Thanks to Jim Carmichel for his help with this guide. In addition to having been the Shooting Editor for Outdoor Life magazine, Jim is an accomplished gunsmith with tremendous insight on wood finishing, blueing, and browning metal. Follow Carmichel’s Tips and you’ll make your gun everything it deserves to be!
Sanding is a critical step in any wood finishing venture. Yes, it can be tedious. And sometimes it is easy to tell yourself “that’s good enough” in order to get on with the more glamorous process of finish application. Resist the temptation to cut corners, because the finish will actually accentuate scratches and other imperfections in the wood.
1 Following final tooling on a new gun stock, begin sanding with a medium to coarse paper. 120 is typically enough grit to remove material quickly without being too aggressive. Always sand with the grain whenever using an abrasive.
2 Work your way down to 180-grit, 280-grit, and finally some extra-fine steel wool to erase even the slightest scratches while knocking down any loose fibers.
3 If your stock has really tight grain with small pores, wipe it down with a tack cloth and you’re ready for staining or applying Tru-Oil® Gun Stock Finish.
1 First, remove what’s left of the stock’s original finish with an appropriate stripper (available from any hardware store). Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
2 If the stock is relatively scratch-free, give it a gentle sanding with 120-grit, 180-grit, and finally 280-grit paper and polish with extrafine steel wool. Wipe with a tack cloth and go right to staining or applying Tru-Oil® Gun Stock Finish.
3 If you have some scratches or dents to deal with, use only as much grit as necessary. Light scratches will remove with 280-grit paper, while deeper wounds may require a coarser grit.
4 When tackling scratch and dent removal, use a sanding block to prevent “digging in,” and try to smooth away the affected area with the grain.
To keep stock edges sharp and the wood’s surface ripple-free, always sand with a sanding block. The block will prevent the abrasive from “digging in” on soft spots in the grain. And remember to sand AROUND checkering to keep the checkered peaks crisp. Keep checkering masked off until final application of oil.
1 As a test to determine whether to stain or not, examine a portion of the wood while it is wet with water or alcohol. This acts as a close visual approximation to what you can expect the wood color to look like once the Tru-Oil® Gun Stock Finish has been applied.
2 Walnut Stain is a concentrate solution; color intensity is easily controlled by adding water. Dilute with water before using to achieve a lighter color; or leave full strength for a darker color. It’s best to test color intensity on a scrap piece of wood. Generally 50/50 stain and water mix works for most situations.
3 Apply Walnut Stain with a clean, lint-free cloth or brush. If darker than desired, sponge wood with clear water. If lighter than desired, add more stain.
4 Allow the Walnut Stain to dry overnight before applying Tru-Oil® Gun Stock Finish.
The following techniques can be used to help fill the pores and ensure a good grain filling. For non-stained woods you will need to use the wet-sanding technique by using Tru-Oil Gun Stock Finish. If your wood is stained, you will need to use the Sealer and Filler to fill the grain. These specialty steps are optional and are not required.
1 First, apply Tru-Oil Gun Stock Finish to the entire stock and allow it to penetrate the grain. Don’t rub it in, just let the wood absorb it. When the stock has soaked up all it can absorb, wipe away the excess and let dry for 24 hours ( Read Carmichel’s Tip below).
2 Working on 4" x 4" sections, coat the area with Tru-Oil Gun Stock Finish
This wet sanding creates a slurry of wood dust and finish that works its way into the pores. You’ll feel and hear the sandpaper cutting. If the finish gets tacky, simply add more Tru-Oil Finish.
3 Continue wet sanding 4" x 4" sections until the entire stock is covered in the slurry. Work it in small circles with your fingers to drive it into the grain.
4 Finish by wiping the excess slurry off with a paper towel cross grain. This ensures good grain filling.
To dispense Tru-Oil® Gun Stock Finish, poke a small hole in the foil cover. This will help prevent your supply from skinning over inside the bottle.
5 Let the stock dry for approximately 24 hours. Then, repeat the process if necessary to fill remaining open pores (Steps 1-4), and wipe away all slurry when complete.
6 After waiting 24 hours, proceed by smoothing any imperfections with 280- or 400-grit sand paper as needed, along with extra-fine steel wool. Wipe with tack or service cloth.
7 Your stock is now totally filled, protected, and ready for the finishing coats.
1 Apply Birchwood Casey Gun Stock Sealer and Filler generously and directly to wood with brush or a clean, lint-free cloth. Do not over brush. Let dry for 60 minutes or until thoroughly dry.
2 Sand evenly with extra-fine sandpaper to remove surface imperfections or runs.
3 Repeat steps 1 and 2 if grain is not completely filled. Let the stock dry for approximately 1-3 hours or until thoroughly dry. Your stock is now totally filled, protected and ready for the finishing coats.
Tru-Oil Gun Stock Finish has been the professional’s choice for easy, top-quality gun stock finishing for more than 40 years.
1 To begin, first pour a small quantity of Tru-Oil Gun Stock Finish in a small container and replace the bottle cap. This will help prevent your supply from skinning over ( Read Carmichel’s Tip on page 5). With the cap on, store the bottle upside down.
