Diana 52 ... walnut stock ... what to treat stock with?

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I use Minwax Antique Oil Finish mixed 1:1 with boiled linseed oil. The boiled linseed oil slows down drying time and allows some leeway in wiping down the final coats. I use Birchwood Casey water based stains as they allow touch up if you sand through during the grain fill wet sanding.









  1.  Rub on several coats until the grain is filled.
  2. Let it dry thoroughly.
  3. Wet sand with 320 wet or dry and turpentine.
  4. Let the slurry dry
  5. Wipe across the grain with a soft cloth
  6. Apply a few drops with your hand and rub vigorously
  7. Wipe with a clean soft cloth after 10 minutes
  8. Let dry over night
  9. Repeat steps 6-8 until the desired sheen is attained.
    [/LIST=1]

    NOT AIRGUNS, BUT WALNUT IS WALNUT

    Before; American Black Walnut





    After;







    American Black Walnut





    English Walnut





 
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I've finished a couple with Royal London Oil. It puts a real nice finish on them.
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To answer your question there is not much point putting anything on a spray lacquer finish. About half have a stain mixed into the lacquer to give the gunstocks uniformity. They don't want people squabbling over light/dark etc. I believe all the Diana guns like the 52 are spray lacquered beech. It is a pleasant very durable wood and finish but not a showpiece like the ground up completely refinished walnut ones shown many of which are decades old. Those don’t have anything to do with your question and you wouldn't waste your time refinishing a beech stock.



Wipe it down with a T shirt every once in awhile. Put a tiny bit of oil of your choice on the shirt if you want. Nothing is going to penetrate that lacquer finish so forget the expensive magic oils. Anything you put on it is just going to sit on top. Don't put any wax on. It makes matching a touch up a great deal more dificult. Just shoot the gun.
 
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IMHO, The stock should be finished with Linseed oil. One coat a day for a week, one coat a week for a month and then one coat a year from then on. I learned this from a 93 year old gentleman in 1984 who made Pennsylvania Long Rifles. I was in his shop and asked him how he got such a beautiful finish on his curly maple stocks. He said with a grin “Son, let me tell you a secret I learned from my Grandfather. One coat of linseed oil a day for a week, on coat a week for a month, and then one coat a year from then on. Rub it in with your hands and create friction that warms the wood and opens the pores. Don’t soak it, just put the same amount on each time, no more than a teaspoon in each hand. Rub it in for at least 15 min so you get an even coat.” I have used this advice on many walnut stock and other furniture. It has always done great.
 
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To answer your question there is not much point putting anything on a spray lacquer finish. About half have a stain mixed into the lacquer to give the gunstocks uniformity. They don't want people squabbling over light/dark etc. I believe all the Diana guns like the 52 are spray lacquered beech. It is a pleasant very durable wood and finish but not a showpiece like the ground up completely refinished walnut ones shown many of which are decades old. Those don’t have anything to do with your question and you wouldn't waste your time refinishing a beech stock.



Wipe it down with a T shirt every once in awhile. Put a tiny bit of oil of your choice on the shirt if you want. Nothing is going to penetrate that lacquer finish so forget the expensive magic oils. Anything you put on it is just going to sit on top. Don't put any wax on. It makes matching a touch up a great deal more dificult. Just shoot the gun.
Click to expand...

Having done woodworking most of my life and have refinished more gun stocks than I can remember I assure you that this is the best answer on this thread 
 
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To answer your question there is not much point putting anything on a spray lacquer finish. About half have a stain mixed into the lacquer to give the gunstocks uniformity. They don't want people squabbling over light/dark etc. I believe all the Diana guns like the 52 are spray lacquered beech. It is a pleasant very durable wood and finish but not a showpiece like the ground up completely refinished walnut ones shown many of which are decades old. Those don’t have anything to do with your question and you wouldn't waste your time refinishing a beech stock.



Wipe it down with a T shirt every once in awhile. Put a tiny bit of oil of your choice on the shirt if you want. Nothing is going to penetrate that lacquer finish so forget the expensive magic oils. Anything you put on it is just going to sit on top. Don't put any wax on. It makes matching a touch up a great deal more dificult. Just shoot the gun.
Click to expand...

Having done woodworking most of my life and have refinished more gun stocks than I can remember I assure you that this is the best answer on this thread
Click to expand...

Nice. I should have posed the question that you just answered concerning lacquer. I waxed it with TreWax and it looks nice. Too late to NOT wax it.

Thank You
 
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