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Offline AP5030

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Refinishing a K98 Stock
« on: January 18, 2008, 09:03:36 PM »
I recently purchased a WWII Nazi Marked K98 Mauser. As was expected, when I received it from the UPS man, it was covered in cosmo from muzzle to buttplate. I managed to get the cosmo out of the metal just fine, but the stock has been endless trouble.

Now, my main question is, would refinishing the stock to make it look like it did when it was new ruin any of the value of the gun? I planned to lightly sand and whisker it, and then use a Birchwood Casey walnut stain (using several coats) to make it very dark. To finish that, I would use a light oil finish and buff it somewhat.

I don't know what would be the recommended way to refinish the stock.

I also wonder if I should just leave the stock as is and continue to try and bleed out as much cosmo as possible....

Suggestions anyone?
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Offline Mikey

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Re: Refinishing a K98 Stock
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2008, 03:03:40 AM »
FireBreathingM44 - Oh man, you have a job ahead of you.  I have used light mixtures of Murphy's Oil Soap and warm water to try and get cosmo out but it is nearly impossible to get it all out - the darn stuff just seeps right into the pores of the wood and you literally have to bake it out, which is what some guys do....  Some also use overn cleaner but that is really harsh on the wood.

I have taken cosmo-ed stocks and first wiped every bit of cosmo off that I could see.  Dedicate a toothbrush to this task throughout the different steps - them little suckers can really get down in the crevasses.  Then I take a light mixture of Murphy's and warm water and scrub out as much additional as I can find but, do not get the stock too wet or let it soak up too much water or it may warp.  I wash it and dry it a couple of times and then I try and fit it into the oven at just under 200 degrees to try and get the cosmo to bleed out.  I do this a couple of times until I feel the cosmo is mostly gone.  However, one note of caution - hot cosmo stinks to high heaven and if you want any peace in the house twixt you and your wife and children, buy some air spray or deoderant to help get the stink out.  Use oven cleaner for the oven, not the stock.

When the stock finally comes out dry and clean I can think about refinishing it.  The problem is that once a stock has been cosmo-ed any refinish may not take or last because the cosmo may still bleed out underneath the new finish. 

With this in mind I try using an oil based stain rather than a alcohol based stain as the former seems to mix better with the cosmo.  After that I just buff the stock and it seems to look pretty good. 

I used this process on my Yugo 48A and although I can still smell cosmo when I shoot it up at the range and still get some bleed out from the upper handguard, the stock looks pretty good.  HTH and good luck.  Mikey.
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Offline TribReady

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Re: Refinishing a K98 Stock
« Reply #2 on: January 19, 2008, 09:36:42 AM »
I agree totally with Mikey, avoid the oven cleaner....it really damages the wood cells.
I like to clean with lacquer thinner and mineral spirits.  I'll use steel wool and rags and get everywhere.  I haven't tried heat, I personally don't think you can get deep enough to get it all out anyway.
Once surface is mostly clean, your coats of finish (BLO, tung oil, or whatever is proper for a k98) will keep most of the cosmo in.  I always get some "leakage" on heavy shooting days, especially in the summer.

One option to look at, and I've tried, is called a spit-coat. You apply a coat or 2 of shellac first (after staining if you want to stain). This coat traps in the shellac.  Then, apply your oil finish--do not leave shellac as the final coat on a k98--it's not a Mosin!

Look at the stock cleaning forum over on the Parallax Bill website. Tons and tons of info on just your question!
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Offline bluebayou

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Re: Refinishing a K98 Stock
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2008, 03:52:33 PM »
I will go against the flow here.  I am an oven cleaner and hot water kind of guy.  I did the first one because I didn't know better.  The second two turned out just fine.  I just let the stocks dry for a week or two before staining or finishing.  15 minutes of oven cleaner saves a lot of scrubbing and soaking the "conventional" solvents. 

Mosin Nagant


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Yugo SKS with Bubba scope mount


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Offline Mikey

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Re: Refinishing a K98 Stock
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2008, 03:12:28 AM »
Blue - nice stockwork.  I like the results. 

FireBreathingM44 - there certainly seems to be more than one way to clean up that stock.  Mikey.
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