About to try the "steam out a dent"....

jaughtman · July 19, 2010, 07:07 PM

procedure and was wondering from those that have tried it - how damp does the cloth need to be that you hold over the dents, and what temp do you set the iron on? It will be my first attempt at it.

J

smoakingun · July 19, 2010, 10:15 PM

towel should be wet but not dripping. iron on high

Scorch · July 20, 2010, 02:31 AM

I use a washcloth, it is thick enough to hold enough water and also protect the wood. Soak the cloth, grip it hard to force out the water but don't wring it. Put the iron on the cotton or wool setting. Lay the cloth over the dent, lay the iron on the cloth over the dent, move the cloth to areas that are still wet and do it again until the dent is raised.

madcratebuilder · July 20, 2010, 07:13 AM

I bought one of those cheap hand held steam cleaners you see advertised on TV for house cleaning. Great for raising dents and cleaning mil-surps. Plus it doubled as a Anniversary gift

ISC · July 20, 2010, 08:47 AM

It definately works, it is less effective ie the dent actually cut the wood fibers though.

jhenry · July 20, 2010, 06:25 PM

I use a Q Tip and wet the dent very well, then lay the cloth over and use the iron on it's hottest setting. Did so this last weekend on a Lee Enfield stock. Small dents are usually no problem, large dents may turn out OK but may just be "improved". As has been stated, if the fibers are cut you may or may not have any improvement at all.

Cheapshooter · July 20, 2010, 06:53 PM

Would a heat gun be OK, or would it get the wet towel too hot?
Also, I had someone that restores milsurps tell me he used either a mixture of alcohol and water, or amonia and water. I can't remember which he said.
Anybody know about this?

Pahoo · July 20, 2010, 07:04 PM

Quote:

towel should be wet but not dripping. iron on high

It really is that simple. You want to concentrate "Steam" in the spot you want to lift. I have even gone to using a flat tip soldering iron. Don't let the towel or pad, go dry or it wil burn Your work. I try to stay plenty thick on the towel or cotton cloth. You may have to repeat the process on the deep areas.

Quote:

Would a heat gun be OK, or would it get the wet towel too hot?

Have never tried it and can't see how it will work. Remember that you you want concentrated "Steam". Irons work !!

Be Safe !!!

Chris_B · July 21, 2010, 07:55 PM

with patience, the damp towel and steam iron is amzingly effective

bear in mind it will lighten the wood, but in my experience with old USGI walnut, a coat of boiled linseed oil darkens it up again

This M1 carbine stock was bone white after I cleaned it with isopropyl alcohol and odorless mineral spirits, and then steamed it. This is after one coat of boiled linseed oil:

flyinpolack · July 24, 2010, 07:40 PM

Sounds like a cool technique!
Learn something new every day!

July 19, 2010, 07:07 PM	#1
jaughtman Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 868	About to try the "steam out a dent".... procedure and was wondering from those that have tried it - how damp does the cloth need to be that you hold over the dents, and what temp do you set the iron on? It will be my first attempt at it. J

July 19, 2010, 10:15 PM	#2
smoakingun Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Location: melrose, fl Posts: 634	towel should be wet but not dripping. iron on high __________________ Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.

July 20, 2010, 02:31 AM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I use a washcloth, it is thick enough to hold enough water and also protect the wood. Soak the cloth, grip it hard to force out the water but don't wring it. Put the iron on the cotton or wool setting. Lay the cloth over the dent, lay the iron on the cloth over the dent, move the cloth to areas that are still wet and do it again until the dent is raised. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

July 20, 2010, 07:13 AM	#4
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	I bought one of those cheap hand held steam cleaners you see advertised on TV for house cleaning. Great for raising dents and cleaning mil-surps. Plus it doubled as a Anniversary gift Last edited by madcratebuilder; July 21, 2010 at 08:05 AM.

July 20, 2010, 06:25 PM	#6
jhenry Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2006 Location: Ozarks Posts: 1,840	I use a Q Tip and wet the dent very well, then lay the cloth over and use the iron on it's hottest setting. Did so this last weekend on a Lee Enfield stock. Small dents are usually no problem, large dents may turn out OK but may just be "improved". As has been stated, if the fibers are cut you may or may not have any improvement at all. __________________ "A Liberal is someone who doesn't care what you do, as long as it's mandatory". - Charles Krauthammer

July 20, 2010, 08:47 AM	#5
ISC Junior member Join Date: August 5, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,982	It definately works, it is less effective ie the dent actually cut the wood fibers though.

July 20, 2010, 06:53 PM	#7
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	Would a heat gun be OK, or would it get the wet towel too hot? Also, I had someone that restores milsurps tell me he used either a mixture of alcohol and water, or amonia and water. I can't remember which he said. Anybody know about this? __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

July 21, 2010, 07:55 PM	#9
Chris_B Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2007 Posts: 3,101	with patience, the damp towel and steam iron is amzingly effective bear in mind it will lighten the wood, but in my experience with old USGI walnut, a coat of boiled linseed oil darkens it up again This M1 carbine stock was bone white after I cleaned it with isopropyl alcohol and odorless mineral spirits, and then steamed it. This is after one coat of boiled linseed oil:

July 24, 2010, 07:40 PM	#10
flyinpolack Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2010 Posts: 152	Sounds like a cool technique! Learn something new every day! __________________ Buy American, or don't bitch when you wind up on the bread line. www.smokerbuilder.com

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