High gloss refinishing?

mikenbarb · May 9, 2008, 06:07 PM

I got a Remington 700 BDL and the finish is a little dull and clouded. Is there a polish or compound and procedure to bring back the high gloss that it should be? Its intact and not worn but just hazy and scuffy looking. And what would be a good finish preserver besides oil that dont stink. I usuaully dont worry about it but its a nice gun and should look the part. Thanks in advance.

Rembrandt · May 9, 2008, 07:33 PM

Not much you can do for a cloudy stock finish, sometimes its a result of moisture becoming trapped beneath the finish or a chemical breakdown. Best alternative is to strip the finish and have it redone in a clear automotive polyurethane. Can be costly and a little tricky unless you're proficient with a paint gun and know what products to buy. Best option is to prepare everything and take it to a body shop for the finish spraying. Have them color sand and buff it out to remove any texture or dust nubs after its sprayed. The end results will be stunning and gloss will look like glass....

Dfariswheel · May 9, 2008, 07:52 PM

If you're talking about the bluing on the metal, there's nothing you can do to "polish" a dull blue job.
Any attempts to polish it will only thin or strip off the existing blue.
Attempting to use a metal polish will damage the bluing since all metal polishes ARE abrasive.
That's what metal polish IS.

About the only thing you can do is clean the metal as well as possible to get dulling dirt and fouling off.
To do this, apply a coat of CLP Breakfree and allow to soak over night.
Wipe it off the next day, and the metal will be cleaned of any dirt.
After cleaning, what's there is what you've got.
Further "cleaning" will only further thin the existing bluing.

To protect the metal without using a lube, use Johnson's Paste Wax to wax the metal.
I don't recommend using car wax since many contain abrasive to polish the paint and will damage bluing.

Pahoo · May 10, 2008, 04:32 PM

I assume you are talking about the stock. If so, get some "Novis" plastic polish. Use a little No. 1 with some neutral shoe wax and carefully polish the areas that you want to brighten up. Go easy and avoid sharp corner or edges. Novis is very fine but you are still removing a little bit of the finish. I prefer satin finishes but have done this process on Remingtons and Brownings.

Go easy and Be safe !!!

T. O'Heir · May 10, 2008, 10:41 PM

"...the finish is..." It's polyurethane(that doesn't belong on fine wood in the first place). Any polyurethane cleaning product should do. However, if it's scratched, nothing will make them go away other than a complete re-finish.

theoldgringo · May 11, 2008, 09:12 AM

Rub marks and minor scuff marks from a high gloss finish being rubbed on fabric, simple handling, etc. can be (virtually) eliminated with rottenstone and boiled linseed oil mixed to a creamy paste and hand rubbed. It's a furniture finishers method that I used on an extremely high gloss stock on a Beretta Silver Pigeon. Can't substitute pumice, it's too coarse, but rottenstone will bring back the gloss.

Use pumice mixed and rubbed in the same way to eliminate minor (emphasis on minor) scratches that don't penetrate to the wood. Then, follow up with the rottenstone mix to bring back the lustre.

Good luck........tog

mikenbarb · May 12, 2008, 09:05 AM

Sorry guys, Im talking about the stocks finish. Rembrandt, Beautiful finish on that plinker. A++

Scorch · May 13, 2008, 12:47 AM

You can buy gunstock rubbing compound and polish from Brownells.

May 9, 2008, 06:07 PM	#1
mikenbarb Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: N.J. Posts: 1,111	High gloss refinishing? I got a Remington 700 BDL and the finish is a little dull and clouded. Is there a polish or compound and procedure to bring back the high gloss that it should be? Its intact and not worn but just hazy and scuffy looking. And what would be a good finish preserver besides oil that dont stink. I usuaully dont worry about it but its a nice gun and should look the part. Thanks in advance. __________________ Mike B. Gun control= Being able to hit your target. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pifinnercircle

May 10, 2008, 10:41 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...the finish is..." It's polyurethane(that doesn't belong on fine wood in the first place). Any polyurethane cleaning product should do. However, if it's scratched, nothing will make them go away other than a complete re-finish. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

May 12, 2008, 09:05 AM	#7
mikenbarb Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: N.J. Posts: 1,111	Sorry guys, Im talking about the stocks finish. Rembrandt, Beautiful finish on that plinker. A++ __________________ Mike B. Gun control= Being able to hit your target. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pifinnercircle

May 13, 2008, 12:47 AM	#8
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	You can buy gunstock rubbing compound and polish from Brownells. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

May 9, 2008, 07:33 PM	#2
Rembrandt Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2002 Posts: 2,108	Not much you can do for a cloudy stock finish, sometimes its a result of moisture becoming trapped beneath the finish or a chemical breakdown. Best alternative is to strip the finish and have it redone in a clear automotive polyurethane. Can be costly and a little tricky unless you're proficient with a paint gun and know what products to buy. Best option is to prepare everything and take it to a body shop for the finish spraying. Have them color sand and buff it out to remove any texture or dust nubs after its sprayed. The end results will be stunning and gloss will look like glass....

May 9, 2008, 07:52 PM	#3
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	If you're talking about the bluing on the metal, there's nothing you can do to "polish" a dull blue job. Any attempts to polish it will only thin or strip off the existing blue. Attempting to use a metal polish will damage the bluing since all metal polishes ARE abrasive. That's what metal polish IS. About the only thing you can do is clean the metal as well as possible to get dulling dirt and fouling off. To do this, apply a coat of CLP Breakfree and allow to soak over night. Wipe it off the next day, and the metal will be cleaned of any dirt. After cleaning, what's there is what you've got. Further "cleaning" will only further thin the existing bluing. To protect the metal without using a lube, use Johnson's Paste Wax to wax the metal. I don't recommend using car wax since many contain abrasive to polish the paint and will damage bluing.

May 10, 2008, 04:32 PM	#4
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	I assume you are talking about the stock. If so, get some "Novis" plastic polish. Use a little No. 1 with some neutral shoe wax and carefully polish the areas that you want to brighten up. Go easy and avoid sharp corner or edges. Novis is very fine but you are still removing a little bit of the finish. I prefer satin finishes but have done this process on Remingtons and Brownings. Go easy and Be safe !!!