Taipan Beech Stocks and Linseed oil finish...good idea?

[Blackpaw]

I THINK this would be where to put this, but not sure. My Taipan came with a beech wood stock and I thought of using a few coats of boiled linseed oil to bring out the wood grain. As far can tell the Taipan’s stock has only received a stain and not a varnish finish on the wood, so in theory the stock should still be porous and I won’t have to strip the stock to use linseed oil one it to bring out the grain of the wood.

Basically, the stock seems to have a nice grain to it and so I thought the linseed oil would be a simple way to bring out some bling.

So if anyone can give advice if I should do what I want to do, all input is appreciated.

 

[Long_Gun_Dallas]

You can absolutely count on the finish being sealed one way or another. I wouldn't mess with it. I've done beech before, and it isn't much fun to work with. Some spots take way too much of whatever is being applied, while other spots take next to none.

Maybe someone that has used linseed on beech can chime in.

 

[Michigander]

I agree that a sealer of some kind has likely been used. To preview whether an oil finish will improve the appearance, apply straight mineral spirits. If you like the effect, put on a couple coats of Minwax Antique Oil thinned 50:50 with mineral spirits.

 

[Leatherman]

I agree with Michigander. Lind seed oil is not the best stock finish and IMO does just the opposite and can make the grain cloudy . It also takes along time to dry and is not a durable finish. It’s old school and there are so many better finishes out there. I make muzzle loaders and have tried many finishes over the years and started with Lind seed oil.

 

[KWK]

If you want to know if another finish will stick to the existing finish apply some to an area that won't be seen. The inletting or barrel channel works. Let it cure. Not just overnight. A week or so. Then see how hard it is to scratch off. 

A coat of linseed oil will look great. Bring out the grain. Until it dries. Then it looks like it needs a coat to bring out the grain again! 

 

[cea1960]

Sand it down to bare wood. Apply a wood conditioner, this will ensure the stain is even and not blotchy. Use a stain of your liking and then rub Teal Oil or Tru Oil into the wood with a lint free cloth or your bare fingers. Lightly buff with 0000 steel wool and repeat. If you want a gloss finish, leave the last coat untouched. Want a satin finish, burnish with a brown paper bag.

For a truly high gloss finish, after sanding to bare wood, apply a thin coat of sanding sealer and again sand to bare wood. Repeat this until all the grain is filled and then stain and oil.

This is how refinished my Regal. 

 

[Blackpaw]

Thanks for the input guys and I will look at options. And @cea1960, your Regal is gorgeous