Hey buddy! Thanks for the advice! I would imagine that the same techniques as protecting wood from a marine weather-salt-water environment would DEFINITELY protect a gun stock! :-)
This
thing (the stock) has all the workmanship of a decent
CLUB. Here's a photo of the exact rifle...
...when the wood was cleaned up. BUT, if you leave it in a warm area, or out in the sun, industrial grade grease seeps out of the wood.
Whatever formed out of this grease with the water felt like honey, except it was stickier and seemed to go back to grease when we rubbed it.
The guy who was with me suggested stripping it and sanding it after getting the grease out of it...and eventually I'll do it. :-)
The guy who was with me suggested stripping it and sanding it after getting the grease out of it...and eventually I'll do it. :-) I might not go that far, as it may not all come out and a hard finish might not stick and then chip or peel. I'd probably stick with the hot oil and wax thingy.
I think I've seen that type of gun before. Smoothest bolt I've ever felt.
As to sanding, my bet is the paper will load up with grease almost instantly. So to minimize the headache, you might try a thin metal scraper, one that you can bend to conform to the surface with about the stiffness of a credit card. Comb the grain such that where it's rising you're pushing it down. That'll help pull out the grease too.
Try it on a scrap piece to get the feel of it before starting on the antique.