My mountain rifle is getting walnut…

TaperPin

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Polymerized tung oil will harden and is awesomely weather resistant. It can be 100% tung.
I had looked into polymerized Tung - the finishers in my circle said they didn’t see anything wrong with it, although as a practical matter, they didn’t see an advantage to it over a Tung/urethane blend, and the cost was higher. I never pursued it further, but it’s good to know it’s been a durable finish for you.

It my understanding, Tung (and all the oils) dries with oxidation, and the amount of dryers, thickness, amount of polymerization, and type of solvent used all have an impact on dry time to a sandable surface, but with time, any of it will dry. A separate japan dryer containing cobalt salts can speed the process as well, but I’ve not had a reason to experiment with those.

I get excited when a project gets to this stage - seeing it go from bare wood to finished is one of the big highpoints to the entire project. *chuckle*
 
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That's called burnishing. It's commonly done on long rifles. It's a method of smoothing out and smashing down any whiskers that have come up with sealer. It also promotes a certain look.... Not sure if it changes/improves the catoyance of the grain ad finish or just helps to mimic the look of a 200-year-old rifle.
 
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Decker9

Decker9

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The build is pretty much up to date now, most of what’s been done between the last photos and now is unnoticeable to most eyes. Today I thinned out the buttstock a little more and installed the pad. Recoil pads will forever be my nightmare I swear, this one’s still not perfect, but it will be, ok.

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have a little more to do on the lines in the forend, and a little on the grip cap, other than that it’s down to sanding out sanding marks.
 

Freewilly

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It is interesting
I will try to find it for you

use a dowel to drive the pinkish in, wet sand in between, repeat, it left a beautiful satin finish and the dowel pressure seals the surface pores
 
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Decker9

Decker9

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First coat of finishing going on thick today. Starting off with a little de whiskering (sanding off the wood fibres (whiskers) after misting with water and drying over the wood stove).
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Just having a coffee and a puff ( BC eh ) before indulging in this zen, almost 3 years in the making (unknown hours), it’s the most exciting time of any woodworking project.

My plan is 50/50 tru oil with boiled linseed, and I’ll add in about 25% mineral spirits with Alkanet seasoning for the first coat. I’ll soak the entire stock, adding where needed from absorption. After a 10’ish minute soak, I’ll rub it down and let set for 2-3 weeks, I think, before starting on the wet sanding.

Stay tuned 😎

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Decker9

Decker9

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Was a fun afternoon yesterday!

Lathered it on thick

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After a 15 minute soak (it really slurped up the first coat), I rubbed it down and sat in the least dusty place in the house (wood stoves are great, but sure make a mess).

It’s showing pretty dark right now, but will lighten up with the next stages. I’ll let it sit a couple weeks now to dry before starting on wet sanding.

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5lb 8oz as it sits now
 
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Decker9

Decker9

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Really enjoyed looking through this! Looking forward to seeing it with finish
Here’s one I built for an friend and finished with tru oil! Never looks finished without checkering, but that’s how he wanted it

That is one sexy unit!! Did you use straight tru oil there?

I always had a want to build a walnut bench stock. I think, my next build will be based off the Clymer stock if I’m not mistaken
 
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That is one sexy unit!! Did you use straight tru oil there?

I always had a want to build a walnut bench stock. I think, my next build will be based off the Clymer stock if I’m not mistaken
Yep straight tru oil, I could see thinning it though stuff hardens crazy fast
 

Caseknife

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Feb 22, 2020
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The build is pretty much up to date now, most of what’s been done between the last photos and now is unnoticeable to most eyes. Today I thinned out the buttstock a little more and installed the pad. Recoil pads will forever be my nightmare I swear, this one’s still not perfect, but it will be, ok.

View attachment 656263View attachment 656262

have a little more to do on the lines in the forend, and a little on the grip cap, other than that it’s down to sanding out sanding marks.
Beautiful work, very special talent! Quick question, how is the stock held on the pedestal work station where you are slimming the butt with the rasp? Looks like it is just balanced there.
 
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Decker9

Decker9

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Beautiful work, very special talent! Quick question, how is the stock held on the pedestal work station where you are slimming the butt with the rasp? Looks like it is just balanced there.
Thank you :). Rsndom picture here,

I have a piece of 2x4 that I drilled holes in on its edge, then split down the middle. It goes around my barrel and clamps in the vice.

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