I have a Weatherby Vanguard with a wood stock; it is 20+ years old and the stock is covered with little dings and scratches, that don't penetrate the finish, as happens. Lately, though, I somehow gouged it on the buttstock, left side. There are five little scrapes, but the biggest is 5mm in diameter and exposes the grain. I don't plan to refinish the stock until next winter - what can I put on this in the meantime to keep the moisture out? Regular touchup or any plain sealant?

For quick and easy, I'd use Tru-Oil.

Great - while I was at looking at Tru-Oil at Brownells I also saw their shellac sticks. May come in handy when I do go to refinish it and fill in the gouges. May just go with the Tru-Oil for now. Thanks.

Once you strip the old finish, you may find that a lot of those dents can be raised by simply moistening the wood with a damp cloth or by steaming them out. It's a pretty simple process.

I see that they sell "stock irons" for steaming dents out of wood. Are they better to use or would steam from a regular steam iron work?

Steaming is only marginally usable on dents, and is likely to flake off the finish on a cut or scrape. I use a drop of super glue, and a pinch of walnut sawdust to fill in cuts and gouges. You drop the sawdust pinch on the superglue drop, and press the sawdust down with a finger PROTECTED WITH A SANDWICH BAGGIE. Not using the baggie will glue your finger onto the stock...Shave off excess with a single edge razor blade, and finish with a drop of True oil, or poly varnish.

quote:

Originally posted by sputster:
I see that they sell "stock irons" for steaming dents out of wood. Are they better to use or would steam from a regular steam iron work?

I have and use both, and both work equally well.