Fair price to pay for refinishing a DR stock

[Rare Breed]

Need advice please…I am having both my stock and fore-end on my Sabatti DR 500 NE refinished from the bright ugly laquer to a rubbed oil finish while also having several dents removed. The craftsman is asking me to pay him what I think for a fair price. I would never cheat anyone but I have no idea what I should offer. Help please

 

[K E Johnson]

I would hate to be given the proposition you were given.
The craftsman should have an idea of the hours it would take, material and consumables required and what his time is worth. I never let someone else put their price on my time when pricing work.
I might ask how many hours were anticipated, and what his shop rate was and see what could be worked out. Nobody wants to insult someone by lowballing them. Don’t need to give the farm away either obviously.
Or find someone who will quote.

Of course there may be someone who can put a price on it here. That doesn’t mean it will meet the other parties expectations unfortunately.

Best of luck!

 

[Rare Breed]

Thanks! I did some research on other forums and found from $250-$350. I offered him the high end of $350 and he said he is happy with that

 

[Andrew62]

Need advice please…I am having both my stock and fore-end on my Sabatti DR 500 NE refinished from the bright ugly laquer to a rubbed oil finish while also having several dents removed. The craftsman is asking me to pay him what I think for a fair price. I would never cheat anyone but I have no idea what I should offer. Help please

Please let us know how this goes, I too have a Sabatti and would like a different finish!!

 

[Nhoro]

I have refinshed a few stocks. Sandpaper/paint remover and oil finish are pretty cheap- maybe 20 bucks. Steaming out dents is probably 15 to 20 mins. Applying finish and wet sanding is probably 30 mins each time and 2 hrs total. Then applying more coats is quicker. I reckon 250 -350 is about right considering it will be over a few weeks or months and it does take some skill and attention to detail. Keeping the lines of the stock and chequering clean is the key so it is worth paying someone who knows what they are foing.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thanks! I did some research on other forums and found from $250-$350. I offered him the high end of $350 and he said he is happy with that

@Rare Breed
That seems like a realistic price.
If re- checkering isn't involved I voted do the work myself. It isn't that hard but needs patience. Instead of using sandpaper to scrape the old finish off I use paint stripper and a heat gun with a cabinet scraper. This removes far less wood. The checkering I use a very soft brass brush and a toothbrush to remove the finish without damaging it.
London oil or Linspeed give beautiful hand rubbed oil finishes.
Time and patience is the key, a good finish can take up to 3 months.
Bob