Thread: BSA 7x57 advice

For your stock work.
Right strip off the old oil varnish what ever is on it. Leave the checkering alone! Maybe by a checkering tool to run over the old checkering to sharpen it up. But you will need to know what type it is how many checkers per inch.
Wash the stripper off! No not that stripper
Then fine sand bring out any dents with a hot knife and a wet rag. Place wet rag on top of dent then hot knife onto the rag, this will lift dents right out. Next keep sanding add a little water to lift the grain and fine wood then sand again. Keep this up till it’s smooth.

recipe for the gunstock oil...
Buy some Alkanet root. Also some grain filler the best my gun maker recommended is rotten stone powder very fine.
1) Chop the Alkanet root up finely.
2) Put the chopped root into a glass jar (with a lid that seals well).
3) Add sufficient boiled linseed and GENUINE (not substitute) turpentine mixed in a ratio of 5:1 by volume to cover the chopped root and seal the jar.
4) Place in a warm and dark place for a couple of weeks, shaking every couple of days and opening the jar (to ensure the lid doesn't glue itself on) once a week.
5) After a couple of weeks, strain through a old pair of tights to remove bits. Remove wife from tights beforehand
6) Dilute using just boiled linseed until you have the shade you need. Test this on a similar coloured wood sample.
7) Store in the dark.

The primary colour change occurs with the first and second coat - subsequent coats deepen the colour slightly but can be dispensed with depending on personal choice - and so you don't need much at all. Although I never measure it and always make more than I need, 25ml would probably be plenty (obviously depending on stock porosity/grain filler) - however, it doesn't keep for more than a few weeks.

You need to restrict the air because the boiled linseed and turpentine will lose volatile components, making the resultant mixture more viscous and affecting the colour takeup on the stock - particularly if the walnut is less porous. The sunlight seems to accelerate the inevitable colour change from red/purple to red/brown, and the resultant colour on the stock seems to lose something.