What to do, What to do ....Ideas and opinions Needed.................

[GeorgiaDave]

Hello from Georgia,

   I probably should post this in the shotgun forum, but I know how creative you guys are here, so please bear with me. I recently aquired a youth model 20 ga. that is in pretty bad shape. Someone started "restoring" the stock by sanding at it but never completed sanding, let alone finishing it. The metal in void of finish as well but has only a small amount of rust and a few pits, but nothing really bad. It still locks up well and after a bit of oil and working the action, it operates well. The trigger is O.K, and it actually throws a good pattern at the 25 yards that I have shot it.

   I plan on keeping it until my son grows into it and am sure that it will not be to much longer. I would like to refinish it with a durable, attractive and economical plan. I have heard of using the truck bedliner method, and painting it and baking it in the oven and those both are an option. I would like to hear from those who have had good results with these methods as well as any other ideas. I have $10 invested in the gun so far, so I do have some room in the budget but I do not see putting a bunch of money in the gun with custom stocks, and gunsmith applied finishes. This gun will be strictly a utilitarian tool and I would like it to be durable.

   Thanks in advance for all replies.

   Merry CHRISTmas !!

Dave

[CelticCross]

Dav, I used an automotive prime and engine paint that will hold up to temps above 900 degrees. I lightly sanded the barel with 400 grit paper and then wiped it down with laquer thinner. I held it in my vise with a dowel in the chamber and put masking tape over the crown. It looks good(stainless color) and has held up well. I think i am going the clear coat it with "plasti-cote". Total expense was less than$15 and maybe 1.5 hrs of "work". Hope this helped I'll try and get a pic to post of the finish.
Ryan

[Brett]

Can't get much more economical than CelticCross' method but if you wanted something a little more durable (and a little more expensive) I would go with one of the DYS baked on gun finishes.  Have not used one yet myself but from what I've read they are a good alternative to bluing.  Speaking of re-bluing you may want to check with H&R and see what they would charge to re-blue your metal parts, I've heard that they are very reasonable.

As far as the stocks go, again if going cheap is the main goal  a coat of spray on bed liner makes for a tough finish that offers a good grip.  Next cheapest with a more traditional look would be to finish stripping the furniture with a chemical stripper, sand smooth, finish with your choice of stain, then top coat with a couple of coats of matt or semi-gloss spare varnish.  If you don't mind spending more time and a little more money you could rub in several coats of Boiled Linseed oil or stock oil by hand after stripping and sanding.

Wish I would run across a $10 project gun.  I'm happy with the way my guns look now and hate to take a chance of messing one up but I would love to have a gun to work on.  Any donations would be happily accepted.   

[LeeNJ]

Check out American Rifleman, Jan. '06 pages 58,59. It's an infomercial on Wheeler Cerama-Coat sold by MidwayUsa. It looks like it just might be what you want/need. Lee