Mosin Nagant Refinishing problem

MosinMan91/30 · June 19, 2014, 06:19 AM

I am in the middle of refinishing a M44. I have got it down to bear wood and was letting it dry. This is where my problem occurred. It started turning dark really bad all over. I was shooting for a blonde stock but there is no way with it in the shape it is in now. Is there any trick for getting this thing to even out and be natural wood color? Thanks!

MosinMan91/30 · June 19, 2014, 06:35 AM

Here is a couple of pics of it in its current state

Evan Thomas · June 19, 2014, 08:35 AM

Welcome to TFL, MosinMan!

How much have you sanded it? Down to what grit? From that picture, it looks pretty rough, which can affect the way color appears.

I'd sand it at least to 320 grit, wet it out to raise the fibers, sand again after it dries, and then wet it out with mineral spirits or denatured alcohol to see what it might look like with a clear finish.

If it still seems too dark, there are various bleaches you can use, but the more you mess with the wood, the farther it'll be from its original state.

(I'm moving this to the Smithy, which is a better place for this sort of discussion.)

MosinMan91/30 · June 19, 2014, 08:47 AM

I sanded on it for almost 4 hours with 100 and the 150 grit. It seems like this is cosmoline coming back up from deep inside. I am going to go to 220 today and have as 400 on hand.

Roughedge · June 19, 2014, 06:06 PM

Try soaking it down with acetone and wipe it off. May take five or six times but it will take most of it off.

kilimanjaro · June 19, 2014, 06:16 PM

Acetone will work. Also wrap in plastic, set out in the sun for a day, turning frequently to prevent warping. Or a hair dryer. Don't bother sanding again for a bit.

MosinMan91/30 · June 19, 2014, 07:44 PM

What would be the process for acetone??

Semper Paratus · June 20, 2014, 08:44 PM

I've had pretty good luck with denatured alcohol and fireplace ashes....Let the stock sit in a sunny place to get good and hot....While the stock is warming up make a mixture of denatured alcohol and fireplace ashes. Consistency should be a bit runnier than mayonnaise. Once the stock is almost too hot to touch paint it with the slurry and let it sit in the sun until the ashes darken, dry and brush off. Repeat several times and you will have lifted the cosmoline from the surface of the stock. The alcohol penetrates, dissolves the cosmoline and floats it so the ash can absorb it. The stock needs to be really hot for the best effect.

olddav · June 20, 2014, 10:37 PM

If its oil, make a mixture of kitty litter and mineral spirits. Cover the stock in the mixture and let it completely dry, if oil remains repeat.

I used the method for a stock that was in bad shape and it worked pretty good.

**4V50 Gary** · June 21, 2014, 07:12 AM

The stock has been saturated with cosmoline and I doubt if it can ever been removed. Sanding only removes the surface wood and won't extract the cosmoline or oils underneath. I'd darken it and call it quits.

View Poll Results: What option should I take to refinish my M44?
Continue to sand	1	20.00%
Attempt to restrip.	0	0%
Cut loses and refinish a darker color	2	40.00%
Other	2	40.00%
Voters: 5. You may not vote on this poll

June 19, 2014, 06:19 AM	#1
MosinMan91/30 Junior Member Join Date: June 18, 2014 Posts: 5	Mosin Nagant Refinishing problem I am in the middle of refinishing a M44. I have got it down to bear wood and was letting it dry. This is where my problem occurred. It started turning dark really bad all over. I was shooting for a blonde stock but there is no way with it in the shape it is in now. Is there any trick for getting this thing to even out and be natural wood color? Thanks!

June 19, 2014, 08:35 AM	#3
Evan Thomas Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 5,631	Welcome to TFL, MosinMan! How much have you sanded it? Down to what grit? From that picture, it looks pretty rough, which can affect the way color appears. I'd sand it at least to 320 grit, wet it out to raise the fibers, sand again after it dries, and then wet it out with mineral spirits or denatured alcohol to see what it might look like with a clear finish. If it still seems too dark, there are various bleaches you can use, but the more you mess with the wood, the farther it'll be from its original state. (I'm moving this to the Smithy, which is a better place for this sort of discussion.) __________________ Never let anything mechanical know you're in a hurry.

June 19, 2014, 06:06 PM	#5
Roughedge Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Location: Monroe,NC Posts: 669	Try soaking it down with acetone and wipe it off. May take five or six times but it will take most of it off. __________________ The man that die's with the most stuff win's!

June 20, 2014, 08:44 PM	#8
Semper Paratus Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2004 Location: Tidewater, VA Posts: 155	I've had pretty good luck with denatured alcohol and fireplace ashes....Let the stock sit in a sunny place to get good and hot....While the stock is warming up make a mixture of denatured alcohol and fireplace ashes. Consistency should be a bit runnier than mayonnaise. Once the stock is almost too hot to touch paint it with the slurry and let it sit in the sun until the ashes darken, dry and brush off. Repeat several times and you will have lifted the cosmoline from the surface of the stock. The alcohol penetrates, dissolves the cosmoline and floats it so the ash can absorb it. The stock needs to be really hot for the best effect. __________________ Semper Paratus--Always Prepared

June 19, 2014, 08:47 AM	#4
MosinMan91/30 Junior Member Join Date: June 18, 2014 Posts: 5	I sanded on it for almost 4 hours with 100 and the 150 grit. It seems like this is cosmoline coming back up from deep inside. I am going to go to 220 today and have as 400 on hand.

June 19, 2014, 06:16 PM	#6
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	Acetone will work. Also wrap in plastic, set out in the sun for a day, turning frequently to prevent warping. Or a hair dryer. Don't bother sanding again for a bit.

June 19, 2014, 07:44 PM	#7
MosinMan91/30 Junior Member Join Date: June 18, 2014 Posts: 5	What would be the process for acetone??

June 20, 2014, 10:37 PM	#9
olddav Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2008 Location: Lower Alabama Posts: 727	If its oil, make a mixture of kitty litter and mineral spirits. Cover the stock in the mixture and let it completely dry, if oil remains repeat. I used the method for a stock that was in bad shape and it worked pretty good. __________________ Never beat your head against the wall with out a helmet

June 21, 2014, 07:12 AM	#10
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	The stock has been saturated with cosmoline and I doubt if it can ever been removed. Sanding only removes the surface wood and won't extract the cosmoline or oils underneath. I'd darken it and call it quits. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*