Stock repair

[ftstinyc]

Is there a method to remove a dent in a rifle stock? I read somewhere
 that steam can be used to lift the dent. Does anyone know if this is true?
 If this is the case how is it done? I would appreciate your help.

[Steve P]

I have used a hot washcloth and put over small dents in stocks to remove them.  Hottest tap water you can ring out by hand and hold the cloth over the dent.  A few of the tougher dents I had to use the wife's iron to hold on to the wet wash cloth to get it a little hotter.  Try this method one day, wait a couple days, try again. and you will see the small dents lifting.  Don't forget to dry the gun and remove all water and chances of rust.  
You are not getting the stock wet, you are using the moist steam heat to remove the dent.  Make sure you wipe down the stock and oil it good after each steam/heat session.  
Pending on the location of the dent, you may want to seperate the stock from the action.

Good Luck,

Steve  

[gunnut69]

To raise dents that haven't broken wood fibers(broken fibers complicate thing) just take an all cotton rag(may get scorched a bit so nothing nice) and soak well.  Wring until it no longer drips water but is still very wet.  Using a heat source, I use an old soldering iron, apply the cloth over the dent and press the heat source over the cloth, so that the steam created is forced into the wood.  If there is still finish over the dent, particularly if its a poly finish, it must be scratched a bit to all the moisture to penetrate to the wood's fiber.  After the dent has been raised by the water vapor causing the fibers to swell, remove all excess water from the stocks surface.  Allow plenty of time for the wood to dry before tounching up the finish...don't want water trapped under the stock finish, again, especially if it's a poly finish..  You can use a clothes iron as a heat source to generate the steam, which is what causes the wood to swell and raise the dent.  Dents with broken fibers can still be raised but may leave a mark.  An average dent should be removed and no mark should remain on the stock....good luck from the gunnut69