2 First Finish Coat. Dip your finger into the cup and hand-apply Tru-Oil Gun Stock Finish in smooth, gliding coats. You’ll find that this first coat will absorb readily into the grain. Be careful not to overcoat the first application, as this can cause unwanted build-up and possible runs (see picture on next page).
3 Now hang the stock and allow it to dry up to 24 hours or until thoroughly dry.
4 Once dry, check the stock for runs, streaks, or rough spots. If they exist, knock them down with fine 400-grit sandpaper or steel wool if desired.
5 Wipe the wood down with a tack cloth, or provided service cloth, and proceed to the following coats.
6 For additional coats - repeat steps 2 through 5. We recommend waiting at least 12 hours between coats. The number of coats needed will vary depending on the grain of your gun stock and the desired outcome wanted. We recommend 4-5 coats for good overall protection.
7 Final Coat - Apply the final coat carefully and sparingly, spreading the oil so there is no streaking. This coat will dry to a rich gloss finish.
This step is for those who prefer a traditional, hand-rubbed satin finish.
1 Polish with Birchwood Casey Stock Sheen & Conditioner after waiting at least 7 days after applying your last coat of Tru-Oil Gun Stock Finish. Stock Sheen & Conditioner effectively removes any surface imperfections and leaves your stock with a satin finish
2 Repeat applications as desired for a softer matte finish.
Offers added protection from weather and handling.
1 Wait at least 7+ days after your last coat of Tru-Oil before proceeding. Apply Birchwood Casey Gun Stock Wax directly on wood, metal or leather surfaces in a thin, even coat.
2 Polish and rub until thoroughly dry
3 Repeat steps 1 and 2 until desired luster is obtained.
If you need to thin Tru-Oil Gun Stock Finish for other application methods, mineral spirits will do the job. Just be aware that by thinning the solution, drying time may increase slightly. You will also fnd mineral spirits helpful for cleaning tools and your hands following the application process.
There’s nothing quite like the deep color of a beautifully blued firearm or the authentic patina of a browned muzzleloader. And nothing can help you achieve fawless metal finishing like Birchwood Casey metal finishes.
1 Removing old blueing and rust is a necessary step before reblueing or browning. First, after removing the stock/forearm and trigger assembly, clean all metal surfaces with a saturated sponge of Birchwood Casey Cleaner-Degreaser and rinse thoroughly with water ( Read Carmichel’s Tip below). Always wear gloves during the preparation and blueing process.
Cleaning and degreasing is critical. Do not cut a corner here. For the best results use Birchwood Casey Cleaner-Degreaser. If you do not have access to it, ordinary dish-washing liquid soap will work as a substitution. When you think it’s clean enough, clean it two more times!
2 Apply Birchwood Casey Blue & Rush Removerwith a saturated swab and allow it to work for two minutes. With a small pad of steel wool (dampened with Blue & Rust Remover), polish the metal lightly to remove old blueing and loosened rust. Continue this process until the metal is shiny.
3 If the metal suffers from deep scratches and/or pitting, sand the affected areas with fine 280-grit paper followed by a steel wool polish. A file may be needed for deep pits (Read Carmichel’s Tip below).
When sanding metal surfaces, wrap the paper around a stiff, at backer like a file. In addition to reducing hand fatigue, it will keep surfaces at and edges crisp.
4 Whatever you do, don’t try and rush metal preparation. Keep polishing until everything looks right. If you don’t, you’ll regret it later. Also, don’t forget the trigger, screw heads, or anything else that shows. Disassemble any multiple-part mechanisms for preparation and metal nishing.
5 Re-apply the Cleaner & Degreaser, scrub with a sponge and rinse again with cold water. At this point, be careful not to touch the metal with your fingers as this can leave tell-tale marks after blueing caused by the natural oils from your hand.
When preparing rounded surfaces such as musket and shotgun barrels for browning, take strips of cloth-backed sandpaper or emery cloth and give the barrel a brisk back-and-forth treatment like an old-fashioned shoe shine. This technique cuts mighty fast, so be careful not to cut any unsightly ripples or grooves. Follow up with a good steel wool polishing.
1 Apply Birchwood Casey Perma Blue® Paste or Liquid Gun Blue with an applicator swab over the entire surface to be blued. Work as quickly as you can, but remember to be thorough. Rather than blueing the entire surface at one time, you may want to divide the work into 2 or 3 sections.
2 Allow the blueing to stand on the metal for 30-60 seconds.No longer. Then neutralize the chemical reaction by rinsing immediately and thoroughly with cold water and wipe dry (Read Carmichel’s Tip below).
Timing is critical when it comes to blueing. For best results, do not allow solution to contact metal surfaces for longer than 1 minute. It’s better to allow the solution to sit on the metal surface for less time rather than too long.
3 After or during rinsing, polish very lightly with fine steel wool to blend the color if needed. If steel wool is used, you must use Cleaner & Degreaser again to remove any surface oils that may have been introduced. Appraise the blueing for coverage. If streaking exists or you desire a deeper/darker blue, simply repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 until the desired color is obtained.
