Rebuilding an HW77 and refinishing the stock…need opinions from everyone

[Maizen]

So first of all…round of applause to Weihrauch. The finish on their rifles could go through a hurricane and be fine I think. I had to use about 8 coats of Kleanstrip to remove some of the finish, not even all of it. I had to go in with 60 grit and 150 grit sandpaper to remove a good chunk of it, but as you can see there is still some finish left. The end near the buttstock is particularly annoying because it just won’t come off no matter what I do.

Thoughts? How should I remove the rest of it or should I just leave it and see how the new stain I bought blends in? It could look like an art piece I guess…

I was inspired by @seangabrell who refinished his LGU. I chose a different color, mine will be carbon grey. Will look cool I think. I bought this HW77K for a very cheap price…total cost with parts put me at $245. Paint puts me at $265.

 

[KWK]

You need an industrial strength stripper. Auto body supply house.
Is the stain water base? I used water based Minwax stain once. Never again. It's like thinned latex paint. Dries in 1 hr sounds like water base.

 

[Maizen]

You need an industrial strength stripper. Auto body supply house.
Is the stain water base? I used water based Minwax stain once. Never again. It's like thinned latex paint. Dries in 1 hr sounds like water base.

I am not sure if it’s water based. It’s tough stuff…this is supposed to be a budget gun so are there any cheaper options?

 

[thumper]

No offense, but it will probably never look as good as it did before. It's beech, and there's a reason the factory and most any other gunmaker never bothered trying to actually stain them: it just never looks right.

The most important thing you can do, which is likely already too late, is don't round over the edges at the buttpad and grip cap or they will stick out like a sore thumb forever if it's not square and sharp.

A can of black paint is your bail-out plan if it comes to that. But again, it's still going to look bad even then if the edges are rounded off.

 

[Maizen]

No offense, but it will probably never look as good as it did before. It's beech, and there's a reason the factory and most any other gunmaker never bothered trying to actually stain them: it just never looks right.

The most important thing you can do, which is likely already too late, is don't round over the edges at the buttpad and grip cap or they will stick out like a sore thumb forever if it's not square and sharp.

A can of black paint is your bail-out plan if it comes to that. But again, it's still going to look bad even then if the edges are rounded off.

Well problem was that there were some major dents and scratches…I had to sand down to get those out. I tried the ol‘ iron method and steaming it out…they didn’t raise. So, I just went all out. I haven’t rounded off anything.

Check this stain project out…https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/walther-lgu-espresso.1218609/

I‘m hoping to get a result similar to this.

 

[maxtrouble]

That looks like a good start for a project rifle. Great way to learn how these things work. Have fun and keep us updated!

 

[jkingrph]

Sand, sand and sand some more, using finer and finer grits. I ended up with 600 w/d sandpaper on mine that I did years ago. When you think it's smooth, spay with some spray on starch, like used for clothes, let dry, sand again. Repeat this several times, and also near the end use some very fine steel wool, The way beech acts I am thinking one of the analine dyes might be best, but those are water or alcohol based and may make the grain raise again, I like an oil base finish, easier to repair.

 

[doninva]

I tried to refinish a beech stock once. It looked terrible. I stripped several times and tried several different stains and finishes. Never got it to look any better but could got it to look worse. Never again.

 

[seangabrell]

The most unpleasant thing to do!! I’d hit it with another coat or 2 off the stripper.

 

[KWK]

The finer you sand beech the less it will take stain

 

[c801tfd]

Not my favorite wood to work with, one thing I use is a pre stain which does to some extent help achieve an even color finish.
The R7 was one of my very first attempts a wreck when I got it, while not perfect it turned fairly well, or at a minimum better than it was. The BSF Model S60 to me is great looking based on what it looked like before redo and is somewhere around 10th beech stock I have redone. Keep going i am curious to see how your color choice turns out.

 

[KWK]

If you want it darker after the finish goes on add stain to the next coat of finish

 

[Maizen]

The finer you sand beech the less it will take stain

I stopped at 220 grit. I don’t need to go any finer I think

 

[Maizen]

I tried to refinish a beech stock once. It looked terrible. I stripped several times and tried several different stains and finishes. Never got it to look any better but could got it to look worse. Never again.

We shall see what happens…will update!

 

[doninva]

Good luck, l hope it works out. Don

 

[KWK]

Beech can be refinished well if done right. Some pics of guns I have that needed a refinish when I got them.
BSA Challenger Carbine

FWB 124

BSA Stutzen