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April 9, 2019, 07:08 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: November 8, 2014
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1956 Browning stock finish question
Looking at refinishing my 1956 Browning A5. Does anyone know what type of finish was used ? It's not in bad shape but has a couple of dents and dings to sand out and raise with some steam. Some of the newer A5's had like a poly sprayed on finish, but this appears to be a oil finish. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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April 10, 2019, 03:17 AM | #2 |
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I don't know what the original finish is. But my go-to finish is tung oil or walnut oil.
-TL Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk |
April 10, 2019, 07:33 AM | #3 |
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At 62 years old the remaining finish could look like anything.
Chances are it is/was a varnish type of finish. you can use a Minwax spray poly finish that will hold up for another 62 years, It won't hide the grain of that walnut. |
April 10, 2019, 10:38 AM | #4 |
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I have 2 A5s that have been refinished. One was my dads and is a true FN Belgian that came out of WW2 as a bring home. The finish was like some kind of shellac or varnish. Dad
stripped it and finished it with Linseed. That was in 50s and it still looks good. The other is a Light 12 from 50s and it had some kind of varnish finish. I used linseed on it too and it's been in good shape for 40yrs. |
April 10, 2019, 01:09 PM | #5 |
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Spray poly finish belongs on cheap furniture, not firearms.
It is alleged that Browning used a fomula called French Polish, a combination of shellac and oil, prior to 1961ish. Discussed at length here. Pretty decent discussion too. https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/vie...p?f=53&t=71482 If you're going to refinish the thing, you should remove the exiting finish entirely. If there's any plastic(polyurethane is plastic.) on it, steaming will not work. Polyurethane will dissolve in alcohol mixed equally with lacquer thinner. Otherwise it gets deep into the pores of the wood. Pure Tung Oil, not Tung Oil finish by Minwax, gives a hard, waterproof finish that keeps every thing else out andbrings out the grain nicely. So any stain must go on first.
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April 10, 2019, 04:33 PM | #6 | ||
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Quote:
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April 10, 2019, 05:02 PM | #7 |
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Thank you all. It does appear to be some kind of varnish. Will do the alcohol mix .
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