Mold on Wood Stocks

Big Yac · December 4, 2011, 12:43 AM

I was at a friends house the other day and he got into his gun closet for the first time in about a year. We found a light greyish looking mold or mildew on several of his guns. He asked me what I'd suggest in getting it off but I have no idea. I was a custodian for a while so anything I have would surely ruin the wood. Any suggestions? Also, stripping, etc is not an option at the moment. Would lemon Pledge work? Also, I have a safe and my buddy has a closet, could the air coming in under the door be source of his troubles? Could a golden rod work in a closet where air may come in under the door?

Fleet · December 4, 2011, 02:09 PM

Mold is usually the result of humidity. I doubt a Golden Rod would do much in a closet due to size. Looking in the closet more than once a year is probably a better idea.
Try the Pledge, don't know it it'll work or not, but it won't hurt anything.

Clark · December 4, 2011, 02:11 PM

I had a plastic garbage can full of military take off stocks that were in the car port over the winter, covered with a sheet. This spring, they had mildew all over them. I had to scrub them off with an anti mildew product called "wet and forget".

brickeyee · December 4, 2011, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Try the Pledge, don't know it it'll work or not, but it won't hurt anything.

Pledge contains silicone that will make any future refinishing a nightmare.

Big Yac · December 5, 2011, 01:04 AM

would a golden rod and several of the silicone moisture absorbing bags help? He was away at school and has to go back in January. Anyways, I'll tell him about the pledge or wet and forget. Thanks.

Scorch · December 5, 2011, 02:42 AM

Clean them with Old English or Scotts Liquid Gold furniture oil.

BruceM · December 5, 2011, 02:58 AM

If these guns were military surplus such as an M1, the boiled linseed oil used on the stocks is and always has been subject to mold & mildew under humid conditions. Although I don't have a humidity problem, one way to combat this if you cannot reduce the humidity is to forgo the BLO in favor of 100% tung oil.

Bruce

Don P · December 5, 2011, 08:14 AM

If there is mold on the stocks what does the rest of the gun look like? Rust? Pitting?

Big Yac · December 5, 2011, 05:49 PM

actually the rest of the guns looked fine, no rust or pitting. It was just a few small spots of mold. He got a few big boxes of silica desiccant, which claim to take care of 67 cubic feet. We figured his closet is 84 cubic feet so he got three boxes I believe. The guns were all taken out, wiped down with oil, barrels patched.

December 4, 2011, 12:43 AM	#1
Big Yac Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 422	Mold on Wood Stocks I was at a friends house the other day and he got into his gun closet for the first time in about a year. We found a light greyish looking mold or mildew on several of his guns. He asked me what I'd suggest in getting it off but I have no idea. I was a custodian for a while so anything I have would surely ruin the wood. Any suggestions? Also, stripping, etc is not an option at the moment. Would lemon Pledge work? Also, I have a safe and my buddy has a closet, could the air coming in under the door be source of his troubles? Could a golden rod work in a closet where air may come in under the door? __________________ "...and that's the bottom line, because Big Yac said so." Last edited by Big Yac; December 4, 2011 at 01:04 AM.

December 5, 2011, 01:04 AM	#5
Big Yac Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 422	would a golden rod and several of the silicone moisture absorbing bags help? He was away at school and has to go back in January. Anyways, I'll tell him about the pledge or wet and forget. Thanks. __________________ "...and that's the bottom line, because Big Yac said so."

December 5, 2011, 02:42 AM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Clean them with Old English or Scotts Liquid Gold furniture oil. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

December 5, 2011, 08:14 AM	#8
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	If there is mold on the stocks what does the rest of the gun look like? Rust? Pitting? __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

December 5, 2011, 05:49 PM	#9
Big Yac Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 422	actually the rest of the guns looked fine, no rust or pitting. It was just a few small spots of mold. He got a few big boxes of silica desiccant, which claim to take care of 67 cubic feet. We figured his closet is 84 cubic feet so he got three boxes I believe. The guns were all taken out, wiped down with oil, barrels patched. __________________ "...and that's the bottom line, because Big Yac said so."

December 4, 2011, 02:09 PM	#2
Fleet Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2011 Posts: 108	Mold is usually the result of humidity. I doubt a Golden Rod would do much in a closet due to size. Looking in the closet more than once a year is probably a better idea. Try the Pledge, don't know it it'll work or not, but it won't hurt anything.

December 5, 2011, 02:58 AM	#7
BruceM Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2006 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 285	If these guns were military surplus such as an M1, the boiled linseed oil used on the stocks is and always has been subject to mold & mildew under humid conditions. Although I don't have a humidity problem, one way to combat this if you cannot reduce the humidity is to forgo the BLO in favor of 100% tung oil. Bruce