Preferred finish for laminate wood stocks?

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05 May 2019, 18:19

D Humbarger

Preferred finish for laminate wood stocks?

Pretty much says it all. What is your choice?

05 May 2019, 19:27

craigster

Minwax Wipe on Poly.

05 May 2019, 19:36

dpcd

Yep, spray on poly urethane; I use semi gloss, but whatever you like. Same as protecting anything made from plywood.

05 May 2019, 21:32

buffybr

I've only done one laminated stock, and I used Tru oil, just like I've used on all of my other walnut stocks.

07 May 2019, 03:37

Jim@IMReps

The Wiebe method using Daly's Seafin Teak Oil and rottenstone.

10 May 2019, 08:07

Atkinson

Glass thinned inside and out..Not that Im fond of it but its double tough, but difficult to apply and too glossy..

Laminate doesn't react well to wood finishing practices IMO...Its all but impossible to get the in the wood effect and it all settles on top of the laminate..so IMO a Poly finish like on the barn works best and its designed to water proof the laminate even more..Seems to work. Ive built a few laminate stocks, but they are too heavy for my taste..

19 May 2019, 02:33

D Humbarger

Thank you all for the replies. Much appreciated. Yep plywood is kind of a bitch.

19 May 2019, 04:49

AnotherAZWriter

quote:
Originally posted by D Humbarger:
Yep plywood is kind of a bitch.

Until it rains

19 May 2019, 04:51

dpcd

I did one yesterday; I use Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane.
Not hard at all; not like it was XXX English walnut.
Trying to finish it like a solid wood stock is a waste of time.

19 May 2019, 20:29

Duane Wiebe (CG&R)

I think the issue is the crap wood used in laminate stocks. There's an outfit here in Tacoma that can laminate Walnut (1/4" thick) laminates.

I haven't personally had reason to have one made up, but a friend has and..pretty spiffy..looks like real nice wood , even staring with plain stock

20 May 2019, 00:38

MNR

Sounds similar to what Kilimanjaro rifles advertise as "stealth lamination". Interesting concept to keep the beauty of walnut and the strength of laminate.

quote:
Originally posted by Duane Wiebe (CG&R):
I think the issue is the crap wood used in laminate stocks. There's an outfit here in Tacoma that can laminate Walnut (1/4" thick) laminates.

I haven't personally had reason to have one made up, but a friend has and..pretty spiffy..looks like real nice wood , even staring with plain stock

20 May 2019, 01:36

craigster

quote:
Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
quote:
Originally posted by D Humbarger:
Yep plywood is kind of a bitch.

Until it rains

Then what happens ?

20 May 2019, 03:46

dpcd

Nonsense; laminated wood will out last solid wood 100 to one in the rain or anywhere else.
And Crap wood? It is Birch; an excellent stock wood all buy itself; it is the only alternative allowed in US military stocks; no use trying to wish it was figured English Walnut. It is what it is; a superior stock material under all conditions,
There is a reason the Germans went to Laminated Beech in 1941, for 98ks and G43s. It is far stronger and more durable than walnut. Yes, slightly heavier. And no, it is not pretty. But not exactly ugly.

20 May 2019, 06:22

Bobster

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dpcd:
I did one yesterday; I use Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane.
Not hard at all; not like it was XXX English walnut.
Trying to finish it like a solid wood stock is a waste of time.[QUOTE]

That's all we use in the shop. It is a very durable product. A great feature of polyurethanes is that you can recoat in 10-15 minutes or less without having to wait for the previous coat to dry completly. Vastly speeds up production times. No sanding between coats that way.

20 May 2019, 20:04

AnotherAZWriter

quote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
Nonsense; laminated wood will out last solid wood 100 to one in the rain or anywhere else.
And Crap wood? It is Birch; an excellent stock wood all buy itself; it is the only alternative allowed in US military stocks; no use trying to wish it was figured English Walnut. It is what it is; a superior stock material under all conditions,
There is a reason the Germans went to Laminated Beech in 1941, for 98ks and G43s. It is far stronger and more durable than walnut. Yes, slightly heavier. And no, it is not pretty. But not exactly ugly.

DPCD:

I was actually saying the same thing; plywood might be a "bitch" until it rains, then you will be glad you have it.

20 May 2019, 20:24

ddsipe

I have this laminate stock on my 6br 100o yd benchrest rifle done in automotive clear coat.

We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
--Winston Churchill

"Oh, nothing Mom, just pounding primers with a hammer ..."

Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.

28 May 2019, 23:00

Atkinson

Mel Smart used to take any wood or stock you had and laminate it..He did a couple for me from Turkish walnut that had nice grain on one side and nothing on the other, he put the plain wood on the inside and the pretty stuff on the outside and it was damn nice..but Melt unfortunately passed away sometime ago, but I was told somebody took over his business..Maybe that's who Wayne made mention off..Id like to know, it was the only laminate I ever cared for.

29 May 2019, 10:58

Wstrnhuntr

I apologize for a bit of an off topic dumb question, but Ive got some left over wood floor coating that Ive considered trying on a stock. Just curious if any of you guys have ever tried that? The stuff has got to be hell for tough to hold up to being walked on for years at a time. And it looks great!

04 June 2019, 03:48

Atkinson

I suspect it would work just fine, if not all you have to do is take it off and start over..I have used mostly Gun SAV_R from Brownells this last year on laminate and it works great on high dollar walnut, comes in gloss and satin in a spray can or paint can..I have used it to fill then come on top of that with Linseed with dryers to get that old world look..I like it and it lasts good thru rough use and wet weather on walnut, better than most Ive tried.