Refinishing SAR-3

MikeTx · October 6, 2002, 12:55 PM

I took my SAR-3 apart and re-blued it, and sanded down the wood until most of the finish was removed. I then painted the wood with 3 coats of gray primer, sanding between each, and finished up with 4 coats of good quality camo green spray paint.

It looks good, but I feared this would happen: Solvents are taking the paint off!

Any suggestions on something to cover the paint with after I re-paint it, so the cleaning solvents won't mess it up? Thanks for any tips you may have.

Coltdriver · October 6, 2002, 06:51 PM

I read where the spray on truck bed lining that you can find in an auto parts store makes a real nice, durable finish that is impervious to about anything!

MikeTx · October 7, 2002, 09:36 PM

Thanks, may try that. Someone else told me that clear laqeur would work as well. I guess I'll find out.

Badger Arms · October 7, 2002, 11:35 PM

Most gun solvents will eat laquer. I'd suggest a satin polyurethane finish on top of bare wood. But then, I like wood.

MikeTx · October 8, 2002, 06:35 AM

I like wood as well, but this wood, is UGLY!

Rocklobster · October 8, 2002, 08:19 PM

I took my SAR 3 down to the bare wood, re-stained it with some Pilkington's English Red spirit stain, and finished it off with 4 coatings of tung oil. Looks/works excellent.

Doubleought · October 9, 2002, 03:36 AM

After removing the pine sap the Romanians call varnish, I finished my SAR-1 with 3 coats of boiled linseed oil and a final coat of Volunteer Ordnance Works' "military" finish.

What ugly???

MikeTx · October 9, 2002, 04:46 AM

Yours is nice, but mine had three different grains of wood on it! It sucked under the varnish.

sleeping dog · October 9, 2002, 06:55 AM

My SAR-1 had three different woods on it, too.

I stripped the petrified molasses off the wood parts, then used a 2-part bleach on the pumpkin-colored buttstock and charcoal-colored lower handguard.

I used some ebony stain on the lighter wood, then mahogany stain on the dark wood and walnut stain on the buttstock. It sort of matches now. I finished it with tung oil.

All-in-all, truck liner spray seems simpler.

Regards.

October 6, 2002, 12:55 PM	#1
MikeTx Junior member Join Date: December 19, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 227	Refinishing SAR-3 I took my SAR-3 apart and re-blued it, and sanded down the wood until most of the finish was removed. I then painted the wood with 3 coats of gray primer, sanding between each, and finished up with 4 coats of good quality camo green spray paint. It looks good, but I feared this would happen: Solvents are taking the paint off! Any suggestions on something to cover the paint with after I re-paint it, so the cleaning solvents won't mess it up? Thanks for any tips you may have.

October 7, 2002, 11:35 PM	#4
Badger Arms Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2000 Location: Harnett County, NC Posts: 1,700	Most gun solvents will eat laquer. I'd suggest a satin polyurethane finish on top of bare wood. But then, I like wood. __________________ We may or may not worship God, but John Moses Browning made sure we can choose.

October 9, 2002, 03:36 AM	#7
Doubleought Member Join Date: December 24, 1999 Location: Hatley, WI USA Posts: 47	After removing the pine sap the Romanians call varnish, I finished my SAR-1 with 3 coats of boiled linseed oil and a final coat of Volunteer Ordnance Works' "military" finish. What ugly??? __________________ http://www.parkerizingtanks.com/index.html Parkerizing Discussion Forum

October 6, 2002, 06:51 PM	#2
Coltdriver Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2001 Posts: 683	I read where the spray on truck bed lining that you can find in an auto parts store makes a real nice, durable finish that is impervious to about anything!

October 7, 2002, 09:36 PM	#3
MikeTx Junior member Join Date: December 19, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 227	Thanks, may try that. Someone else told me that clear laqeur would work as well. I guess I'll find out.

October 8, 2002, 06:35 AM	#5
MikeTx Junior member Join Date: December 19, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 227	I like wood as well, but this wood, is UGLY!

October 8, 2002, 08:19 PM	#6
Rocklobster Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 188	I took my SAR 3 down to the bare wood, re-stained it with some Pilkington's English Red spirit stain, and finished it off with 4 coatings of tung oil. Looks/works excellent.

October 9, 2002, 04:46 AM	#8
MikeTx Junior member Join Date: December 19, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 227	Yours is nice, but mine had three different grains of wood on it! It sucked under the varnish.

October 9, 2002, 06:55 AM	#9
sleeping dog Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2000 Location: MI Posts: 536	My SAR-1 had three different woods on it, too. I stripped the petrified molasses off the wood parts, then used a 2-part bleach on the pumpkin-colored buttstock and charcoal-colored lower handguard. I used some ebony stain on the lighter wood, then mahogany stain on the dark wood and walnut stain on the buttstock. It sort of matches now. I finished it with tung oil. All-in-all, truck liner spray seems simpler. Regards.