Tequila Shooter Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Today I started my first attempt at refinishing gun wood. I wanted to do my SG stock, but I decided that I better walk before I run, so I'm starting out with a pistol set. These grips are from a pair of Pietta El Malos that are my main match guns. I changed the grips a while back to stag because I wanted a little more grip in the grip and I just liked the look. So here's what we're starting with As you can see there are some surface scratches Here's what we'll be using First coat of stripper After 2 hours The stripper took off most of the finish. After scraping the stripper and finish off I hit it again with more stripper using the green scotchbrite. When I finished with the scotchbrite I applied more stripper with the brush. I'll wait a couple of more hours take some more pics and update this post as we go along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 An old credit card makes a great scraper the won't mark/damage the wood. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 ...and if you don't have an old credit card, a wooden paint stirrer works well also. I'm eager to see your results, since I have "mutilated" several guns in my time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 Here's today's update After applying more stripper and removing it (thanks @The Original Lumpy Gritz for the credit card trick) I still wasn't happy with the color. The wood still looked very red so I broke out the sandpaper and did some light hand sanding, that lightened the color of the wood. This after staining I waited overnight. This morning I applied the first coat of Tung Oil. This is how they looked. Not much of a difference. Next I'll rub them with 0000 steel wool and apply another coat of Tung Oil. At this point I'm not sure how many coats it's going to take but I've got time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trooper Ozzy Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 Side by side. I'm interested also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 This is after second coat This is right after I applied the third coat. I'll let these sit overnight. More to come Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendo Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 @Tequila Shooter I'm really liking the grain on those grips. You're doing great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 TS, hope you are doing the finish in a heated room. Makes a big difference in the outcome. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 I usually apply only a couple coats of Tung Oil. I like more of a satin finish as opposed to shiny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 7 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said: TS, hope you are doing the finish in a heated room. Makes a big difference in the outcome. OLG OLG, I'm doing it in my shop/loading room which is temp and humidity controlled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 7 hours ago, Hendo said: @Tequila Shooter I'm really liking the grain on those grips. You're doing great. Looked yesterday at he grips on my other pistols and that grain is even nicer. I think I'm going to refinish those next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendo Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 Hmmm, looks like we've created a monster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted April 13, 2020 Author Share Posted April 13, 2020 Here they are at the end of today. I did put one more coat after I took the pictures, I'll let that sit overnight and then give it one more hand rub. Let me know what y'all think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Put on a coat, and wipe off with a towel. Will help to bring out the color and depth. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 I'd say you have some very porous wood in those grips. By looking at the reflection highlights in your pictures, you can see the pores - not just black fibers in the wood, but crevices where the oil finish has not filled in. Some folks will take the oil they are finishing with, mix in some sawdust that came from the same wood (or as good a match as you can), and apply that as a filler before starting to apply the finish coats with just oil (or varnish). Then sand that down and even put a little oil on the sandpaper to glue in any sawdust that might be raised off the surface. A mark of a "pro" finish is no pores show as you look through the sheen of the finished surface. Then again, for a set of pistol grips, those pores can actually provide a little extra gripping "tooth." Mostly, the beauty is in the eye of the user of the firearm. You're not going to get much more "grain pop" than on the original wood. But the finish will be warmer and show some age. Good luck, GJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted April 13, 2020 Author Share Posted April 13, 2020 5 hours ago, Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 said: I'd say you have some very porous wood in those grips. By looking at the reflection highlights in your pictures, you can see the pores - not just black fibers in the wood, but crevices where the oil finish has not filled in. Some folks will take the oil they are finishing with, mix in some sawdust that came from the same wood (or as good a match as you can), and apply that as a filler before starting to apply the finish coats with just oil (or varnish). Then sand that down and even put a little oil on the sandpaper to glue in any sawdust that might be raised off the surface. A mark of a "pro" finish is no pores show as you look through the sheen of the finished surface. Then again, for a set of pistol grips, those pores can actually provide a little extra gripping "tooth." Mostly, the beauty is in the eye of the user of the firearm. You're not going to get much more "grain pop" than on the original wood. But the finish will be warmer and show some age. Good luck, GJ GJ, I never new that about fine finishing work, interesting. As these grips are my first attempt, and they are for "working guns" I'm not sure I would've wanted a showpiece finish even if I knew how to do it.. I was just glad to get rid of the sprayed on stain and poly finish and get to a more natural look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brazos John Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 I have a single-shot c&b "pirate pistol" that I've removed the hardware from, and I'm ready to start the process. Thanks for the incentive to keep going. The comments are good, too. Thanks, y'all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster Ron Wayne Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Looking great . Now I got some Motivation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted April 13, 2020 Author Share Posted April 13, 2020 Here's the final product. I added one last coat then put a buffing wheel to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Ya did good OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendo Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 They look very nice. What's next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted April 14, 2020 Author Share Posted April 14, 2020 25 minutes ago, Hendo said: They look very nice. What's next? I've got another set of pistol grips, then I may attempt a shotgun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 those turned out wonderful , i think you did everything right on these , enjoy them , if down the road they start to look like you dislike them to , you now know what to do and how to do it , fantastic job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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