New K31--How to clean?

[JMFWSU]

What is the best way to clean this firearm? I've seen some that were restored and look pretty good. To start with, what should I do with the stock--as far as cleaning goes?

Jason

[Kentuckian]

I used Formby's furniture refinisher and mineral spirits to clean the stock, and then finished it with several coats of BLO.

[Rigormootis]

1) near-boiling water and an sos pad.
2) let dry.
3) then rub with extra-fine steel wool.
4) then rub down with BLO.

Repeat steps 3 & 4 until you have the desired color (let dry 1 day in between coats).

[JMFWSU]

Should I use any soap with the water? If I have dents in the stock, which I do, at what point in the process should I attempt to iron them out?

Also, by just using water and an SOS pad, is there any chance that I could damage my K31? I've heard of people using break cleaner on the wood.

Obviously I very new to all this, so I appreciate your help!

Jason

[Rigormootis]

when restoring enfields and others with smaller wood pieces, I wash them all in my home dishwasher. Hot soapy water gets it clean & "steams" out the dents quite well. Make ssure you don't use the heated dry option (will crack if dried too fast). Also, some report that oven cleaner and such things destroy the wood fibers as they are pretty harsh. I like my method just fine.

[JMFWSU]

Would this be all I need to do to clean the stock? I won't shrink in the dishwasher? Could I clean it just as well with hot soapy water and a rag? Afterwards, would I need to apply a coat of finish, or will the original still remain?

Would Hopes #9 be good enough to clean the metal parts? Other than the grease (?) the interior looks clean.

Thanks again.

I will definately post pictures (my wife's a photographer).

Jason

[Rigormootis]

The dishwasher will strip it down to bare wood and the heat will help draw out all the soaked-in oil. It will not damage the wood. If you want to do a rag/by hand method, run a tub of hot water, add powdered dishsoap, and scrub like hell. I use SOS pads to good effect like this for stocks (like the K-31's) that won't fit in the dishwasher. You will have some "fun" cleaning the ring from your tub afterwards. :) I refinish my stocks with successive coats (5-10) of BLO, and sometimes add a stock wax as a final finish. You can use whatever you like to clean up the metal. There are various cold-bluing kits you can get to refinish the matal too if you like.

[jack19512]

Here is a pic of my K31's. One beech stock and one walnut stock. I enjoyed refinishing mine. They look totally different now. They looked kinda rough when I first got them.

[Fingolfin]

To CLEAN the stock I use denatured alchohol, shop rags, then more denatured alchohol and 0000 steel wool. Refinishing is a different story.

A little Formula 44/40 cold blue works wonders on the metal, I love the stuff for milsurp touch ups.

[Rigormootis]

+1 on the 44/40 (esp. the gel/paste). That's what I use too.

[97guns]

i second the denatured alcohol if you want to remove the old shellac. i used birchwoods refinishing oil after a few coats of boiled linseed oil and the birchwood gives it a shine that kinda mimicks the original shellac finish.

[san408]

I used the steam iron to help raise some of the really low areas.

Then I used very fine sandpaper. a couple of times with this.

Then came the extra fine steel wool. Again, a couple of times with this.

Then I used Tung oil. I put on about 6 or 7 coats, going over it with the extra fine steel wool in between each.

It was the first wood I've ever tried to redo. I was really happy with the results, and it was SUPER easy.

http://www.mustangmods.com/data/15079/k315_edited_952_x_308.jpg

http://www.mustangmods.com/data/15079/k316_edited_890_x_310.jpg

[JMFWSU]

WOW! your results look great!

Could I get a little bit of detail as to how you steamed the dents out?

Also, did you have to clean the stock, or did you just start with the sand paper and steel wool?

If you have the time I would love to get enough info from you to duplicate your results on my rifle.

Thanks,
Jason

[JMFWSU]

I read that the application of pure tung oil actually clean and protects the stock--would this be sufficient?

Thanks again.

[jack19512]

I used Formby's tung oil I got from Walmart when I did mine.

[san408]

JMFWSU: you have a PM