4 Saturate all areas with Birchwood Casey Barricade® Rust Protection and allow your new blueing to cure overnight.
5 Re-assemble your firearm. Your richly blued finish is complete. To keep it looking new, rub on a coat of Barricade Rust Protection from time to time or after each shooting session.
In the old days, gun metal browning was a slow-rust process that involved the proper combination of chemicals and atmospheric conditions to create a thin layer of corrosion on the metal’s surface. It was time- consuming and often an inconsistent endeavor. Today, browning is quick and easy thanks to Birchwood Casey Plum BrownTM Barrel Finish. The most important part of the equation is the proper preparation of the surfaces to be browned. If you’re browning an antique muzzleloader or a rough kit weapon, chances are you will need to repair scratched, pitted, rusted or file-marked areas. Refer back to the Metal Preparation section on page 9 when tackling this critical task.
1 Birchwood Casey Plum Brown Barrel Finish requires heat to activate the authentic browning character of the product (a chemical reaction between the solution and ferrous metal). With the steel properly prepared and cleaned/degreased, apply heat using a butane torch, gas, electric stove, or whatever means is safe and convenient. For best results with a propane torch, use a large-flame nossle and hold it 3-4 inches away from the surface.
Holding barrels in a vise can create cold spots (since the heat radiates into the vise). Instead, make a barrel cradle out of a bent coat hanger to eliminate this problem.
2 Heat evenly by moving the heat source back and forth along the item being browned. Note that heavier areas (like the barrel breech) will take longer to heat and will retain their temperature longer. Also, small parts are more likely to get overheated. So heat thoroughly to 275°F. To test the temperature Read Carmichel’s Tip below. It is not necessary to heat the entire barrel at the same time. The barrel may be heated and finished in sections.
For testing temperature, nothing beats the old-fashioned sizzle test. Drop a small amount of water on the heated surface. If it remains on the metal and evaporates slowly, the metal is too cold. If the water vanishes in an puff of steam, it’s too hot. Ideally, the water will sizzle and dance about as it evaporates. That is when it’s time to apply Plum Brown Barrel Finish.
3 When the ideal temperature of 275°F has been obtained, apply Plum Brown Barrel Finish with a saturated swab in long even strokes. The rich plum brown color will appear immediately.(Read Carmichel’s Tip below).
275°F is the target temperature for achieving the Plum Brown Barrel Finish effect. The exact temperature isn’t too critical, but it is important that the temperature be as uniform as possible. For example, a long Kentucky rifle barrel must be heated uniformly so the temperature is neither too high nor too low in any area. An uneven temperature can possibly result in uneven coloration.
If the color appears to be too thin in any area, it is probably due to a cold spot. Immediately apply heat to this area. If the metal is too hot, the solution may tend to bubble and foam, resulting in a lighter, uneven coloration. If this happens, let the metal cool a bit before continuing. Take your time and apply the solution with care, paying particular attention to color, texture and evenness.
4 As the metal is being browned, you may become concerned at what appears to be a lack of uniformity in both depth and color. This is usually caused by deposits left over from the chemical reaction. Don’t worry about this. As long as the color isn’t too thin, with areas of bright or semi-bright metal showing, everything is going fine.
5 As soon as the metal is cool enough to handle, rinse it thoroughly with cold water, dry with a clean cloth, and polish lightly with steel wool. If you desire a deeper, more uniform finish, repeat the entire heating and browning process.
6 When browning is complete, rub all surfaces down with Barricade Rust Protection. This is very important after rinsing and will penetrate the surface and give you a deep, rich, mahogany- brown permanent coating. Allow to cure for 24 hours.
7 Reassemble your authentically- browned firearm.
Plum Brown Barrel Finish is a protective coating that will withstand lots of hard use and cleaning chemicals. To keep it good looking, just rub on a coat of Barricade Rust Protection from time to time or after each shooting session.
Download Gun Refinishing Guide
Water-soluble stain is true-to-color and non-bleeding. Produces a clear, rich color without grain clouding or smearing. Walnut Stain is a true, brown-walnut color for the traditional look. Color intensity is easily controlled by adding water to concentrate or using full strength for light colored woods such as birch.
There is no better oil finish! Tru-Oil® Gun Stock Finish has been the professional’s choice for gun stock finishing for more than 30 years. Its unique blend of linseed and other natural oils dries fast, resists water damage and will not cloud, yellow or crack with age. Excellent as a sealer for under butt plates, recoil pads and in inletted actions to prevent stock damage.
The easy way to give your newly finished Tru-Oil® Gun Stock a traditional satin finish or to clean, beautify and polish your old stock. Removes surface imperfections and gives your stock a smooth, hand-rubbed finish. Also protects against weather and handling. Will not fingermark.
A high-quality formula combining protective and beautifying qualities of the finest carnauba, beeswax and silicone. Produces a lustrous water repellent film that will not rub off like oils. Offers maximum protection against finish cracking from weather and handling. Enhances and protects the beauty of woods, metals and leather.
