Mauser stock repair for beginners

[Hedge774]

Hey guys. I might have HAD to purchase a Husky 146 today because all of our discussions in a previous thread. Besides you being a bad influence, you also have more talents than I. This hypothetical rifle I speak of is 90 to 95% as far as the barreled action (my main concern and the reason for this purchase. Hypothetical purchase) but the previous owner scored the forend with something to make hash marks. They are scratches, not notches like I've seen too many times. However, I don't like them and I'd like to make them go away. If that's not probable, how would you at least make them less noticeable without ruining the stock? Thanks in advance!

 

[BlueFlyer]

You are going to have to sand down the area where the scratches are and blend it into the surrounding area. Then refinish the entire stock.
Refinishing the stock is going to be most of your work. To remove the finish in the other areas, use a scraper rather than sandpaper as it will give you a better result.

 

[mdwest]

Hey guys. I might have HAD to purchase a Husky 146 today because all of our discussions in a previous thread. Besides you being a bad influence, you also have more talents than I. This hypothetical rifle I speak of is 90 to 95% as far as the barreled action (my main concern and the reason for this purchase. Hypothetical purchase) but the previous owner scored the forend with something to make hash marks. They are scratches, not notches like I've seen too many times. However, I don't like them and I'd like to make them go away. If that's not probable, how would you at least make them less noticeable without ruining the stock? Thanks in advance!

@cash_tx is who you need to talk to about refinishing that stock… he’s done a handful recently and knows the ins and outs well…

 

[Hedge774]

I just remember the look on my uncles face when I "refinished" his shotguns' stock in high-school...it was un-good.

 

[RR 314]

Any ol’ angle grinder and flap wheel will do. .

 

[Ontario Hunter]

You may be able to steam the scratches and bring them back up to the level of rest of the wood. Use a wet cloth and a hot steam iron. Scrape as much of the old finish off as possible using the flat edge of a not very sharp knife. Then use chemical stripper. A brass brush is useful for scrubbing off the finish. Be sure to scrub and rinse well with water afterwards. Then you'll need to knock the raised grain fuzz off with medium steel wool.

 

[Hedge774]

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You may be able to steam the scratches and bring them back up to the level of rest of the wood. Use a wet cloth and a hot steam iron. Scrape as much of the old finish off as possible using the flat edge of a not very sharp knife. Then use chemical stripper. A brass brush is useful for scrubbing off the finish. Be sure to scrub and rinse well with water afterwards. Then you'll need to knock the raised grain fuzz off with medium steel wool.

Thank you, Sir. I was wondering about steaming. I wonder if a steamer for garments would work as well?

 

[CBeck]

I have actually put stripped stocks into the dishwasher, including the heated dry cycle with good success… You would be surprised at the amount of dents and dings it will remove

Obviously takes a good bit of dry time before finishing. You want to avoid sanding, scratches, and dings out if it all possible…

 

[Hedge774]

I have actually put stripped stocks into the dishwasher, including the heated dry cycle with good success… You would be surprised at the amount of dents and dings it will remove

Obviously takes a good bit of dry time before finishing. You want to avoid sanding, scratches, and dings out if it all possible…

I'll qaaait until she goes to sleep for this one. Thank you for the insight! I would have thought I would pull out a canoe after that!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

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Thank you, Sir. I was wondering about steaming. I wonder if a steamer for garments would work as well?

Might not get hot enough. I use the hot tip of the clothes iron pressed hard against very wet rag pressed hard against the dent. This will reduce or eliminate sanding needed to remove the damage.

 

[cash_tx]

Hey guys. I might have HAD to purchase a Husky 146 today because all of our discussions in a previous thread. Besides you being a bad influence, you also have more talents than I. This hypothetical rifle I speak of is 90 to 95% as far as the barreled action (my main concern and the reason for this purchase. Hypothetical purchase) but the previous owner scored the forend with something to make hash marks. They are scratches, not notches like I've seen too many times. However, I don't like them and I'd like to make them go away. If that's not probable, how would you at least make them less noticeable without ruining the stock? Thanks in advance!

Can you upload some pictures of the hash marks you are talking about? That might affect the direction of recommendations. As @mdwest said, I've done a handful of stocks lately (with some great coaching from this forum), and now probably know just enough to be dangerous; but i can certainly relate to the novice just getting started. As @Ontario Hunter said, a wet wash cloth and a steam iron can be very effective. I've got a few other tips and tricks to share that I've picked up from this forum along the way and am happy to share, but again, some pictures will help guide the conversation. Good on you for taking this on, it's fun and rewarding work.

 

[Hedge774]

Can you upload some pictures of the hash marks you are talking about? That might affect the direction of recommendations. As @mdwest said, I've done a handful of stocks lately (with some great coaching from this forum), and now probably know just enough to be dangerous; but i can certainly relate to the novice just getting started. As @Ontario Hunter said, a wet wash cloth and a steam iron can be very effective. I've got a few other tips and tricks to share that I've picked up from this forum along the way and am happy to share, but again, some pictures will help guide the conversation. Good on you for taking this on, it's fun and rewarding work.

It is on the way to my FFL. I will most certainly send pictures of it when I have it. Thank you very much for the offer!

 

[BlueFlyer]

I was wondering about steaming.

Steaming will work if they are dents or impressions. If the wood fibres are damaged/broken from scratching or cutting, then steaming will not work.

 

[Hedge774]

Steaming will work if they are dents or impressions. If the wood fibres are damaged/broken from scratching or cutting, then steaming will not work.

I was afraid of that. When I can physically look at it, I'll know for sure. It sounds like a k ife tip was used.....sigh.

 

[Woodcarver]

Are these someone making notches, like keeping score of kills? If so, where on the forend? If far enough forward, possibly add a forend tip to get rid of them. But this would require they be within 2-3" of the end of the stock.

 

[Woodcarver]

This is definitely one of those times where pictures would be worth a lot of words, lol

 

[Hedge774]

Oh, man! That's brilliant. I never thought about a forend before now. I'll share the only pics I have. Maybe you can blow them up and see what I can't. Thank you!

 

[coreydb]

Start with a damp cloth and a hot steam iron or a heat gun. I rejuvenated an old Winchester model 12 stock that way.

 

[Woodcarver]

Oh, man! That's brilliant. I never thought about a forend before now. I'll share the only pics I have. Maybe you can blow them up and see what I can't. Thank you!

So, the good news is the scratches aren't big enough to make out in those pics, lol. That makes it more likely they can be either repaired/steamed, or simply left as "character" in the stock.
To give you an idea of how much of a forend could be added and retain the proper proportions for that stock, if you look at the side photo and divide the length, between the end of the stock and the center of the rear sight, into thirds, the front third could be replaced with a tip of your choice. If that also removed the scratches I can't see, bonus. Max would be half that distance.
As the forend is not checkered, if the scratches are closer to the middle, an appropriate checkering pattern could be applied that would remove the scratches and add to the aesthetics of the stock.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Steaming will work if they are dents or impressions. If the wood fibres are damaged/broken from scratching or cutting, then steaming will not work.

Actually, dents can be raised but the broken grain may still be visible. So the dented wood can be raised flush to surface of surroundings but it may still look like there's a dent. However, I have raised some significant dents and they disappeared. A lot depends on the shape of the dent. A saucer shaped shallow punched in dent might steam out perfectly and disappear. A sharp cut in gouge, likely not.