From Ruger bilge brown to classic English Red

Rootmanslim

Banned
Needs to harden up before final rubout and wax.



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Rootmanslim

Banned
So here's how I do it.
  1. First the wood need to be stripped bare. I use an aircraft grade stripper than will take off anything. Then you need to wash with warm water and Dawn. Rinse, rinse, rinse !
  2. Next you need to bleach it. I use the Zimmer 2 part (Amazon). It may take several applications to get the wood blond. Again the wash and rise along with Vinegar to neutralize the bleach.
  3. Now wet sand GENTLY with 220/320/400 and tack it off well.
  4. After trying many stains, Varathane oil based Cabernet (Amazon) works well if wood is light. If it's darker, I add some Keda powder dye (Amazon) in red to the mix.
  5. Final finish is up to you. Any oil based finish will further darken. I like glossy and have progressed from MinWax spray spar varnish to spray urethane and now to automotive clear coat 3-5 coats laid on like Foose would. Then wet sand 600/800/1000/1500/2000
  6. A final rubout with Brownells 5F followed by carnuba auto wax completes the job.
 

Rootmanslim

Banned
30-06 1B. Bbled action @JES becoming a 35 Whelen.

Hint: before you send it file/sand off the chambering designation. Then you won't get it back with big "X"s stamped over it.
Previous one (1B 30-06 to 9.3x62) is gonna need some delicate Dremel/Stone/sand to get rid of the Xs.
 

Rootmanslim

Banned
Some of my others. The 375 H&H was the first "conversion" to English Red.
The 458 is now a 30" bbled 6.5-300 Weatherby.

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358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
30-06 1B. Bbled action @JES becoming a 35 Whelen.

Hint: before you send it file/sand off the chambering designation. Then you won't get it back with big "X"s stamped over it.
Previous one (1B 30-06 to 9.3x62) is gonna need some delicate Dremel/Stone/sand to get rid of the Xs.

Wow! That sounds like bitter experience talking...
 

Ian

Notorious member
Stiff Nylon brush is what I use, and then chase out the checkering while keeping it wet so the tool doesn't clog.

I've never been one for surface finishes and usually not one for stains (with rare exceptions) but those look nice.
 

Rootmanslim

Banned
A tooth brush is used (with Dawn and water) to clean the stripper and old finish out the checkering.

After staining and 1 coat of clear coat the checkering is masked off before the remaining coats.