Refinishing a Walnut Stock

The following is a simple method for refinishing a walnut stock.  I have used this on M-1's, 10/22's and Enfields, and have been very pleased with the results.

You will need:

Easy Off oven cleaner

dish washing gloves

3M green scratch pad

old tooth brush

00 very fine steel wool

0000 super fine steel wool

rags (old t-shirts)

Your choice of finish:

Tung oil for a lighter finish

Linseed oil for your standard GI finish

Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil for a somewhat glossy finish

Birchwood Casey walnut stain + Tru-Oil for a darker somewhat glossy finish

I like linseed oil for a surplus rifle, and Tru-Oil for a commercial rifle.  

Stripping the stock:

Remove all metal parts.  For the Garand, I recommend getting handguard clip pliers, $19.95 from CMP.  Put on some dishwashing gloves and safety glasses, go to the sink and spray the entire stock with Easy Off.  Don't leave it on for long.  Use a green 3M pad and scrub the stock under hot running water.  I like to use a tooth brush gently over any cartouches, rather that the scratch pad.  Be careful with the oven cleaner.  It is sodium hydroxide (lye) and it will burn you and can seriously damage your eyes.  Breathing it can irritate your lungs, so open a window or run the range hood if it is nearby.  Repeat this process if it does not look like all the finish came off.  

Let the stock dry for about two days.  You want it bone dry before you proceed.

Sand the stock with 00 steel wool.  Put your thumb over any cartouches to protect them during this process.  Repeat with 0000 steel wool.  Dings can be raised with a wet cloth and an iron, or sanded out with sand paper.  Wipe off any steel wool fragments when you are done.

For tung or linseed oil, just wipe it down, let it dry for a day, and repeat until it looks right.  For Birchwood-Casey products, follow the instructions.  Test the finish on the inside the stock where it won't be seen to check if you like it before proceeding.