Steaming the dents.

[RAM1ALASKA]

Is it best to steam the dents on a rifle stock before or after the finish is removed?
Assuming you were going to do a complete refinish .
All input welcome, and maybe a short explanation of your reasoning.
What say you ?

Thanks

[Singer B]

I would recommend that you remove the finish. That allows the steam/moisture to enter the pores and grain of the wood and expand them through hydration of the wood. Many finishes are designed to prevent moisture from entering the wood and that defeats the purpose of steaming out the dents and dings. Good luck and I hope your project turns out the way you want it!

[Sapper740]

RAM1ALASKA, thanks for asking this question. I have an excellent condition M1891 Argentine Mauser that unfortunately has a dent on the stock, marring an otherwise near perfect rifle. I'm interested in hearing what the experts recommend.

[Ovidio]

I only once raised a dent on a rifle stock (when I made one in Grandpa’s Carcano). Young and dumb…
That time, with no clue at all, I just dipped a toothpick in water and then spread the little bit exactly in the small dent. Afternight, I repeated. After a few days, the dent was practically gone. Then, some linseed oil and… shhhhhh… No word…

[ssgross]

Depends. If it has a basic linseed oil finish, the order doesn't really matter. Once you start steaming, you are committed to refinishing. The steam will penetrate the finish and lift the grain. I've done it in either order in this case with equal success and the same and no more or less work. If you want to preserve the original oil finish and color, then do not do anything to remove the finish. Just locally steam your dent up, knock the surface down with some 000 steel wool (go over the whole stock), and reapply some linseed oil to blend the area of the dent in with the rest. To make the color match the original, use Watson's danish oil. I keep a can of both dark walnut and plain, and blend depending on how dark the original color of the rest of the stock was. It's basically thinned down boiled linseed oil. It's easy to find and works. It's basically just thinned down boiled linseed oil with some color (or not) added. Before anyone starts yelling about what the types of linseed oil actually are - I'll just say my last statement is technically incorrect, yet morally accurate )

Post a picture of your dent? if it's deep, it may not come out all the way. If the fibers around the edge are torn, it will still be noticeable no matter how level you get it with steaming. In the latter case, steaming and then blending the area back the way I described will make it look like it was always there, instead of a fresh careless wound. Removing the original finish of the stock should be a last resort.

If you are committed to refinishing the whole stock, use a cabinet scraper to remove the finish. This will keep the pores closed. Don't try to sand it or you'll be in for a world of hurt. If the existing finish is one of those hard topcoats - shellac, poly, etc., then remove it with a cabinet scraper and proceed as above. Good luck!

[Surpmil]

It's best not to remove the finish unless you plan on refinishing the rifle.

Always sad to see fine rifles with decent metal ruined by some _________ who stripped a century of patina off the woodwork and left it looking like piece of antique furniture some _______ used paint stripper on.

[browningautorifle]

Is it best to steam the dents on a rifle stock before or after the finish is removed?
Assuming you were going to do a complete refinish .

Considering THIS is the question, after you strip the finish. You can use a steam tool like available in most stores, plug in like a kettle and will work fine. They're small and can concentrate on a spot, just make sure you don't run out of water, they don't hold much.

[RAM1ALASKA]

Thanks to all for your input.
Cross posted this question on another forum and got several answers there also.
What I ended up doing was completely stripping the finish with a little heat and a scraper.
Lightly sand and wipe down with a damp rag.
Not too much heat – don't get carried away or may damage stock.
All dents were small,so the suggestion I basically followed was take a small needle and make a few small pokes in the dent to allow the steam in
And a wet cloth and tinfoil and a clothes iron. Tried the tinfoil which was apparently to try and keep the steam in and it turned out to be
A juggling act so I abandon the tinfoil and just went with wet rag and steam iron.
Bottom line – worked quite well for small dents and I was pleased with the result !
Thanks again for all the response,,,,,, Rob

[ssgross]

Post some pics when it's all done?
Sounds like you had a very hard topcoat on what was there already. I did an old Glenfield 70 for my kids a while back that was like that. Stock looked like it was under water, but with scratches chips and dings from being tossed around behind a tractor seat for years. So hard the cabinet scraper would hardly touch it, but like you said a touch of heat to soften and it peeled off with the scraper in big long curls. Oil finish was underneath, so I didn't sand. I dyed my linseed oil with alkanes root smooth over and revive some more color, and all was perfect.

Pour yourself a beer, you did good!

[micmacman]

removing original finish is a no no on a collectable , the dent may bother you , but you may create a bigger issue value wise than the dent that bothers you