Wood Refinishing Projects

Set about taking this forearm apart because I want to refinish it in something other than the shiny plastic-like finish it’s wearing now. Once I remove the three screws should it just lift/slide out or are those springs I see going to cause a problem?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

After you get the screws out pull it towards the back of the forearm, not straight up and you'll be good

Sent from my LG-H700 using Tapatalk

Thanks murphranch. Your comment was what I needed. When I see springs I always worry they’re gonna fly off everywhere. Stripping has begun. That finish is tough but but it’s coming off. Just put in another coat of stripper to go overnight.








Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Observations. The butt and fore end wood seem to be coated differently or maybe the same but thicker on the front. After applying stripper to both the finish was softened on the buttstock allowing me to slide an exacto blade under and lift small sections at a time. Took all day and a few movies but it’s finished. The front end was a different story. The finish seems impenetrable. Finally tonight I tried a 4th time but this time I made a trip to CVS and got a heating pad. After 3 cycles at 140° it softened up and I was able to scrape it off.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ll continue to document this project. I know I’ll be going back with oil and likely the same Pro Custom that I’ve been using on the Auto 5 wood. Trying to prep these pieces the best I can. I’ve learned enough by now that any imperfection left overlooked in prep haunts me later. Putting on the oil is the easy part, the works in the prep. Current dilemma is residue from the old finish that is left behind in the open grain. Lots of tiny little white dashes that I fear will show through the oil I rub. The look I’m going for is like whats on my Superlight Feather, a satiny non-shiny oil finish with open grain.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Did a bit of detail work. Took my blade to several areas and particularly one rather large “crease-dent” where this gun looks to have come into contact with a sharp edge. The original finish had been pushed down and into the sharp crease. I was able to dig it all out. I’m gonna fill that with clear epoxy and pretend the blemish is just some figure. One thing I’m struggling with is should I use stain or just go with the oil. The oil has some tint to it so I know the finished product will be a little darker. To get a preview i rubbed on some mineral spirits and took a quick picture, racing against the super fast evaporation. I think I like the way this looks without any stain, opinions?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here’s that dent




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here’s the color I’m shooting for, couldn’t get the light just right but you can see it.




And here is what it looks like, wet with a dab of mineral spirits. I look a couple shades light. I may need to put on a layer of dark walnut.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Applied a coat of dark walnut stain. I like this a lot better. I think this gets me right where I wanted to be.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And the buttstock…yeah this a lot better




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah I’m liking it too. A lot. It’s a million times better than that thick plastic that was on there, here’s how she’s looking after a second session of oil rubbin’ I’m thinking the finished product is going to make all the work getting that original finish off worth it.




Figured since it’s taken apart anyway I spent some time yesterday cleaning the gun part. It’s a 2006 model so it was a little dirty on the inside. Here’s after…




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How would we suggest that? I think it’s a great idea. We could copy, or migrate, all the existing wood refinishing threads to it and others could use it as a reference.

So far on this one I stripped them with Jasco Premium Paint & Epoxy Remover, an old can from pre 2019 before they took the methylene chloride out of everything.

The butt stock was quicker, I think it took two goes. The front, even after three tries, wasn’t coming off. It only worked after I bought a heating pad, wrapped up, and ran it through a few cycles at 140°. Even them it was only softened up and took an exacto blade to get under it and gently work it off.

Once that was done I used hot water, Dawn soap, and a toothbrush to scrub the heck out of it. After drying I hit it with 180 grit sandpaper to get rid of whatever finish was left and then a final sanding with 800. It’s so smooth. Used Varathane classic stain in dark walnut and once that dried I started with the Pro Custom. Not sure how many coats I’ll use but once they’re on I’ll let it set for 2-3 weeks before breaking the gloss with pumice at 3F, 4F, and then Rottenstone. We’ll see how it turns out. The look I’m going for is like the oil finish on my Superlight Feather, an oil finish that’s thin enough that there’s still some open pores. There’s only a small bit of gloss to it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Done! Forearm Latch Removal is now officially named a wood refinishing project.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk