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Author Topic: Questions about steaming a stock dent  (Read 670 times)

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Offline flabbydan

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Questions about steaming a stock dent
« on: May 23, 2007, 05:16:44 PM »
When raising a dent in a wooden stock, do you have to strip the finish first?  If not, does the finish need to be touched-up?  Thanks.
Dan
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Offline StrawHat

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Re: Questions about steaming a stock dent
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2007, 04:58:12 AM »
If moisture can penetrate through the finish into the wood, you will not need to strip the finish.

If moisture can not penetrate, you will have to strip the finish.

What type of finish is on the stock?  Some of the new wonder finishes can not be touched up in the sense that an oil finish can.  I think some of the newer finishes need for everything to be stripped and start from scratch.  Some of the stock finishers might be able to comment better as I have always used tung oil or similar.

Good luck,
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Offline flabbydan

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Re: Questions about steaming a stock dent
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2007, 06:12:41 AM »
Thanks!  The gun is a Marlin 336.  I think they call it "Mar-Shield" finish or something like that.  Now I'm starting to wonder--if moisture can get through the finish, is the finish doing its job?  I don't really care in this case.  It's just an ugly dent in a conspicuous spot on the forend and I want it gone. 
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Offline gunnut69

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Re: Questions about steaming a stock dent
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2007, 05:43:02 PM »
To expedite the process I use a bit of coarse steel wool to scratch the finish a bit. It allows the steam better and quicker access. Mar-Shield is a synthetic and can be touched up with rubbing poly finish(mine's from WalMart). Almost no finish is completely water proof other than the various polyurethanes and synthetics. There is a chance the finish will have to be stripped. The UV inhibitor used in these finishes seems to come in 2 type a bluish color and a greenish.. No real way to tell beforehand but they will not mix! Shows up really badly! Otherwise the rubbing poly will allow a touch up on nearly any damage to a plastic finish, just handle as you would a painted finish. Sand to blend, build up and then level with 600-800 grit paper. After the fix is blended a light rubbing to the desired sheen and a coat of wax is in order..
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Offline jpcampbell

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Re: Questions about steaming a stock dent
« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2007, 07:49:14 AM »
When I need to steam a dent I like to sand the area a little to clean it up, then I cover the area with a wet towel for half an hour, this allows the wood to swell a little before steam is applied, let it set for 24 hours to dry. After the dent is raised I use 0000 steel wool over the whole stock and then apply finish,  then I use the 0000 over the finish again to even the appearance.
good luck
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