Repairing small gunstock dents

[lilabner]

I have a gunstock with a couple of small dents that can't be lifted using the old hot iron and damp cloth trick. Apparently, there are broken fibers. One dent is round, about the diameter of a pencil lead, and deep. the other is about 1/8" long and 1/16" wide. Is there a filler I can use to level them, or would they have to be sanded out? I'm hoping there's a filler as it
is an oil finish stock and the dents could be easily refinished.

[gunnut69]

This is a technique I heard but have not tried.  It sounds as though it should work..  Using a very thin chisel(a carving chisel would work) which is very sharp, drive in with the blade paralell with the grain flow.  Pry out a divot of wood larger than the dent.  I would be sure to steam out what I could.  Lift this divot but do not break completely free of the stock.  Using epoxy and sanding dust as a filler, fill the hole under the divot.  When the epoxy has cured the wood can be sanded to the level of the surrounding area and the damage will disappear.  I have also taken wood from under the buttplate with a core drill and grafted it into the stock.  The wood is as close to the same as is available and grain flow can be made to match.  The chisel technique does seem to be even better although as AI said I have not tried it yet..  One can also harcest a bit of wood for a repair from under the barrel..

[50 Calshtr]

Gunnut,
    Try Brownells shellac sticks.  They come in a number of shades to match your stock and blend in very well. With minor touch up refinishing you will have a hard time spotting the repair even knowing where it is.  Plus they are easy to use.