Hello Members: I am considering the purchase of a laminate stock from Boyds and was wondering - is there is anything special one needs to be aware of when finishing laminate stocks? Thanks in advance.

Do a search and think you'll find some information about one certain system turning laminates green. I think it's polyurethane but not certain.

I've had great results with Minwax spray on Spar Varnish. Now the purist will tell u that Minwax sux, and they may well be right. I have since switched to the Brownells satin spray on.

The Boyds laminate stocks come out great, several light coats, sand a wet coat with wet dry paper 400-600 grit ( this will fill in pores, and a final light coat. You many want to start with a second off their specials page. But trust me, if I can do it and people say wow, anyone can.

Boyds does sell a sprayon product but I was not too happy with it. Talk to them and they will give you all the advice you need. Surface prep is key, and get a few tack cloths to really get that fine dust picked up after sanding. Light #0000 steel wool between coats, and lots of very thin coats work best for me.

From my experience what to use on laminates depends on what laminate color you are using. If you are using the brown laminate an oil finish or even poly spray will work. But if you are using the black/grey DONT DONT DONT use a oil or poly finish. You will get a VERY green colored stock. For my black grey laminate I took it to a autobody shop and had them spray it with their clear coat and then buffed it to satin with 0000 steel wool. (this was after I turned mine green and had to strip it) The automotive epoxy clear coat is super tough and the various solvents dont eat it up if you get some on your stock. Most of the over the counter spray stuff is very susceptable to solvents.

Tru Oil. If it's good enough for most of Italy's bespoke shotgun makers, it's good enough for me.

I put together a fat barrel Ruger 10/22 with a laminated "Midnite" stock. I finished it with poly and it did turn light green. But you know what? I've gotten nothing but complements on it from folks at the range. It sure is different though.
Regards, Jeff

one thing i found with the boyds laminates is it hard to get all the machine marks out. or maybe i am too picky. i have the pepper, varmint on a ruger m77. i started with 80 grit to get the machine marks out, then 120, 200, 400, 600 wet dry sand paper damp cloth between sandings. tru-oil finish with 0000 steelwool.

i think it looks great. when i bring it out at the range i get alot of oohs and aahs. good luck with your project.

One of the fellows at the range had an interesting finish on a laminated stock. During his finishing of the stock ,John, that's his name, dyed I think he said, maybe stained it a walnut color. After the complete finish it had a beautiful cloudy effect , for lack of a better discription. I'll be seeing him in two weeks if anyone is interested in details. I'm going to try it on my new 12BVSS-S when it turns a little cooler. roger

Bartsche -

I am interested in John's walnut stained 'cloudy' laminate stock. I sounds not just different but special / classy.

I saw a photgraph of a Rigby rile in .300Win Mag which had a narrow strip walnut laminate stock. It looked rather nice. But with the laminate stock, drain pipe telescopic sight and long(ish) barrel, it weighed around 10+ lbs.

Laminates are becoming a lot better finished and styled - Acra Bond / Serengetti stocks for example. I like the Rose wood red brown colour produced by Richards Microfit stocks.

I have finished quite a few Boyd's stocks...

I always use a coat or two of Tongue Oil on them and let dry for 24hours... I just use an application sponge from Wally World and then add a couple of coats of Polyurethane , I prefer the Low Gloss or Matte finishes......

I have never had any of them change colors to green or whatever on me...

I have thought about applying some different stain over one, like say Cherry stain after the tongue oil once just to see how it comes out....

I really think that it would do good and look good... the tongue oil as an undercoat for the polyurethane sounds like that is the best way to go.. I actually asked a woman who refinishes antique furniture for her advise before I did it the first time... guess I got better advise than I realized!

cheers
seafire

When I finished one of their gray laminates with a mix of marine spar varnish/Deft marine teak finish/paint thinner, the stock turned green. And not a nice green, either.