thread. Anyway I have two Hatsan 135 Vortex QE’s. One in .30 cal (refurb I purchased) and a new .22. The .22 came in last week and I was amazed at the quality of the stock. It made my .30 cal look like cheap wood paneling.

.30 cal on the left:



After seeing some of the work you guys have done, I got inspired. My only worry was “what if I bugger up the stock screws and can’t get it off”. Everything I have read suggests that Hatsan really wrenches the stock screws in. I found out if I held the button screw still and twisted the sling bolt on the other side...I was able to loosen it up.

I used Citistrip (thanks guys for the suggestion) purchased at Lowe’s. After letting it sit for about an hour, I scraped the old finish off with a plastic scraper. I used a brass brush for the checkering. I created quite a mess and the wife wasn’t too happy with me doing it on the kitchen table!



After I was satisfied that I got all the old finish off, I took it outside and scrubbed it down with acetone. I used the brass brush again with acetone to clean out the mess in the checkering. I took quite a bit of brushing until the run off was clear (ie no more dirty old stain).



I started with 320 grit sandpaper and went up to 800. I then rinsed the stock under hot water while scrubbing it with 0000 steel wool and dish soap. After it dried, I applied my first coat of tru-oil. I had purchased some dark walnut stain but decided against it since the wood was pretty dark as is.



I put a second coat on last night and wet sanded it with 600 grit and some tru-oil (to fill in the imperfections). This morning I sanded it down with 400 grit in order to even up the finish and finished with 800. I put two more coats on this evening using an aplicator made from a small ball of wrapping tissue covered with fabric from a pillow case (see below). I saw a YouTube video where a guy did this and said you can really rub the oil in while maintaining thin even coats.

I’m going to let this dry a few hours and I might do one more coat this evening...or I might wait until tomorrow. I plan on putting a bunch of thin coats on and hope I get a nice deep dark finish.



I’ll update this thread as I go along.

[GP2004]

Very nice.

[SteveP-52]

That's gonna be gorgeous when you're done.

[Jadocs]

Thanks guys, I’m pretty happy with how it’s coming along. The hard part is having patience. I just put another coat on. I’ll check it tonight and will probably do one more this evening. I have the day off today tomorrow so I should be able to put a few coats on.

[unionrdr]

That's the real Turkish Walnut they talk about that I wish my Striker 1000x came in. I'm thinking of that 50/50 mix of Minwax Gunstock and Walnut stains and redo the 1000x with that and Tru-Oil?

[Jadocs]

Pretty sure your striker has the same wood, and it’s just covered with the cheap spray stain they use. I’ll defer to the experts on that. You couldn’t even see the grain underneath on mine because the spray stain was so thick (see second pic in first post).

I’m using no stain on mine. Pure tru-oil and it gets a little darker and shinier with each coat.

[SteveP-52]

The Striker stocks are Beech, not Walnut and from experience can get blotchy when you try staining so if you decide to try, use a pre-stain conditioner first. In my case, I was trying to get fancy and make a cheek riser on mine and after a slip and trip at the bench, broke the stock and ended up having to paint after getting the stock repaired but even though it's painted, I'm still happy with how it turned out considering my big oops.
And yes, that stock started life as a standard Hatsan Striker stock...lol

[Jadocs]

Should have done this sooner (space heater). How many coats do you guys usually put on?



Edit here is a better picture.



Edit: last coat for the night

[RBQChicken]

Looks like you stained the comb to match? What stain did you use? Looking good, no make that great!

[SteveP-52]

First 95 stock I put 12, the Tomahawk (basically a Model 95 with a way prettier Turkish Walnut stock) has 15 and the 2nd 95 stock has 18....how many you end up using is totally up to you and how happy you are with how it looks.

[Jadocs]

Looks like you stained the comb to match? What stain did you use? Looking good, no make that great!

Thanks, I actually didn’t do anything to the comb because I wanted to see what it would look like with several coats of truoil first. I figured if it was still obvious, I could always go back and redo it since it’s a small piece. That applicator I mentioned above really does the job. I’m not sure if it would look the same at this point using my finger.

First 95 stock I put 12, the Tomahawk (basically a Model 95 with a way prettier Turkish Walnut stock) has 15 and the 2nd 95 stock has 18....how many you end up using is totally up to you and how happy you are with how it looks.

Thanks...I’ve kind of lost count. I probably have 10-12 including the one I just put on this morning. That space heater really helps with the drying. I should be able to get a bunch of coats on today.

What do you all recommend for wax after it’s done? I have the Birchwood Casey Gunstock Wax in addition to the Stick Sheen and Conditioner.

[Jadocs]

Latest....I’m not sure if I’m at the point of diminishing returns. This is after 4 more coats.

[Yogi]

Looks great!  Want to do mine?

After brushing the checkering with the brass brush did you do any sanding on it?

Thanks,

-Y

[Jadocs]

No I did not sand the checkering at all. I applied truoil to in by dabbing it with a brush.

[Jadocs]

I think a few more coats and I’m calling it done. After that I’ll give it a day or so to sit before I put on a coat of wax to really seal it up...then put everything back together.

[Yogi]

How about a light rubbing with 000 steel wool?  do you want mat or glossy?

-Y

[Jadocs]

Haven’t decided yet, I’ve been doing 0000 steel wool & tack cloth between coats.

[unionrdr]

I applied Tru-Oil to my Crosman 160 with cotton cosmetic patches. Left little hairs in the finish. Then switched to Brownell's thicker, woven patches and got better results. Used those patches on the Kentucky kit rifle resto and it came out better. Rub in direction of grain and don't go over it more than once to keep it smooth as glass. Pellgun stock got 5 coats of Tru-Oil, Kentucky got 4.

[SteveP-52]

Might sound crazy but after 15 coats of Tru-oil, the Tomahawk stock got 3 coats of Meguiars Ultimate car wax to polish and seal in the shine. Bottom one is the first Tommy I bought in .22, is untouched and what the top one looked like before i started.
The top one is also a .22 and a rifle I bought from fellow member Geoffrey_K after convincing him to try one and if he didn't like it, I'd buy it. They're basically Hatsan Model 95 springers in a fancier (and in my book way prettier) Turkish Walnut stock and my usual go to squirrel rifles.

[unionrdr]

I wonder if that Tomahawk stock in Turkish Walnut can be had separately and fit the barreled action of my Hatsan Striker 1000x .22?