oils for wood

[JHZR2]

Hi,

Im curious what are good oils to use on wood. I have a variety of stuff, from hardwood floors to a marlin 94 lever action rifle with a nice walnut stock all the way to my great-grandfather's old bureau, which spent too many years in my grandparents' attic and has a sad finish that looks really dry.

Is double boiled linseed oil a good choice? Ive heard that birchwood casey's gun stock wax is good for any variety of stuff, and is even popular in the guitar circles.

I have oild english regular and lemon oil. I also have some "howard feed and wax", from restortation hardware, which has beeswax, carnuba wax and oraqnge oil. My understandig is that a lot of these products have petroleum distillates or some sort of water base, neithr of which are really good for long term seep in, as they can aide in breaking down the wood and destroying it in time.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

JMH

 

[mechtech]

The linseed oil is actually a finish. It is great for scratches on a gunstock that originally had this finish.
If you use it on furniture, it will apply a layer of sauce over whatever is on there.
Lemon oil looks good for a few days, until it evaporates.
Hoe about good old lemon Pledge, and see how that works for you?

 

[drm7]

I've always heard to never oil a gun stock. It will eventually soak through and lead to it weakening and breaking. Don't know for sure about this, just what I heard.

 

[Pablo]

I like a quick wipe with this stuff or buff it a bit.

http://www.howardproducts.com/orange.htm

 

[1sttruck]

I'll second to avoid 'oiling' wood. Some old gun stocks have soft spots around the action from excessive oiling. I will recommend an 'in the wood' finish, where one avoids building up a finish on top of the wood, as they're easy to touch up. I recall using a spar varnish cut in half with thinner, using a 'sanded in finish' and then finishing with a traditional rubbed finish.

 

[Al]

I am really interested in this thread. I am just posing the question here bc I am not knowledgeable here. I knew an old woodworker who swore by tung oil. Apparently there is a polermarized verson:

"A Polymerized Tung Oil finish is hard yet flexible, waterproof and impervious to alcohol and many food acids. Polymerized Tung oil as a penetrating oil allows wood to continue its aging process and to develop its patina. The wood's rich color and grain are enhanced by the natural ambering (coloring) of Polymerized Tung oil over time. Any sign of wear disappears when a thin "maintenance" coat of oil is rubbed in. The maintenance coats, rather than cause a build-up, actually improve the patina as they protect and preserve the wood. A floor, a piece of furniture, or any other wood object finished and maintained with Polymerized Tung Oil will never have to be stripped again. The finish will become more beautiful with time. "

http://www.sutherlandwelles.com/tungoil.htm

Again..I'm looking for information also.

 

[JHZR2]

I was under the impression that 'oiling' with petroleum-based products caused the wood to break down, etc.

But, vegetable oil-based stuff is OK?!?

Ill be checking out the other stuff reccomended here.

Thanks very much!

JMH

 

[Pablo]

I certainly wouldn't use petroleum oil products.

I haven't used tung oil on already finished gun stocks, but I have used it on new wood work, a microwave cart I made, and various other hardwoods. I like it and the ability to "reflow" it, but it doesn't seem like Tung oil would have the right "feel" on my gun stocks.

 

[Slick17601]

Tung oil works very well on gun stocks.

 

[Pablo]

Slick17601 - but on an already finished 94 lever action???

 

[tom slick]

B/C gun stock oil is what we oil our guitar necks with as the factory finish. the fret boards are cleaned after dressing the frets with old english lemon oil.

I've been using Briwax on my latest wood working projects, it gives a nice finish if you want a waxy type of finish. I am also a fan of howard products.

 

[Amkeer]

Just take your cheapo smallest can of NEW polyurethane you purchase from the hardware store and cut it 50% or more with mineral spirits. Only make enough that you are using and throw it out when done. Scuff with 320 and wipe on with clean cotton rag. Let it sit for about 15 then wipe the excess off with a clean rag. Let it sit for 24 hours thereafter to dry.


I use this stuff here for oil finish on wood tops in kitchens and for other furniture that I don't want a plastic, but oil finish.
http://www.velvitproducts.com/


Oh another thing. Don't use any type of pledge, old english, etc since it will add silicone contamination to the surface.

 

[1sttruck]

When selecting a finish check closely on how to refinish, as some require complete stripping.

 

[mechtech]

Liquid lubricating oil is a no-no on gun stocks.
Tung oil or boiled linseed oil aren't the types to hurt a gunstock. They dry and leave a finish that is easy to repair by applying a little more.
Birchwood Caseys's Tru Oil is very good for finishing and touching up.

 

[MarkC]

I use lemon oil on the fretboard of my Gibson.
I also have a custom-made jo which is of purpleheart wood. I was told to oil it with tung or linseed oil, or also lemon oil.