Thread: Possible Best Practice: The Finish on Wood Scales

In the title, I mention this as a possible best practice as I am new to scale making and finishing. Please advise if there is something better.

Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil Gun Stock Finish is by far the favored finish for hand rubbed firearms stocks. It is easy to work with and dries quickly. It's great when handing finishing because any mistakes are easily fixed with steel wool once it dries. Tru-oil leaves a glossy finish as shown in the pic below on some teak scales I finished.

Their formula figured out a way to use Linseed Oil as a base, yet the have dramatically improved it.

Birchwood Casey Stock and Sheen Conditioner can be used 6 weeks after Tru-Oil for those who prefer less sheen than the glossy finish.

Also, it is inexpensive. Here is a link to Midways stock finishing page where you can buy them separately or as a kit:

https://www.midwayusa.com/finish/br?cid=19828


Now, for the pic:

Do a site search for CA finish (crazy glue) which I think would be an even tougher finish.

IIRC, I used a 50/50 mixture of Tru-Oil and Lacquer thinner applied to the finishing grit sand paper as final stage in sanding. Let dry, rub down with OOOO steel wool and wipe with cheese cloth to remove debris from the steel wool. Repeat enough times so the grain in the wood is filled flush. Then a few coats of the 50/50 mix, without sand paper, rubbed into the wood followed by coats Tru-Oil full strength rubbing down between coats to level everything.

Found CA finish easier and quicker plus a harder more durable finish on scales.

Bob

True oil is the only finish I've used that pulls the most out of the grain of any wood I've applied it on, and probably the most durable. The riggors it goes thru on a gun stock is sure enough proof for me, that and most all of my CA finishes have cracks in them now.
Like yours, there is a neat grain in Teak, but ya have to cut it just right to bring it out.

super glue isn't very flexible (if at all) where as wood does flex and expand. I've used it on brush handles and it looks nice and dries fast but HARRYWALLY has had the finish crack especially when there is a drastic climate change. I've bought some gun finish but have yet to use it on a brush handle or scales. Like outback says, if it works on a gun stock that goes through the riggors of out door use than it should work for shaving gear.

Tru-Oil is Linseed oil based. The standard gunstock for many, many years was linseed oil, with some trupentine and either a wax or some pine tar. I have guns that saw action in the Am Civil War that were finished like this that are still in good shape.

Tru-Oil is Linseed Oil based and has stood the test of time. The only gun finish to use is Tru-Oil. It's cheap, so cost isn't a problem. I ordered some CA today and will give it a shot.