F T/R Competition Which finish for a laminated stock?

[eracer]

I know this is a very fine point, but is there any significant advantage to one kind of finish over another when it comes to benchrest stocks with wide forends?

It seems like a lot of attention is paid to the way a rifle recoils, and I wonder whether the finish would cause any sticking as the wide forend travels back against the front rest.

I just received my inletted Shehane MBR, and right now I plan to finish it with Tung Oil.

Should I use wax, or some kind of urethane instead?

 

[308boltgun]

I use Birchwood Cases's True oil. It gives a fantastic finish. Poly-urethane is a plastic coating, It is real good for harsh weather put it is very easy to get it on too thick.

With the true oil, I typically use 10 coats. Sand everything down to 00 steel wool, should feel like glass. Each coat is put on VERY think. I use cut up old tee shirts. Let dry for at least 24 hours, sand down again with 00 steel wool and repeat. The last 2 coats I do with 000 steel wool.

The finish is like glass so it would slide very well on your rest.

Be careful with the rags that you use. If you wad them up and put them in the trash can, they CAN catch fire.

 

[milo 2.0]

If you're not real familiar with wood working products, I recommend this stuff, a moron can use it, worked for me!

Waterlox Original Sealer and Finish | Finishing | Craft Supplies USA


If you browse the site, you can find it in high gloss also.

 

[Willys46]

I'm a big fan of auto clear coat. After you seal it and fill the grain just shoot it with clear coat. Then wet sand to the desired finish. If you scratch it just re sand and re paint. The oil finishes are nice on good wood, but they tend to turn laminates greenish/yellow. Auto clear keeps a truer color.

[/URL]
With a true oil this black would take on a greenish color.

It really dose not matter the finish is because most Benchrest guns I see apply a slick tape on the forend to ride the bags. Not sure what it is called.

 

[Jedi]

+1
Auto clear coat only way to go on laminate stocks
Get a couple of coats on it, block it back with 1200/1500
another couple of coats, repeat
then hit with an orbital and scratch X it will bling
If you want a oil finish skip true oil etc etc all water down tung or BLO
Get some 100% pure tung, then hit it with a good oil based wax like Renaissance, refinished my lil 20ga that way

 

[pjparker]

Auto clear-coat +1

I got respectable results from the rattle-can clear-coat available in the paint section at an auto parts place. Sand between coats as mentioned above.
Get stock tape from Sinclair for the bag bearing surfaces of the stock regardless of what finish you choose.

 

[latisimusd]

Automotive clear coat

I agree with the automotive clearcoat, really hard stuff, and touch up is no problem.
Here's my 6mm Dasher in a PR&T Lowboy stock, really glides on the bags.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

For wood finishes, for composites. Apply atop existing finishes, follow prep instructions given in links. Can be removed with ammonia. These finishes are hard enough to stand up under floor traffic.

 

[PJ BAD]

I'm currently refinishing a stock with Tung Oil. I've had great success with it. It's easy to apply and provides an tough durable finish that's as smooth a glass.