What are the pros and cons of oil finish vs lacquer? All of my rifles, and double guns, have had a lacquer or gloss finish. I just got a new 300 win mag and it has an oil finish. It is a very nice walnut stock but I'm not sure I like the finish as much as a glossy lacquer finish....maybe I'm just not used to it yet.
stock finish: lacquer vs oil
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I've got a Browning A Bolt with the shiney finish. One of these days I'm going to rub it down with Birchwood-Casey Rubbing Compound and knock off the shine.
I've refinished a few stocks over the years, and I like the rubbed oil finish a lot better. It not only reduces glare that could scare a deer on sunny days, but it also doesn't show the inevitable scratches and dings as much.
I've refinished a few stocks over the years, and I like the rubbed oil finish a lot better. It not only reduces glare that could scare a deer on sunny days, but it also doesn't show the inevitable scratches and dings as much.
FULLDRAWXX75
Well-Known Member
Over the yrs. I think just about every gun I have has been refinished for one reason or another and I have always gone with a multiple application of Tung oil. I apply several coats(steel wooled between coats) then buffed out and two coats of bowling alley wax applied.
Make the finish look like fine furniture.
FDXX75
Make the finish look like fine furniture.
FDXX75
FULLDRAWXX75
Well-Known Member
I forgot to mention, I think the grain and colors come out more with an oil finish.
The other thing, oil is a deep into the wood finish, not just a top coat.
FDXX75
The other thing, oil is a deep into the wood finish, not just a top coat.
FDXX75
JimFromTN
Well-Known Member
What renegade said. I have had scratches in stocks done with linseed oil and they practically fill back in on their own over time.
Yup, that's what I meant by not showing the scratches. This thread has pretty much convnced me it's time to re-do the Browning.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
My rem 280 mountain rifle looked like crap after 15 years of hunting. I stripped off all the lacquer finish down to the wood, then applied 7 or 8 coats of tung oil. I looks 1000x better now... better than new!
