Dustin Checotah Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I have a Marlin 336 about 1978 vintage that needs stock refinish. Any suggestions on finish remover that can be used inside this time of year in Maine (cold outside) and does not raise the grain much? I was thinking on replacing with tung oil. Answer here or PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Well, in my experience paint and varnish remover works just fine but you will not want to use it in your home. Any varnish remover will raise the grain somewhat but letting the stock dry after removal will allow the moisture to dissipate and the raised or swelled wood will subside. When I have removed varnish from stocks I have always washed them down afterwards to remove residual paint remover. I use good ol' mild detergent and water and I let it dry naturally for a couple of days indoors without using direct heat. There are some mild varnish removers that may be safe indoors but in my experience they just plain suck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outlaw Gambler Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I use the Orange Citrus stripping gel. Has a pleasant odor, doesn't harm your skin, comes off with water. From my experience with old Winchester stocks, the wood only raises very slightly. Don't know if it will be the same on your stock but it is something you can use indoors year round. Can pick it up at almost any hardware or home improvement store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ya Big Tree Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I use the Orange Citrus stripping gel. Has a pleasant odor, doesn't harm your skin, comes off with water. From my experience with old Winchester stocks, the wood only raises very slightly. Don't know if it will be the same on your stock but it is something you can use indoors year round. Can pick it up at almost any hardware or home improvement store. Plus one on this! I thought using the citrus stuff was for sissies. So I got the baddest chemical stripper I could find and started using that because I wanted to get the job done in a hurry. Well that was a bad choice, It wouldn't even touch the finish on the Uberti stock, even letting it sit over night. Then I decided to try the CitriStrip that I had read about somewhere, that had been recommend. I sprayed it on and put the stock in a bag overnight. It was amazing how much finish it took off. I think I did three applications and had it all off without even sanding. I reapplied the finish with multiple coats of Tru Oil. They even had it in a spray but I rubbed it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I use the Orange Citrus stripping gel. Has a pleasant odor, doesn't harm your skin, comes off with water. From my experience with old Winchester stocks, the wood only raises very slightly. Don't know if it will be the same on your stock but it is something you can use indoors year round. Can pick it up at almost any hardware or home improvement store. Plus one on this! That's good to know Gents. I tried the citrus stuff many years ago and it was useless. I had heard that today's product is much better but I hadn't heard of anyone that has actually used it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowhouse Sam # 25171 Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Works on Uberti's and Marlins Longshot Logan's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 +1 on CitriStrip. On real hard finishes, like the factory finishes found on SKB shotguns, scratching the factory finish before applying CitriStrip helps the stuff work faster. Don't scratch down into the wood of course, just give the stripper a way to get started into the hard finish. And don't be in a hurry; let it dry completely before scraping it off. Like Longshot Logan recommended, a wood paint stirrer makes a dandy scraper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Attica Jack #23953 Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 I used just a paint remover on my Marlin, had to use some coarse steel wool to get things going. I don't know what finish Altamont puts on their Ruger grips, but paint remover didn't even touch it, had to use steel wool to get the finish off, I don't like the shiny finish on my handguns and rifle/shotgun. My Norinco shotgun finish was tough to remove also, steel wool again. I put on linseed oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 I like Tung Oil for a stock finish. It lasts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Checotah Posted January 21, 2017 Author Share Posted January 21, 2017 Thanks for the info guys. I think I read the Longshot Logan piece before but now I have it saved. Dustin Checotah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Dan Dawkins Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 I like Tung Oil for a stock finish. It lasts. And I might add, if you need to touch it up down the road, nothing special to do. May want to lightly buff with steel wool, but really just rub it in! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Good Point, Dirty Dan. I forgot about that. And I might add, if you need to touch it up down the road, nothing special to do. May want to lightly buff with steel wool, but really just rub it in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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