Please compare oil finishes: I.e. tung vs. linseed v.s. others etc.

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29 January 2013, 11:56

ColoradoMatt

Please compare oil finishes: I.e. tung vs. linseed v.s. others etc.

Having a rigby style rifle built, and am wondering what might be the ideal stock finish. My gunmaker would like to use tung oil mixed with Alizarin Crimson (whatever that is?) and a dryer. Says it gives the reddish color and is quite durable/scratch resistant when in the field. I don't know squat and would like to learn the difference between the various oils used in custom gun making, and why one would choose one over the other. Alkenet root has been discussed some here on AR lately. What are some other red dies commonly mixed with gunstocks oils, and what are the pro's and cons, etc. Thanks
Matt

Corrected my misspelling of Alizarin.

Matt
FISH!!

Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:

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29 January 2013, 19:13

gnoahhh

There's a question for which everybody has the right answer and they're all different. If you have had complete faith in your gunmaker up to this point I would give him free reign in making that decision.

Personally, I have moved away from oil finishes entirely. While they look good, they don't provide the protection against moisture penetration that a barrier finish does. My favorite is good old spar varnish, many coats sanded between each coat to provide a final glass-like surface- then rubbed out with rottenstone or other extremely fine abrasive to give a look that some interpret as being an oil finish.

29 January 2013, 20:32

butchloc

i'd agree 110% with your gunsmith

30 January 2013, 00:52

PAUL J.A.

this is spar varnish many coats!!!....paul

30 January 2013, 01:52

Aaron Little

Believe Duane Wiebe uses either the teak or tung oil from Daly's. I personally like the tung oil with alkanet root mixed in.

30 January 2013, 02:24

Evan K.

Will the color in ground alkanet root powder be "absorbed" into a synthetic finish like spar urethane?

30 January 2013, 03:46

PAUL J.A.

the alkinet root that i had years ago look like tobacco leaves ...paul

30 January 2013, 05:47

dempsey

Most oils aren't all oil, spar varnish has oil in it. Go with what your smith prefers.

31 January 2013, 00:51

custombolt

quote:
Originally posted by PAUL J.A.:
this is spar varnish many coats!!!....paul

A bit red for straight Spar varnish.

31 January 2013, 05:31

PAUL J.A.

this gun was stained with behlens ,red mahogany stain ,i fiddled with it mixing it with a few other behlen stains ,,mahogany and another reddish one ,,after i let it dry a few days i started with the spar varnish and japan drier finish thats what took many coats ,,i guess if it can be used on boats then it should holdup ,,i have used alkinet root with linseed oil before but it does take a while for the color to set in , i has been a while since ive done any of this ,,i had this gun stocked 20years ago its probably darkened up some on its own since then as the pics are recent.. i have even used different types of raw shellacs dilluted with alchohol in thge past as tests but i kept coming back to this varnish mixed with japan or mccloskeys drier i guess it could qualify as being french polish finish ...paul

01 February 2013, 23:52

custombolt

quote:
Originally posted by PAUL J.A.:
this gun was stained with behlens ,red mahogany stain ,i fiddled with it mixing it with a few other behlen stains ,,mahogany and another reddish one ,,after i let it dry a few days i started with the spar varnish and japan drier finish thats what took many coats ,,i guess if it can be used on boats then it should holdup ,,i have used alkinet root with linseed oil before but it does take a while for the color to set in , i has been a while since ive done any of this ,,i had this gun stocked 20years ago its probably darkened up some on its own since then as the pics are recent.. i have even used different types of raw shellacs dilluted with alchohol in thge past as tests but i kept coming back to this varnish mixed with japan or mccloskeys drier i guess it could qualify as being french polish finish ...paul

Looks dandy. Red finishes are starting to grow on me.

13 February 2013, 06:15

zimbabwe

I have used Daly's Teak Oil for years and it really gives a good finish that is easily repaired.

13 March 2013, 00:11

Richard Florer

Some of our soldiers in WWII found out the hard way that about 10% of them were allergic to tung oil, making for a very bad shin rash. Something to keep in mind.
RF

13 March 2013, 08:36

ColoradoMatt

quote:
Originally posted by Richard Florer:
Some of our soldiers in WWII found out the hard way that about 10% of them were allergic to tung oil, making for a very bad shin rash. Something to keep in mind.
RF

I'll have to add some to my copper tone and see what happens

14 March 2013, 01:02

bluefish

Paul J.A. that is very nice from what can be seen. Please show us the rest and don't leave out details!

Jeff

14 March 2013, 04:57

Duane Wiebe

In the long run..oil is still the best. Sea Fin...wonderful stuff...Linseed Oil..good as it gets (Though not a "quickie")

I've always avoided pure tung oil because of the possible allergy mentioned...

Spar varnish...great for many applications Though I don't know if you can still buy REAL Spar Varnish anymore....check with California! HAR!