gun stock refinishing

[jammin]

hey guys, i dont know how many of you are into guns. But i am refinishing my stock on my 270 bolt action and i sanded it down but i have what seems to be a water mark on it. Its almost like a water line that i can not get out. So the stock is all light because i just sanded it but then there is this big line across the butt that is dark like a water mark. Does anyone have any ideas how to get this out. thanks
jammin

 

[Hunter]

Only way to get it out is sand it out, but that can leave a gouge or dent where it was. You do have choices though like dieing the wood a darker color (to cover the mark) or adding die lines to both sides of the stock over the water mark if its small. Or you might try bleaching the stock to get the hole thing to one color.

 

[olds97_lss]

Can you take a pic of it? I've refinished a few guns, but never really had to deal with any water damage. Fire damage once... but it ended up looking like new when I was done. I only used linseed oil to re-finish the stocks when I was done. Something about linseed that just smells like better hunting is soon to come...

 

[jammin]

i was just thinking about bleaching them, can you do that. I was talking with a coworker but did not know what it would do to the wood. I would stain it but i want it as light as i can get it. But that water line sucks. I will use linseed but i need to get this out.

Hunter, so you can use bleach, without it ruining the wood. Thanks for the help

 

[GruberRacing97]

Yes you can you bleach to get it out.I own a antique furniture stripping and refinishing biz.If that dont work i will get out the secret recipe.


Let me know
Stan

 

[jammin]

thanks stan i will probably getting to the bleaching point here by next weekend, just been busy lately so it has been post poned but i will let you all know how it goes

 

[Hunter]

Keep us posted on how it goes and goodluck with it.

 

[LesWV]

Jammin
It may be a grain line in the wood. If so it will be hard to get out for the grain absorbs the stain faster and deeper than the surrounding wood.

Extreme prime example is this Howa Varminter.

Not as extreme but plain to see in this Styer.

And another in this Beretta (pre Mato).

Then some like this Boomer shows no grain lines at all.

It all depends on what wood is used for the stock as to how the grain will show dark lines. Check out Mr. Linger's Tips on finishing a gun stock. Another great place to check out is Elk Ridge Stocks. They have a ton of information and links to help stock refinishers out.

I will not suggest anything as far as finishing your rifle stock. I will just leave it up to the experts. For they are more work and steps in the process than I could type out in a week.