Fading finish on a wooden stock

Beezer · October 11, 2013, 11:30 PM

I have an old Remington 700 that I inherited and I've been cleaning it up. I noticed that on the wooden stock, there are several sports where the clear coat/varnish is faded. I'm assuming it is just normal wear from use of use then decades of non-use.

What is the best way to restore these faded spots to make a consistent clear coat finish on the stock?

Rifleman1776 · October 12, 2013, 08:12 AM

Strip entire stock and refinish. However, IMHO, stripping and redoing with an oil finish would be much more attractive. And easier.

603Country · October 12, 2013, 03:03 PM

I'm also an oil finish fan, and it is easier. For a quicker approach, you could probably just lightly sand the stock and apply an oil based poly varnish if you just want a durable finish. But, if you want a pretty finish, that isn't the way to go.

Dfariswheel · October 12, 2013, 06:13 PM

Before getting to far into this, you need to determine if the finish is the Remington "Bowling Pin" epoxy finish.

That finish was used on most Remington rifles and shotguns for many years and is one TOUGH finish.
It's also one tough finish to get off, usually requiring a special type of paint stripper that will attack the epoxy based coating.

The Bowling Pin finish is a glossy, extremely hard, tough finish that's noticeably different than a varnish type finish.
You can take it to a good gun shop and they'll usually have Remington's with the same finish to compare it to.

Once you know what you're dealing with, then you can decide the course of action.
That may be no more then applying a coat of wood wax, to totally stripping the finish and starting over.

Pahoo · October 12, 2013, 06:34 PM

Beezer
Hard for me to relate on how, the finish is faded. Now if it's just surface scuffs, you might be able to polish these out. I have done so, on many occasions. If it goes deeper than that, then you have to weigh the efforts. On lightly scuffed/scratched surfaces I polish these out with a product named Novus-1. and then follow up with shot polish (wax). ....

Be Safe !!!

Buzzard Bait · October 18, 2013, 08:20 PM

I once tried using regular stripper on a bowling pin finish gun and the only effect it had was to sort of clean and polish the finish it actually made it look new again
bb

oneoldsap · October 19, 2013, 12:32 PM

CRC aerosol Gasket remover , takes that Rem. and Browning finish right off !

October 11, 2013, 11:30 PM	#1
Beezer Member Join Date: October 8, 2013 Posts: 31	Fading finish on a wooden stock I have an old Remington 700 that I inherited and I've been cleaning it up. I noticed that on the wooden stock, there are several sports where the clear coat/varnish is faded. I'm assuming it is just normal wear from use of use then decades of non-use. What is the best way to restore these faded spots to make a consistent clear coat finish on the stock?

October 12, 2013, 06:34 PM	#5
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Practicles first, then the particulars. .. Beezer Hard for me to relate on how, the finish is faded. Now if it's just surface scuffs, you might be able to polish these out. I have done so, on many occasions. If it goes deeper than that, then you have to weigh the efforts. On lightly scuffed/scratched surfaces I polish these out with a product named Novus-1. and then follow up with shot polish (wax). .... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

October 18, 2013, 08:20 PM	#6
Buzzard Bait Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 502	one tough finish I once tried using regular stripper on a bowling pin finish gun and the only effect it had was to sort of clean and polish the finish it actually made it look new again bb

October 19, 2013, 12:32 PM	#7
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,602	CRC aerosol Gasket remover , takes that Rem. and Browning finish right off ! __________________ Don't forget to have your liberals spayed or neutered !

October 12, 2013, 08:12 AM	#2
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Strip entire stock and refinish. However, IMHO, stripping and redoing with an oil finish would be much more attractive. And easier.

October 12, 2013, 03:03 PM	#3
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	I'm also an oil finish fan, and it is easier. For a quicker approach, you could probably just lightly sand the stock and apply an oil based poly varnish if you just want a durable finish. But, if you want a pretty finish, that isn't the way to go.

October 12, 2013, 06:13 PM	#4
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Before getting to far into this, you need to determine if the finish is the Remington "Bowling Pin" epoxy finish. That finish was used on most Remington rifles and shotguns for many years and is one TOUGH finish. It's also one tough finish to get off, usually requiring a special type of paint stripper that will attack the epoxy based coating. The Bowling Pin finish is a glossy, extremely hard, tough finish that's noticeably different than a varnish type finish. You can take it to a good gun shop and they'll usually have Remington's with the same finish to compare it to. Once you know what you're dealing with, then you can decide the course of action. That may be no more then applying a coat of wood wax, to totally stripping the finish and starting over.