the best way to go about painting a wooden handi stock?

[thelaw]

i've decided to try and put a little "camo touch" on my stock of my .223. what's the best way to remove the current finish ont he hardwood stock?

[gwhilikerz]

sandpaper :grin:

[quickdtoo]

Yup, I'd recommend sanding it off....if it's the new laminated wood stock, any kind of finish remover might delaminate the stock. You can tell for sure by removing the recoil pad, it's real obvious if it's laminated. :wink:

[Joel]

I used varnish/paint stripper on mine.  Took it off with 000 steel wool, then  smoothed it back  down with 0000 steel.  Just follow the directions on the can.  After the finish is off(helps to wear a pair of disposable rubber gloves)  wet the stock with a paper towel and heat it over the stove or with a blow torch to see if you get any "whiskers".  Use the 0000 to remove them.  Do that a couple of times until the wood is smooth.  Don't burn the wood; you just want to heat it enough to evaporate the water and raise the grain.

[Brett]

If you are going to use paint on it it is not necessary to remove all of the varnish.  If you don't have any big dings or scratches just give it a lite sanding with 150 grit sand paper to take the sheen off of it.  Then give it a shot of light gray sandable automotive primer.  lightly sand the primer with 220 grit paper after it dries. Now you are ready for your cammo spray paint.  After the cammo paint dries you can spray on two or three coats of clear matt polyurethane to add more durability.

[ggardner]

There was once an archary spray on product called Bowflague.  It came in earth tones, was durable and could be washed off with a damp rag.  I used it to camo a SWAT weapon and it lasted for years.  Good luck, Gary