How do you take care of your rifle stocks ?

[Scout]

After I shoot and clean the barrel and lock I wipe down the outside of the barrel with a rag that has some Ballistol on it. I wipe off the wood with a damp rag.  Every month or so I use hardwood floor wax on the wood.
Is the wax overkill ?

Whats your stock care procedure ?

[490roundball]

basically -  i keep it clean and repair any actual damage to the finish if it occurrs.

nothing heroic, 

[Collector]

Occasional, but liberal applications of Howard's Feed-N-Wax (Bees Wax & Orange Oi) Polish and Conditioner on the wood and metal... I've used it on all of my firearms, for many years. 

Good luck!

[TMerkley]

Every now and again, about once a year, I will add some linseed oil to the outside of the stock.  Hunting in rainy weather, I will treat the wood in the lock mortise and under the barrel with linseed oil to try to protect the grain from the elements the best I can.  Another trick I came upon was Johnson's paste wax and apply (A LITTLE) heat just barely enough to melt the wax into the pores and help it to seal the grain.  Another wax that I found is candle wax.  I used a small Tea candle and rubbed it over the stock and applied heat.  Just enough to melt it and fill in the pores.  If you have ever "spit-shined" boots in the Army, you have probably cheated by using a cigarette lighter to melt the wax into the leather.  This is the same principle.  


Hope this helps.  

[fix]

I recenly developed an allergy to petroleum based oils, so I switched to natural lubes In either cade I clean the barrel and all metal parts, until a patch stays clean. I then use that clean patch to oil the metal parts. Last step in cleaning is to wipe that patch over the wood. The wood should be sealed,and it probably does nothing, but it's a habit. I've never noticed any wood or finish damage in all the years i've been doing it, and a light rain will usually bead on the stocks rather than soak in.
Probably a waste of my time, but habits are hard to break.

[Kermit]

Pretty much the same, using Ballistol.

[Hungry Horse]

 The old saw about linseed oil/bee's wax/ turpentine/ finish goes like this. A coat a week for a month, a coat a month for a year, a coat a year for the rest of your life. Works for me. I keep some in a can in the shop, and about once a year heat it up in a double boiler made from some cans (NOT IN THE HOUSE, unless you live alone, or have a spider problem) and rub it into the wood, it'll be like a soft paste wax at this point. I usually warm up the stock before I do this as well. Wipe it down with a soft cloth afterward, and its good for another year.

                          Hungry Horse

[hanshi]

I wax them about once or twice a year and wipe them off after each time out.

[sonny]

I bet in colonial times they always waxed their guns............................not!......maybe a bit of bear grease to stop rust but i would bet thats all...................sonny

[Dogshirt]

I use the Howard's just as Collector mentioned. Keeps the wood looking great. Used some on a
kitchen cabinet that I had scrubbed the finish off of (grandkids and crayons) and it looked better than
the rest of the kitchen.

[Mike New]

On my walnut stocked SMR's I wait until the hottest part of summer (July or August) and rub in a couple drops of thinned linseed oil. Then I set out side in the bright sun, all day if I can. I don't have any curly maple to polish...yet. Mike

[Dphariss]

Does anyone have any data on how these modern solvent/wax/petroleum concoctions will affect the wood in 150-200 years?
Just curious.

Dan

[Dphariss]

I bet in colonial times they always waxed their guns............................not!......maybe a bit of bear grease to stop rust but i would bet thats all...................sonny

Linseed oil, raw and boiled, was very common in America as was Nitric acid for stain making.
I suspect that Linseed oil was cheaper than bear oil/grease and on wood its a better finish raw or with driers added.
Dan

[Dphariss]

As I thought....
Howards Feed N Wax is mostly petroleum distillate.

http://www.howardproducts.com/msds.php

This is typical of almost all modern "wood finishes"
I bet its less than 5%  beeswax and such. This is based on a their other products that actually have such things listed.

Dan

[Dogshirt]

Does anyone have any data on how these modern solvent/wax/petroleum concoctions will affect the wood in 150-200 years?
Just curious.

Dan

In 150-200 years I doubt I'll care very much.