Hi Gloss to oil-type finish with steel wool?

[Gary O]

I have read that it is possible to do that; change those high gloss-type epoxy finishes to an oil-type finish with the correct usage of steel wool. What say you? Thanks...

 

[fishbone]

I'm not a stock maker, but do a bit of furniture making. Trying to get an even sheen of a high gloss epoxy finish by steel wooling would be difficult. A better approach would be to sand to rough the finish and coat with a semi gloss poly. The poly would fill the sanding scratches (hide) and provide the reduced sheen.

 

[Dennis Sorensen]

I have wet sanded the factory high gloss finish with 400 grit wet/dry paper and then rubbed with 0000 steel wool... it looks not bad for taking the shine away from a very waterproof tough finish.

Much quicker and easier than stripping the hard factory finish away and refinishing.

 

[langenc]

I finish with Tru-oil. I dont like the shinny finish. I rub w/ steel wool and get a nice matte finish, prett hard. After a while, a rerub w/ wool restores the nice finish.

 

[Andy Cross]

emmery treatment

Years ago when I was still interested in wooden stocks I removed the gloss finish from a remington stock by using a bead blaster and blasting it with 3000 grit emery. Worked a treat.
Andy.

 

[JD Mock]

Here is a Tru-oil finish that was rubbed down with 0000 steel wool. James

 

[virg]

I have found that rubbing with 0000 or even 600 steel wool dipped occasionally in car wax does a beautiful job on high gloss stock finishes and provides a tough water resistant finish to stocks finished with polyethylene finishes. Just put two or three coats of poly on the stock and rub out. Or apply this method to an already existing stock.

virg

 

[langenc]

Nice wood and nice finish.

Some may think that because there is that large reflection in the center of the stock that the finish is shinny. Not so..

 

[Joe Maisto]

Here is a Tru-oil finish that was rubbed down with 0000 steel wool. James

JD,
Couldn't help but notice your Redfield WIDEfield. I too have one....a 3x9 on my Model 50-.270 FN. I believe the widefield to be a classic item, especially when mounted on the FN action.

 

[vicvanb]

I've had pretty good results with pumice ("rotten stone") mixed to a paste with water. It's messy but converts a shiny urethane finish to a satin finish without a great deal of effort. Stock makers and furniture makers in the "old" days used pumice to rub out various finishes.