CZ ctock refinish questions

[Dick West]

I have a cz527 .222 Remington that's been rode hard. The stock has scratches, dings and has worn through the finish on the toe.

I'm thinking of stripping and refinishing the furniture, but I've heard the color of CZ maple is very light, and what can see on the worn spot seems to support that.

Any suggestions for getting the dark walnut look back after stripping?

Note: I usually use tung oil, but I'm not planning on a hundred hand-rubbed coats. In fact, i'd like to retain some of the CZ's used look, since the bluing is also worn.

 

[Intheshop]

"Beech,Birch,Maple".....rolls off the tongue of those in the trades.Russian Birch has been a real mover for the last 15? or so years.I like it.It's hardy,sands predictable enough(bigarse industry equipment),takes colour well.

Don't want to step on toes with finishing "schedules".It's a subject that guys are freakin SO passionate about.Now,throw in firearms.....

I could probably get really,really close to what those Czech finishers are doing but,that's on the factory floor and isn't the question.

Be DANG careful with "stains".Raw,sanded wood is so vulnerable at this stage.Even the grit it's sanded to has HUGE impact on how the wood takes colour....be it "stain" or dye.It's because of this that folks get in over their heads durn quick.Just sayin,it's safer to get the colour in the clear.Nobody get your panties bunched up....read it again.The key is safer.That doesn't mean better.Stain on raw wood is the opposite....yes,it may be perfect ,but there's no changing it if it isn't.

So,the way industry looks at colour is about expedience and safety.The latter of which is on many levels.....oily/stain rags can combust.So it's something our biz try's to avoid.But once passed that,safety in the sense that we have rookie finishers who can ruin a hundred stocks before lunch.

Learn to practice....sounds easy.But guys are so ell bent on getting finish on the pce that they skip test panels,big mistake.Work out the schedule on scrap.Good luck with your project.BW